CHSAANow

Month: August 2020

  • Familiarity helps Pueblo Centennial softball overpower Vista Ridge

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    PUEBLO — With just a few days of official practice to go on, Pueblo Centennial softball coach Erica Ortiz liked what she safrom her Bulldogs in Thursday’s season opener.

    Timely hits, consistent pitching and steady defense led Centennial to a 7-0 win over Vista Ridge, beginning a season that Ortiz hopes will end with her experienced squad claiming a South-Central League championship.

    “This is the team I’ve had for three years now,” Ortiz said. “Thy were all freshmen and sophomores and now they’re juniors and seniors. Everybody is a leader on this team and it feels good to have those upperclassmen.”

    The fields at the Runyon complex in Pueblo were lit up across the board as various youth baseball games scramble to finish a shortened summer season. But it was the field furthest to the east that marked the first sanctioned high school athletic competition in Pueblo since the end of the spring season.

    And for the first couple of innings, it felt like each team was trying to settle in and get over the nerves of finally getting the chance to take the field with their friends and represent their schools and communities.

    “I was a little nervous,” Centennial pitcher Lilly Espinoza said. “I knew we had strong infield and outfield so I started to get a little confident as the game went on.”

    With good reason. Espinoza tossed a complete game shutout in just 61 pitches, allowing just five hits. She got her run support in the bottom of the third when back to back triples from Kieya Belmont and Yzavel Barela resulted in Belomt crossing home for the first run of the game and the season for the Bulldogs (1-0 overall).

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Barela would later score on a ground ball to short from Espinoza. In all, Barela went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple while scoring three runs. The Wolves (0-1) certainly had their chances. Alisha Salazar went 1-for-3 with a triple but reached base twice. Tatjana Harris also ripped a triple while pitching all six innings. She surrendered just two earned runs, but overall the night belonged to the Bulldogs.

    “It felt really good, honestly,” Barela said. “I haven’t been so good myself lately, but it felt really good to bring all these girls together.”

    It’s a great confidence builder when looking around the league landscape. Three teams from the league qualified for the Class 4A softball tournament a year ago.

    Two of those teams in Pueblo South and Pueblo County cracked the preseason softball rankings and while the Bulldogs are currently outside of the top 10, they were receiving votes along with rival Pueblo Central. But they don’t want to just end up in the same conversation as the other teams in Pueblo, they want to stand apart from everyone and get their chance to shine at the state tournament.

    “That’s the expectation,” Ortiz said. “We’ve been right on that bubble for regionals the last two years. We had younger kids and we graduated zero kids last year. The league graduated quite a few dominant players. This is the year that I feel confident, especially if we play like that.”

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

  • Basalt’s Sierra Bower relishing her chance to claim another cross country title

    Basalt girls cross country Sierra Bower
    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    When Sierra Bower crossed the finish line at the Norris Penrose Event Center last fall, it wasn’t joy or elation that she felt from winning the Class 3A girls state cross country title.

    It was relief.

    Her time of 18 minutes, 00.1 seconds is a 3A course record and something she had been aiming for all season. Heading into 2020, she wants to be a good or better but will have a deeper appreciation for that feeling of crossing the finish line at the state meet.

    “That was the goal all year to do that and break that record,” Bower said. “It felt good to finally do that especially because it’s something I think about all the time on my runs and when I’m training.”

    To say the growth she experienced as a runner between her sophomore and junior season was remarkable doesn’t quite do her justice.

    In 2018, she finished 28th in the state race and her time was two minutes behind where she ended her championship run. It was regimented offseason training that led to her being better and it was the same approach she took on in the time since the season ended.

    “It’s hard to peak for state then peak for some of those (regional and national) postseason races that happen in the five or six weeks after,” Basalt coach Ron Lund said. “It’s what you do in between that can have a lot to do with it.”

    This year certainly provides a unique circumstance given the COVID-19 pandemic that has engulfed a lot of high school athletics. She was fortunate enough to claim her state championship a year ago and according to Lund, she has colleges knocking down her door trying to get her to run for them.

