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Tag: Ponderosa

  • 18 more locals picked on final day of MLB Draft, bringing total to 23

    Chaparral Rocky Mountain baseball
    Chaparral’s Keenan Eaton was among locals selected in the 2014 MLB Draft. (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

    A slew of local products, including a host of 2014 graduates, were selected on the third and final day of the MLB Draft on Saturday.

    Eighteen former Colorado high school baseball players were taken, bringing the total number of local products who were drafted this year to 23. Of those 23, 12 just completed their senior season this spring.

    True to Colorado’s history, 14 of the draftees are pitchers.

    Saturday was a good day for 2014 graduates. Ten of them went:

    • Ralston Valley’s Jordan Holloway
    • Grand Junction’s Owen Taylor
    • Rocky Mountain’s Carl Stajduhar
    • Regis Jesuit’s David Peterson
    • Pueblo South’s Cory Voss
    • Mountain Vista’s Nick Leonard
    • ThunderRidge’s Brody Westmoreland
    • Fairview’s Ryan Kokora
    • Legacy’s Lucas Gilbreath
    • Chaparral’s Keenan Eaton

    In addition, eight more alumni were selected out of college on Saturday. Those are:

    • Thomas Jefferson alum Brennan Henry
    • Arvada West grad Gavin Glanz
    • Rock Canyon grad Tanner Krietemeier
    • Montrose alum Nate Robertson
    • Rocky Mountain alum Jess Amedee
    • Resurrection Christian grad Jordan Piche
    • Fairview alum Tucker Tharp
    • Ponderosa grad Keegan Ghidotti

    Kyle Freeland, a 2011 graduate of Thomas Jefferson, was picked by the Rockies with the No. 8 overall selection on Thursday. Friday, four local kids were picked, led by 2014 Evergreen grad Brock Burke.

    Saturday, Henry was the first local off the board. He went in the 17th round to the Kansas City Royals at No. 513 overall.

    A 6-foot-4, 205-pound left-handed pitcher, Henry was picked out of Bellevue (Neb.) University, where he just finished his junior season. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson in 2010, then went on to play two seasons at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling.

    Henry just finished his junior season at Bellevue, an NAIA school, where he was 9-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 77 2/3 innings pitched. He struck out 101 against 51 walks.

    Ralston Valley Standley Lake baseball
    Ralston Valley’s Jordan Holloway was a 17th-round pick in the MLB Draft on Saturday. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    Holloway was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 20th round, becoming just the third local 2014 graduate taken in this draft. He went with the No. 587 overall pick.

    At 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Holloway is a sizeable right-handed pitcher. He was 6-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 43 innings during his season year at Ralston Valley, and struck out 50 batters, while walking 26.

    But Holloway also played third base for the Mustangs, and made plenty of noise with his bat. He hit .419 with five home runs and 25 RBIs. Included was a three-homer, nine-RBI game against Standley Lake on April 19.

    Holloway is a Nebraska-Omaha recruit.

    Glanz, a 2010 graduate of Arvada West, was the third Colorado product taken by the Rockies this year when he went to the local club in the 23rd round with the No. 683 overall pick.

    A 6-foot-2, 205-pound right-handed pitcher, Glanz played two seasons at Seward (Kan.) Community College before heading to Oral Roberts. As a junior this year, Glanz was 3-5 with a 3.27 ERA and 50 strikeouts to 30 walks.

    Glanz’s father, Scott, was also drafted, going to the Angels in the 13th round in 1982.

    Later in the 23rd round, the Atlanta Braves took 2010 Rock Canyon graduate Tanner Krietemeier, a first baseman.

    Krietemeier spent his freshman season at Nebraska, then moved to Iowa Western CC as a sophomore. He transferred to Oklahoma State as a junior, and just completed his senior season there.

    This season, Krietemeier hit .275 with 10 home runs and 52 RBIs.

    As the draft hit the 27th and 28th rounds, six further Colorado products went in quick succession. The group was selected over a span of 50 picks.

    Taylor, a 2014 Grand Junction grad, went to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 27th round, No. 804 overall. He’s a 6-foot-2, 200-pound first baseman, and is a Kansas recruit. Taylor hit .266 with 15 RBIs this season.

    Robertson graduated from Montrose in 2011, and also played basketball for the Indians. He was a 27th round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and went No. 810 overall.

    A 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior shortstop, Robertson hit .356 with six home runs and 48 RBIs this season as the Mavericks made the Division II final. He also stole 25 bases on 28 attempts.

    Amedee is a 2011 alum of Rocky Mountain, and was part of multiple championships with the Lobos. The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him in the 27th round, as well, at No. 821 overall.

    After graduating, Amedee went to Northern Colorado, Central Arizona Community College and spent last season, his junior year, at Texas-Arlington. A right-handed pitcher who stands 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, he was 1-4 with a 6.52 ERA in 48 1/3 innings as a junior.

