The first day of the Class 4A Regional boys tennis tournament set up Friday’s championship matches at Centennial Park in Greeley.
Month: September 2020
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Photos: Hayes powers Elizabeth softball over The Classical Academy
Abby Hayes blasted a home run, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs to help Elizabeth softball beat TCA 11-1 on Thursday.
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Photos: No. 3 Holy Family softball beats Centaurus
Third-ranked Holy Family softball picked up a 16-1 win over Centaurus on Thursday.
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Boys tennis: Regional results from around the state
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com) The 2020 boys tennis regionals are underway this week. We are compiling results as they’re sent in.
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The 4A boys golf state championship is moving to the Country Club of Colorado
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) The Class 4A boys golf state championship is moving to the Country Club of Colorado, associate commissioner Tom Robinson announced on Friday.
The event was slated to be held at Eisenhower Golf Course, however circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic forced the move.
“We are thankful to the Air Force Academy, Eisenhower Golf Course, and the fact that they were willing to work with us, and have in the past. However a move is necessary at this time,” said Robinson, who administers golf. “We look forward to having a state championship event there in the future.”
The boys golf state championships will be held Oct. 5-6. Regionals are next week
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Dakota Ridge senior Jacob White dominates at Durden Invitational
ARVADA — There were a couple of significant changes during the annual cross country Wildcat Invitational hosted by Arvada West High School.
First, races began at 8:30 a.m. with the idea to beat the afternoon heat. With Jeffco Public Schools’ high schools all on remote learning on Fridays it was more feasible to have a morning start.
It was a morning start at the Durden Invitational at Stenger Soccer Complex in Arvada. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) The second change was a name change. The Wildcat Invitational was renamed the Durden Invitational this year. A-West decided to honor Benji and Amie Durden, both have been very impactful on the running community in Colorado. Benji Durden was 2nd at the U.S. Olympic Trails back in 1980. If not for the U.S. boycotting the Olympic games in Moscow that year, Durden would have run for U.S. at the Olympics.
One thing that was the same was Dakota Ridge’s Jacob White crossing the finish-line first. The Dakota Ridge senior won the boys race in a time of 15 minutes, 55 seconds. Ralston Valley senior James Ramey placed 2nd, more than 50 seconds behind White.
However, White wasn’t completely trilled with his time on the course run at Stenger Soccer Complex in Arvada.
“I wasn’t happy with it,” White said of his sub-16 minute time. “I have been kind of off for the last couple of months. I feel myself getting back on track. Hopefully next week I’ll get that low 15-minute time.”
White has his sights on a fourth straight appearance at the state meet coming up Oct. 17 at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs. White has finished in the Class 5A Top-6 individually the past two years, along with helping the Eagles to back-to-back 5A team titles.
The senior and one of the top distance runners in the state does give a lot of credit to former teammates like Austin Vancil (University of Colorado) and Connor Ohlson (Air Force Academy).
Standley Lake senior Sophia Abernethy led the pack during the girls race Friday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) “It has been very helpful,” White said of his experiences of back-to-back team 5A team state title at Dakota Ridge. “I’m so grateful. I would never be where I’m at today with those guys (Austin Vancil and Connor Ohlson). Without them none of this would have happened.”
Ralston Valley did edge Dakota Ridge for the team title at the Durden Invitational. Ralston Valley seniors James Ramey, Jack Donze, Ethan Grolnic and Aiden Logan all finished Top-10.
On the girls side, Standley Lake senior Sophia Abernethy claimed another individual crown this season with a time of 20:17.8. D’Evelyn girls won the team title with sophomore Jayden Miller, seniors Sonja Morin and Kati Livingood finishing Top-10.
Coming up quickly is the 5A and 4A Jeffco League Cross Country Championships. The 4A Jeffco League championships is scheduled for Oct. 1 at Stoney Creek Golf Course. The 5A Jeffco League championships will run the following day on Oct. 2 at Stoney Creek.
It has been a different season with new protocols and restrictions.
“It has been difficult,” White said of the cross country season during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Honestly, there is no excuses for me. I just have to go out there and work on the process.”
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Sand Creek’s Gavin Hutter becomes first Scorpion to go to state boys tennis since 2014
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) COLORADO SPRINGS — Gavin Hutter is hoping he’s the start of something much bigger. Sand Creek hasn’t been known for its tennis program and has actually been shut out of the Class 4A state boys tennis tournament for the last six years.
He changed all that on Thursday when he advanced to the 4A Region 6 No. 1 singles championship match. No matter the result, Sand Creek had a qualifier for the first time since 2014.