    That makes this season’s bid to repeat more about her own personal competitive nature rather than what life after high school is going to look like.

    “From a recruiting standpoint, she doesn’t need to (repeat),” Lund stressed.

    But she wants that satisfaction of being the first runner to cross that finish line once again. With a lot on the line for her a year ago, it was that sense of relief that washed over her when she finished 44 seconds ahead of the second-place runner. If she finds herself in the same position this year, she’ll be able to enjoy the accomplishment for what it is on the surface: a championship run.

    More than that, she just wants to enjoy everything about competing this year.

    “Last year I raced a bunch and never thought a lot about it,” Bower said. “Going into this season I know that nothing is promised. I’m going to take full advantage of a lot of these races. I’m taking each race and almost thinking about it as if it’s my last.”

    Her desire to claim another championship will be powered by that mentality. When the starting gun gets fired, she and hundreds of other runners will take off thinking they have everything to win and nothing to lose.

  • Sierra Grande hires Ben Sandy as boys and girls cross country coach

    (Photo courtesy of Sierra Grande High School)

    With a new cross country season comes a new coach for Sierra Grande. The school announced in an email to CHSAANow.com that it has hired Ben Sandy as the new cross country coach for both the boys and girls teams.

    Sandy is also a physical education teacher at Sierra Grande.

    His last coaching stop came at Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana. He competed in both high school and in college. He was a Class 3A state champion in Wyoming his junior year and won nine Nebraska Iowa Athletic Conference titles while competing collegiately.

    At the end of his career, he was a two-time NAIA All-American.

    “We at Sierra Grande feel very fortunate to have such an outstanding mentor for our students and athletes,” athletic director Matt Lucero said in the email. “We are proud and fortunate to have him join our Panther Community.”

    Practice for all cross country teams began this week and competition is slated to begin on Saturday.

  • Q&A: Assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann talks modifications to the softball season

    State softball generic
    (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

    The softball season begins with games on Thursday.

    With things ramping up, we caught up with Bert Borgmann, the assistant commissioner in charge of the sport, to dig into the details about the modifications which were made to ensure softball complies with current health guidelines.

    [divider]

    Question: Softball was among the first sports to be given a green light to play this fall. Can you go into detail as to why?

    Borgmann: Early on, softball was identified by the Governor’s COVID Response team as a sport that could be played because it easily adjusts to the social distancing requirements.

    Resuming athletics and activities requires answering and demonstrating certain safety measures to many different groups — including state, health, and educational decision makers. We believe softball can complete their season if all those involved — players, coaches and schools — adhere to the guidelines.

    Q: Many sports have made adjustments to the sport seasons because of COVID. What are some ways that softball will look different?

    Borgmann: Since the COVID-19 virus is a new disease and information changes quickly, we determined that to maintain the health and safety guidelines, limiting potential contact through games was a logical step. So teams will play 16 regular season games at maximum, as opposed to the typical 23.

    When it became apparent that other sports would have to move to abbreviated seasons, and the potential for regional flare-ups this fall, reducing the season length was appropriate.

    Teams are also limited to 12 players on a game day roster, and teams will qualify directly to the state tournament from the regular season.

    [Note: These health and safety guidelines are outlined in the softball bulletin.]

    Q: Why is the game roster limited to 12 players?

    Borgmann: Current state-mandated guidelines allow for a total of 25 players on any one field. We adjusted to 12 players for each team to maintain equity. CHSAA will respond with appropriate modifications to this roster limit should restrictions be lessened in coming weeks.

    Teams may have more than 12 players on their varsity roster, but can only put 12 in uniform for any single game. A player may be replaced on the roster after each game of the state tournament has been completed, but no more than 12 players may be suited up for each team during each game.

    Q: What was the reason to have teams qualify directly to the state brackets and not have regionals this year?

    Borgmann: As noted earlier, we want the players to have as long a regular season as possible. And, coupled with the exposure issues that arise for schools when there are multiple days of a state tournament, we looked at how to conduct a one-day tournament for 16 teams in each of the classifications.