    Rocky Mountain Regis Jesuit baseball
    Rocky Mountain’s Carl Stajduhar went in the 27th round. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    Stajduhar went two picks after Amedee at No. 823 overall, becoming a 27th-round pick of the Braves. A 2014 graduate, he led Rocky Mountain to the Class 5A championship this spring, capping a brilliant career.

    As a senior, Stajduhar hit .489 and led the state with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs. He is a New Mexico recruit.

    Piche went to the Los Angeles Angeles in the 28th round, No. 854 overall. He’s a 6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed pitcher who graduated from Resurrection Christian in 2010 and is now at Kansas.

    Prior to becoming a Jayhawk, Piche spent two seasons at Indian Hills CC in Iowa — which is where Fountain-Fort Carson graduate Nick Green was drafted out of in the seventh round Friday.

    As a senior this past season, Piche went 6-5 with a 4.59 ERA in 82 1/3 innings. He had 69 strikeouts to 29 walks.

    Next off the board was Regis Jesuit pitcher David Peterson, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound lefty who fractured his right fibula prior to the season. Peterson, a 2014 grad, went in the 28th round to the Boston Red Sox, No. 854 overall.

    Peterson battled back from the injury to return to the Raiders in mid-April and finished with a 1.15 ERA in 24 1/3 innings. He held opponents to a .180 batting average. Despite the shortened season, he was 3-0 and had 40 strikeouts to 12 walks.

    Peterson is an Oregon recruit.

    “I want to thank the Red Sox for drafting me,” Peterson tweeted Saturday. “It is such an honor to be picked by one of the best organizations there is.”

    Tharp, meanwhile, went to the New York Mets in the 30th round, No. 895 overall. He was also a football star for Fairview before graduating in 2010.

    A 5-foot-10, 195-pound outfielder, Tharp hit .310 with six home runs and 39 RBIs as a senior at Kansas this season. He also stole 11 of the 15 bases he attempted to.

    Voss became the fourth local picked by the Rockies this draft when they took him in the 34th round, No. 1013 overall. A 5-foot-10, 190-pound catcher, he hit. 469 with four home runs and 22 RBIs this past season.

    Like Stajduhar, Voss is a New Mexico recruit.

    “Thanks to the Rockies for drafting me!” Voss tweeted on Saturday. “Huge honor to be selected by such a great organization! Thanks to everyone for the support!”

    Leonard, Mountain Vista’s right-handed pitcher, was next, going to the Braves later in the 34th round, at No. 1033 overall.

    Leonard graduated this spring, is a Washington State recruit and was flat out dominant this season. Listed at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, he went 8-3 with a microscopic 0.88 ERA in 80 innings this season. He had 105 strikeouts to 16 walks.

    ThunderRidge Cherry Creek baseball
    ThunderRidge shortstop Brody Westmoreland was drafted by the Rockies in the 35th round. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    ThunderRidge’s Westmoreland, a 2014 grad, then went in the 35th round to the Rockies, becoming the fifth local selected by the team. A San Diego State recruit, he hit .420 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs this season, and also stole 12 bases.

    Westmoreland is listed as 6-foot-3, 185 pounds — and despite speculation to the contrary, he has not been approached about moving to a corner infield spot and will stay at shortstop at San Diego State, or as a professional should he sign. In fact, he’s been told by scouts that he’s a prototypical shortstop.

    “Thank you Rockies for drafting me today!” Westmoreland tweeted. “Want to thank everyone for all the support and looking forward to playing at San Diego State!”

    Fairview’s Kokora, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound right-handed pitcher who graduated this spring, was the fourth Colorado product selected by the Braves on Saturday. He went in the 35th round, No. 1063 overall.

    A Hawaii Pacific recruit, Kokora went 9-0 with a 1.38 ERA this season. He held batters to a .166 average, and struck out 65 to 15 walks in helping the Knights to the 5A Final 8.

    Gilbreath, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-handed pitcher from Legacy, was the Rockies’ sixth and final local selection when he went in the 36th round, No. 1073 overall.

    Gilbreath graduated this spring and is a Minnesota recruit. He went 6-2 with a 1.45 ERA this season. Gilbreath had 111 strikeouts, which led 5A, to just 22 walks.

    Ghidotti just finished his senior season at Ouachita Baptist, a Division II school in Arkansas. He graduated from Ponderosa in 2010.

    A 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed pitcher, Ghidotti was 0-1 with eight saves and a 2.06 ERA in 35 innings this past season.

    Chaparral’s Eaton, who graduated this spring, was the final local product selected in this year’s draft. He went in the 39th round, No. 1162 overall, to the Philadelphia Phillies.

    Eaton, who is a Wichita State recruit, was drafted as a 6-foot, 195-pound left fielder. He hit .328 with with a home run and 13 RBIs this season.