Hutter battled for three sets but fell to Cheyenne Mountain’s Robbie Metz 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 to come away as the runner-up. As a sophomore, he’ll have two more chances at regional titles but it’s his advancement to state that he hopes will light a spark for his program.
“I’m trying to grow this program here,” Hutter said. “We’ve been overshadowed by so many teams for such a long time. It’s time we put our name on the map.”
Coach Pam Rogers sees Hutter as a kid that can get Sand Creek’s name on the tennis map. Despite his youth, he’s one of the more experienced kids in the program and sets the tone from a leadership perspective on and off the court.
She explains it in a way that makes playing with Hutter both challenging and enticing.
He’s the kind of kid of that gets his teammates wanting to improve and wanting to live up to the standard that he sets for himself and for the team.
“I’m a captain as a sophomore,” he said. “I’ve been told that’s pretty impressive. I think the guys like me and I’m trying to do the best I can to be a good leader.”
Unfortunately he’ll be the only member of his team playing at next week’s state tennis tournament at Pueblo City Park. He knows the competition there will be better than anything he’s seen this year and points to regionals and a tough Cheyenne Mountain team as a reason that he may just surprise some people.
If his match against Metz is any indication, Hutter doesn’t plan on being an easy win for anyone playing at state.
“He’s a tough player,” Hutter said. “He’s one of the toughest players I’ve played against all season. Cheyenne Mountain is a really good school and playing against these players will help me do the best I can at state.”
Cheyenne Mountain came away the big winner of the day, claiming regional championships in all seven positions. The team heads to Pueblo with a full squad full intent on defending the state championship it won a year ago.
Air Academy played for six championships and will send every position except for No. 1 singles to state next week.
As for Hutter, he’s excited to compete at Pueblo City Park and step on the court with the best players in the state. It’s a fitting end to a successful season for him.
“This year has been a lot of fun,” he said. “These matches are fun. High school tennis is a ton of fun. Even if I win or lose, I’m having fun the entire time.”
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) -
Photos: The second day of the 4A Region 4 boys tennis tournament
The second day of the Class 4A Region 4 boys tennis tournament was held on Friday.
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Board of Directors votes to give schools choice to start three sports in the fall
(CHSAANow.com) During a meeting on Wednesday night, the CHSAA Board of Directors voted to approve variances from the Governor’s COVID Response Team which will provide member schools with the local option to play field hockey, football and sideline spirit during the fall (Season A) season.
Schools will continue to have the option to play these sports in Season C, as previously upheld by the Board, if they elect not to play during Season A. The seasons will be treated equitably. Schools may not play in both seasons. This will allow local schools and districts to make the determination.
“I want to thank my colleagues on the Board,” Troy Baker, the president of the Board of Directors, and the athletic director at Buena Vista High School. “The CHSAA Board is charged to make the best decision for all kids in our state. We are a diverse state and many of our schools are faced with unique challenges that can elevate the complexity in making a decision that supports all schools and students.
“We are in a pandemic,” Baker said. “It’s not normal times. We’re all trying to find a way to navigate through it, with the hope of trying to find some normalcy in our lives. There isn’t a guide of how to do this.”
The Board met on Wednesday night to discuss the playing variances approved by the COVID-19 Response Team from the office of Gov. Jared Polis. The vote was 12-3 in favor of moving forward with those seasons.
According to the Governor’s public announcement, the CHSAA Board of Directors has empowered its member schools and school districts to determine if their teams are able to proceed with a fall (Season A) schedule in field hockey, football and sideline spirit safely under the guidelines set by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
“I would like to thank the CHSAA Board of Directors and the CHSAA staff for their commitment to reconsidering the options once the variances were provided to the CHSAA office. I would also like to thank our membership, who has been in this whirlwind as we sought a resolution,” said CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Governor’s office to obtain variances for wrestling, swimming and other sports in Seasons B, C and D.”
A major factor in the Board’s decision was the approval of the variances, and the COVID Response Team’s approval that these sports could move forward in a safe manner, with all the recommended guidelines.
Specifically, these variances allow for 50 players, per sideline, to be on the field during a football game. In field hockey, the variance allows for 25 players per sideline, per game. Previously, these guidelines were 25 players, total.
Spirit roster size is based upon CHSAA classification maximums.
There are other restrictions that must be followed, per the variance:
- All participants, including athletes, coaches, match officials, staff, and others, must wear masks while not actively playing, even outdoors. They must also be six feet apart from non-household members on the sidelines, or while not in active play. They may not go into the spectator area.