    The sport had already adjusted its qualifying and seeding procedure to employ RPI, CHSAANow Coaches Poll and MaxPreps rankings, so this will provide a competitive field for those that qualify.

    Q: Will players be required to wear masks?

    Borgmann: The requirement of masks is determined by state, county and local health officials. Currently, the entire state is under a requirement to wear masks when in public places.

    Players, coaches and all team personnel, including umpires, are required by CHSAA to wear masks upon entering and exiting the ballpark. The state, county and local rules will dictate if they have to wear face-coverings on the field.

    Additionally, players and coaches must wear mask and social distance while in the team dugouts. That may require some players placed outside the field or inside near the fences when on offense.

    Borgmann: A final thought: If we want to see the 2020 season come to completion with the crowning of a state champion, it is imperative that all those involved in the sport follow the guideline established by the state, county and local health departments, along with the CHSAA. We have a personal responsibility to ensure that we protect the sport we love.

    And that may mean doing things we do not like, but it’s the only way we can have a positive conclusion to the season!

  • Cross country practice begins Wednesday; competition can start Saturday

    Dave Sanders cross country invite
    (David Harvey/ImageProPhotography.com)

    AURORA — All sports in Season A are now underway with the start of boy and girls cross country practice on Wednesday.

    Teams can begin competition on Saturday. They will wrap up their regular season on Oct. 3, and regionals by Oct. 10. The state meet is scheduled for Oct. 17.

    Of course, the season will look different due to modifications which align with current COVID-19 guidelines from the state.

    The number of regular season meets has been reduced from 11 to 7. During the regular season, 3A-5A teams can run seven runners, with five scoring. In 2A, they can run six and score four.

    In the postseason, 2A teams will run five and score four, and 3A-5A will run six and score five.

    No JV or open races are permitted to be run at varsity meets, but schools can host a JV meet or an open race separate from the varsity meet.

    The biggest change is the number of athletes permitted at each meet. During the regular season, 50 athletes per gender are allowed, and they must start in waves of no more than 25.

    At regionals, 75 athletes per gender will be allowed. At the state meet, 100 athletes per gender, per classification are allowed.

    Also playing in Season A are boys golf, boys tennis and softball.

    All other sports will begin after Jan. 4 as part of the modified 2020-21 sports calendar.

  • No. 6 Smoky Hill softball has its eyes set on an historic season

    (Paul Soriano)

    When Smoky Hill was eliminated in the first round of the Class 5A state softball tournament, an easy reason to pinpoint is the overall lack of experience for the team.

    That won’t be the case in 2020.

    The Buffaloes are poised to make program history thanks to a talented junior class that returns to the field. An acceptable goal alone would be to get past the first round, but coach BJ Kingsbaker thinks this team is capable of so much more.

    “Our motto this year is ‘Go Finish,’” Kingsbaker said. “I think this group can play with any team in the state.”

    He’s probably not wrong. He returns a lineup that doesn’t have a lot of holes on the offensive side. Juniors Izzy Giroux and Amarjie Bass blasted eight and seven home runs respectively and Grioux led the team in both batting average (.512) and doubles (13).

    “I”m excited,” Giroux said. “We’re pretty stacked. We didn’t lose and we’ve only added good players so we’re one of the most feared teams in our league this year.”

    Checking in at No. 6 in the preseason softball rankings, the Buffs are heading into the season with a bit of added fuel. In their first-round loss at state, a mishap occurred at the start of the game that greatly changed momentum early. In all the hustle and craziness surrounding the state tournament, Kingsbaker accidentally mixed up Grioux’s spot on the lineup card with Bass. When the girls batted out of order it killed a potentially big first inning. Smoky Hill went on to lose the game.

    “What would’ve been a four-run first inning turned into a zero-run first inning all because of my mistake,” he said. “We spent that entire game trying to battle back and even had a one-run lead heading into the seventh inning and just ran out of gas.”

    That inning and that overall result has this team running on a full tank of gas for the 2020 year.

    “There’s a lot of (motivation),” senior Jahlisa Klear said. “I can tell a lot of girls are ready to show up this year and get that (state) championship for Smoky Hill.”

    The Buffs are certainly capable of bringing home a title, and if they do it would be the first in program history. From the top of the lineup down, the lineup looks stacked. But it’s complemented with a pitching staff that Kingsbaker would put up against anyone in the state. Juniors Delaney Farnsworth and Kenedy Sandoval went a combined 15-2 last season. Farnsworth finished the year with an ERA of 1.86 and Sandoval proved to be an effective lefty to mix things up when needed.

    Adding to the mix is fellow junior Paris Elsberry, who missed most of last season due to an injury.

    “She throws every curveball and screwball imaginable,” Kingsbaker said. “She throws the kitchen sink at you.”

    That’s going to give the Buffs a lot of different looks in the circle which only makes them more dangerous.

    And considering the way last year ended, a deep and dangerous Smoky Hill team could go on an historical run in 2020.

    “I felt like we deserved to go further,” Grioux said. “I feel like that gives us a little more drive this season. We have a lot of good players and we all want it. We want to go out and win that state championship.”

  • Photos: Ralston Valley boys golf wins 5A Jeffco event

    Ralston Valley boys golf won the first 5A Jeffco League meet on Monday, in an event held at Applewood Golf Course. The Mustangs shot 276 overall, ahead of second-place Columbine (291).

  • Arvada West’s Tyler Tyson opens Jeffco League boys golf with impressive 63

    GOLDEN — Arvada West senior Tyler Tyson had a record-breaking performance in the Jeffco League boys golf tournament opener Monday, Aug. 10.

    Tyson fired an 8-under-par, 63 at Applewood Golf Course to break to school record at A-West for lowest round at a tournament. The Wildcats’ top golfer had nine birdies. His lone blemish was a bogey on No. 9.

    “My putter,” Tyson said of what allowed him to go so low. “I putted well. I had 25 putts I think. Good wedges too. I made everything. It was fun.”

    Conifer senior Dakota Dolph fired an even-par, 71 on Monday at Applewood Golf Course to win the individual Class 4A Jeffco title in the first of six conference tournaments this boys golf season.
    (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Tyson finished the best round of the day with a birdie putt on the 18th hole. He finished four strokes ahead of Ralston Valley junior Gage Messingham (4-under-par, 67). Ralston Valley cruised to the team title with Messingham, along with seniors Jack Larson (3-under-par 68) and Trey Kirschner (2-under-par 69) also finishing in red numbers.

    “It gives me a pad because this is a scary little (conference) this year,” Tyson said of getting out to a sizable lead in the race for the Class 5A Jeffco League individual medalist title.

    A number of the top 5A Jeffco golfers from last year have returned. Defending medalist champion — Lakewood junior Max Lange — is back, but missed the conference opener because he was in California for a tournament.

    Lakewood senior Ryan Liao placed fifth Monday with a strong 1-under-par, 70. Liao has been one of the state’s top golfers finished in the top-4 at the state tournament the past two years.

    “It’s nice to be back,” Lakewood coach Alan Gonzales said before the first group teed off at 8 a.m. “It’s nice to be out here. Just happy to have the opportunity to be out here and another chance to prove ourselves.”

    Lakewood senior Ryan Liao is one of the top state contenders in Class 5A this season after back-to-back top-4 finishes at state the past two years.
    (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    The Tigers want to redeem themselves after failing to qualify as a team to the 5A state tournament. Lange and Liao both went to state last year, but they were the lone Tigers to advance to the two-day state tournament.

    “It was good to be there with two quality individuals, but we are more than that,” Gonzales said. “We know we can do better. It’s unfinished business.”

    Liao finished tied for third last year at state after placing fourth as a sophomore. Lakewood was also in the team race in 2018 finishing second.