- Spirit participants must perform off the field of play, and must be at least 25 feet away from participants and spectators at all times.
These sports have been conditionally approved. If a community falls out of compliance and enters Level 3 in the Safer at Home Public Health Order 20-35, the Colorado Department of Health has said the approval will be re-evaluated and may be rescinded.
Requested variances for the remaining fall sports — gymnastics, boys soccer, spirit, girls volleyball, and unified bowling — remain under consideration by the COVID Response Team.
Specifics about each season will be communicated to CHSAA member schools in a timely manner. The CHSAA staff will be working closely with our administrators and school districts to assist with implementing Season A changes in an expedited manner.
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No. 6 Chatfield softball takes charge early in win over No. 3 Lakewood
LAKEWOOD — Chatfield took another big step Wednesday toward its first Class 5A Jeffco League softball title in nearly a decade.
The Chargers — No. 6 in this week’s CHSAANow.com Class 5A softball rankings — handed No. 3 Lakewood its first loss of the season at Ray Baker Field. Chatfield (10-2 record, 4-0 in league) dominated the Tigers to a tune of 8-1.
“We’ve definitely had our eyes on this,” Chatfield coach Jen Lazzari said of the Top-10 5A showdown. “We knew this would be a big week and every league game is a big. Lakewood has been off to an incredible start.”
Chatfield junior Kailey Horton was all smiles after her 2-run home run in the first inning. Horton hit a pair over the fence in the Chargers’ 8-1 victory over Lakewood. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) Chatfield got off to a great start against Lakewood (8-1, 0-1). Senior pitcher Izzy DiNapoli helped herself out with a 2-out RBI single in the top of the first inning. Then junior Kailey Horton followed up with a 2-run home run to get the Chargers out to an early 3-0 lead.
“We try to get ahead in every game to get into that groove,” Horton said. “This was a big game. We needed to come out strong and put pressure on Lakewood.”
Chatfield continued to pile up the runs in the second inning. Junior Peyton Shepard had a single, but the big help came from four walks and a hit batter issued by Lakewood junior pitcher Destiny Martinez in the inning.
The Chargers plated four more runs in the inning to grab a 7-0 lead heading to the bottom of the 2nd inning.
“We definitely try to get runs anyway we can,” Horton said. “If it is walks or getting hit by a pitch, or even hitting a sacrifice fly to advance a runner. We work hard on doing those things.”
Horton belted her second home run, a solo shot in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 8-0. The junior catcher had missed three games earlier in the year due to a concession.
“It’s good to have her (Horton) back because we need her bat in the lineup,” DiNapoli said.
Chatfield senior Izzy DiNapoli outdueled Lakewood ace Destiny Martinez on Wednesday at Ray Baker Field at Lakewood High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) DiNapoli finished with nine strikeouts while scattering three hits. She picked up her seventh victory on the mound this season. She was able to outduel Martinez, who had five wins on the season and an ERA under 1.0 entering the game.
“We know we have to score runs and I definitely feel like I throw harder against really good teams,” DiNapoli said facing off against Martinez.
Lakewood did end the shutout bid in the seventh inning. Junior Reagan Medina ripped a solo home run to end Chatfield shutout streak in 5A Jeffco League play. The Chargers have outscored their four conference opponents 35-1.
Chatfield is the lone undefeated team left in the tough league after Pomona (7-5, 2-1) suffered its first conference loss Wednesday to defending league champion Columbine (6-6, 1-2).
“It feels great, but just because we are ahead doesn’t mean we can stop working,” Horton said of the Chargers undefeated in conference play with three league game left. “We still need to push ourselves in practice to get to the next level.”
While a league softball title for the first time since 2011 would be great, Lazzari knows the Chargers have even bigger goals. Chatfield is back on the field with a non-league game on the road against 4A’s No. 2 Wheat Ridge.
“These girls have really started to buy in together,” Lazzari said of her team. “We need all nine no matter where you a playing. Good isn’t good enough. We need to be great.”
Lakewood will try to get back on track with back-to-back league games against Valor and Arvada West to end the week.
“We’ll work hard and get back at it tomorrow,” Lakewood coach Dannielle Gunn said after the Tigers’ 8-game winning streak came to an end. “We’ll work on somethings we need to adjust before Friday and Saturday games.”
Chatfield junior Peyton Shepard, right, slides into third base before Lakewood junior Faith Giebenrath can put down a tag Wednesday at Ray Baker Field. The Tigers suffered their first loss of the year with a 8-1 defeat. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)