    “We want to be right there again,” Gonzales said of Lakewood in the mix for a 5A team title. “It’s more of an expectation than a goal. We should be contending.”

    Liao’s goal is to cap off his remarkable prep career with his first individual state crown.

    “Senior year, I’m looking to win it,” Liao said. “I’m looking to break that streak. Hopefully not take second this year. I want to skip over that spot and take first.”

    It’s the last go-around for Liao who has already established himself as one of the top Jeffco golfers over the past few decades.

    “Ryan is right up there,” Gonzales said of the handful of top-notch golfers that have come through Lakewood over the last several years. “He is a special player. A special kid. He is determined on the golf course.”

    Green Mountain senior Oliver Gibbons eyes his tee shot on No. 2 at Applewood Golf Course. Gibbons shot a 1-over-par, 72 to finish second in the 4A Jeffco individual standings.
    (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    On the 4A side Monday at Applewood Golf Course, Conifer senior Dakota Dolph’s even-par, 71 just edged Green Mountain senior Oliver Gibbons by a stroke to win the opening 4A Jeffco tournament.

    The Rams did win the team title with Gibbons, fellow senior Jack Policaro and sophomore Jon Lord shooting rounds in the 70s to take a 21-stroke led on Evergreen for the race to the 4A Jeffco League team title.

    The next Jeffco League tournament is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 17, at Raccoon Creek Golf Course in Littleton.

  • Boys golf season enters full swing as Liberty, Durango kids go low

    COLORADO SPRINGS — Liberty’s Hayden Woelk knew he he needed to make par on the home hole to give himself a chance. A fortunate bounce off his tee shot put him 152 yards out from the 18th pin at the Colorado Springs Country Club.

    Ever so smoothly, he drew back his 8-iron and flushed it, sending his ball on a path directly toward the flagstick. It hit about 10 feet and he would two-putt to finish with a 1-under-par 70 to claim medalist honors at the Doherty Spartan Invite.

    He would’ve like to make his birdie putt, but it was his approach shot that all but guaranteed his victory. He knew it when the ball was in the air and let loose a saucy club twirl, the golfer’s language meaning the ball is Lansing at or near the intended target. It was so good that new Liberty coach Tom Carricato smiled and told Woelk “you hit a shot like that, you can spin the club however you want.”

    The junior hit 13 of 14 fairways through the day, including a bomb of a drive off the seventh tee. He rarely got himself into trouble and he worked his way around the track more efficiently than any other golfer in attendance.

    “I knew I was hitting the ball well enough enough to play well today,” he said. “I struggled on No. 8 a bit and made double, but I was putting well and I knew I was hitting well to score a good round today.”

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
    The Spartan Invite was the first golf tournament for a lot of Colorado Springs metro area schools. With a bit of an adjustment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teammates were grouped together as opposed to being spread out and paired with players from other teams who perhaps had similar skill sets.

    “It’s hard and it’s kind of hard to focus,” St. Mary’s senior Peter Stinar said. “You’re around all your buddies and it’s definitely different. It doesn’t feel like a tournament as much as it does just playing a round with your friends.”

    It wouldn’t be a surprise if teammates were paired regularly throughout the course of the season, but that will not be the case at regionals or state.

    The trick for the kids is having to adjust to playing with the same guys that they practice with in some tournaments while playing in a more traditional format in others. The team groupings worked well for Cheyenne Mountain, who shot 222 as a team to claim the team championship at the event for the second year around.

    “This group is close,” Cheyenne Mountain coach John Carricato said. “They’re a tight group, they compete with each other and they also do it in the right way where they encourage and they’re their No. 1 cheerleaders. From a coaching perspective, I loved seeing that camaraderie.”

    Pine Creek sophomore Wesley Erling had a bit of an up and down day but put together a round of 71 to be one of two players at even or better. He erased a double-bogey on No. 3 with back-to-back birdies on eight and nine. His lone birdie on the back nine came on the par-5 15th, but he followed it up with a bogey on 16.

    [divider]

    Durango’s Tichi overcomes slow start to claim Wildcat Invitational

    According to Durango junior Levi Tichi, opening his round with a bogey is his signature move. Oddly, it makes him feel more comfortable.

    Just for good measure at the Fruita Monument Wildcat Invitational he opted for two bogeys in the first three holes.

    Then he got serious. He went five under over his next six holes at Adobe Creek National Golf Course, including an eagle on the par-5 fifth. He finished the day with a 67 to get a big win in the young boys golf season.

    “I knew I had to be pretty patient and wait for birdies and not push too much,” he said. “I made that birdie on four and hit my approach to like three feet. I followed that up with an eagle and I chipped it in. That chip-in was when I knew I was starting to play well.”

    Tichi was the only Demon under par and the team finished second overall to Montrose, the three-time defending state champions. Grand Junction senior Carson Kerr (71) was the only other individual to play the Wildcat Invitational under par.

  • Columbine, Holy Family and University lead the preseason softball rankings

    University Brush softball
    (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

    The preseason girls softball rankings were released on Monday morning, and Columbine (5A), Holy Family (4A) and University (3A) lead the polls in their respective classifications.

    The polls, voted upon by head coaches around the state, will serve as part of the seeding criteria in softball this season. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.

    Complete rankings for each class are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Softball Polls

    Voted upon by coaches around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings will factor into postseason seeding. More information is available here.

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Columbine (7) 0-0-0 128
    2 Rock Canyon (5) 0-0-0 100
    3 Fossil Ridge 0-0-0 95
    4 Legacy (1) 0-0-0 83
    5 Legend (2) 0-0-0 74
    6 Smoky Hill (1) 0-0-0 66
    7 Broomfield 0-0-0 57
    8 Rocky Mountain 0-0-0 51
    9 Chatfield 0-0-0 47
    10 Ralston Valley 0-0-0 38
    Others receiving votes:
    Arapahoe 37, Cherokee Trail 29, Grand Junction Central 24, Lakewood 21, Arvada West 17, Brighton 17, Hinkley 10, Valor Christian 10, Castle View 9, Loveland 9, Eaglecrest 8, Fountain-Fort Carson 8, Douglas County 7, Prairie View 7, Rampart 7, Vista Ridge 7, Grandview 5, Pomona 5, Mountain Range 4, Mountain Vista 3, Rangeview 3, Regis Jesuit 2, Cherry Creek 1, ThunderRidge 1.
    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Holy Family (5) 0-0-0 98
    2 Erie (4) 0-0-0 87
    3 Silver Creek (1) 0-0-0 85
    4 Pueblo South (2) 0-0-0 70
    5 Wheat Ridge 0-0-0 48
    6 Mead 0-0-0 33
    7 Mountain View 0-0-0 29
    8 Golden 0-0-0 24
    9 Pueblo County 0-0-0 23
    10 Mullen 0-0-0 16
    Others receiving votes:
    Air Academy 12, Elizabeth 12, Pueblo West 11, Pueblo Central 10, Riverdale Ridge 10, Conifer 9, Ponderosa 9, Pueblo East 9, Evergreen 8, Pueblo Centennial 8, Mesa Ridge 7, Roosevelt 7, Windsor 7, Bear Creek 6, Coronado 6, D’Evelyn 5, Niwot 3, Rifle 3, Montrose 2, Northridge 2, Frederick 1.
    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 University (8) 0-0-0 80
    2 Eaton 0-0-0 68
    3 Strasburg (1) 0-0-0 65
    4 Brush 0-0-0 57
    5 Limon 0-0-0 40
    6 Sterling 0-0-0 39
    7 Rocky Ford 0-0-0 33
    8 Basalt 0-0-0 27
    9 The Academy 0-0-0 24
    10 La Junta 0-0-0 16
    Others receiving votes:
    Lamar 14, Lyons 9, Resurrection Christian 7, Fort Lupton 6, Lutheran 5, Montezuma-Cortez 2, Valley 2, Peak to Peak 1.