    The 2014 MLB Draft started with the first, second and compensation rounds on Thursday. Rounds 3-10 were Friday, with Nos. 11-40 Saturday.

    [divider]

    Colorado products taken in 2014 MLB Draft

    Alumni
    Rd. Ovr. Team Name Position High School College
    1 8 Colorado Rockies Kyle Freeland LHP Thomas Jefferson (2011) Evansville
    3 98 Los Angeles Dodgers John Richy RHP Golden (2011) UNLV
    7 216 Texas Rangers Nick Green RHP Fountain-Fort Carson (2013) Indian Hills (Iowa) CC
    17 513 Kansas City Royals Brennan Henry LHP Thomas Jefferson (2010) Bellevue (Neb.)
    23 683 Colorado Rockies Gavin Glanz RHP Arvada West (2010) Oral Roberts
    23 703 Atlanta Braves Tanner Krietemeier 1B Rock Canyon (2010) Oklahoma State
    27 810 Arizona Diamondbacks Nate Robertson SS Montrose (2011) Colorado Mesa
    27 821 Pittsburgh Pirates Jess Amedee RHP Rocky Mountain (2011) Texas-Arlington
    28 839 Los Angeles Angels Jordan Piche RHP Resurrection Christian (2010) Kansas
    30 859 New York Mets Tucker Tharp OF Fairview (2010) Kansas
    38 1141 Baltimore Orioles Keegan Ghidotti RHP Ponderosa (2010) Ouachita Baptist
    2014 graduates
    Round Overall Team Name Position High School Commit
    3 96 Tampa Bay Rays Brock Burke LHP Evergreen Oregon
    6 173 Colorado Rockies Max George SS Regis Jesuit Oregon State
    20 587 Miami Marlins Jordan Holloway RHP Ralston Valley Nebraska-Omaha
    27 804 Toronto Blue Jays Owen Taylor 1B Grand Junction Kansas
    27 823 Atlanta Braves Carl Stajduhar 1B Rocky Mountain New Mexico
    28 854 Boston Red Sox David Peterson LHP Regis Jesuit Oregon
    34 1013 Colorado Rockies Cory Voss C Pueblo South New Mexico
    34 1033 Atlanta Braves Nick Leonard RHP Mountain Vista Washington State
    35 1043 Colorado Rockies Brody Westmoreland SS ThunderRidge San Diego State
    35 1063 Atlanta Braves Ryan Kokora RHP Fairview Hawaii Pacific
    36 1073 Colorado Rockies Lucas Gilbreath LHP Legacy Minnesota
    39 1162 Philadelphia Phillies Keenan Eaton LF Chaparral Wichita State

  • Ponderosa takes down defending champ Wheat Ridge for state title

    Ponderosa boys lacrosse celebrates its 4A title. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
    Ponderosa boys lacrosse celebrates its 4A title. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    DENVER – A 13-7 lead for the Ponderosa Mustangs was slowly being eaten away. The defending Class 4A boys lacrosse champions, the Wheat Ridge Farmers, had found themselves in quite the hole, but had shown before that they had the talent to climb out of it.

    But Patrick Tierney’s Mustangs had too much resolve and in the end, would hold on 13-11 to take the 4A title in what many would call a major upset in Colorado high school lacrosse.

    “If you watch, you knew that they needed each other,” Tierney said of his team. “They worked hard the whole game. They turned to each other, they passed when they had to and they didn’t try to take it on themselves.”

    It was all the more impressive considering the Farmers scored 54 seconds into the contest to take a quick 1-0 lead. After winning their first two playoff games by a combined score of 22-12, a quick start was anything but a surprise.

    The 1-0 score would hold for over seven minutes before the Mustangs were able to shake their cobwebs and get the ball by Farmers goalie Jensen Makarov. Ponderosa’s ability to tie the game also came as little surprise.

    (Dan Mohrmann)
    (Dan Mohrmann)

    Where the surprise came in was how the Mustangs converted another goal 20 seconds and yet another with 14 seconds left in the first quarter — both at the hands of senior captain Blake Bruner — to take a 3-1 lead.

    “It’s a game of runs and we knew that coming in,” Bruner said. “Everyone contributed so much and that got our momentum going and we just kept with it and we knew we would get some runs and they would get some too. We just made sure to get ours going real quick.”

    The Farmers wouldn’t quit and battle back to cut the lead down to one goal thanks to goals by John Roach and Dylan Mechling. But just as it appeared Wheat Ridge had seized some momentum, the Mustangs went on a run of four straight goals to build a 7-3 lead.

    The momentum had clearly shifted and it showed when Makarov lost the ball trying to clear it, allowing Austin Bullock to scoop it up and put it in the net for the Mustangs’ seventh goal of the game. Once again, the Farmers tried to fight their way back, but Ponderosa struck with another run, scoring four goals in a span where Wheat Ridge could only muster one. Junior Jack Griffin had three-straight goals for the Mustangs to increase their lead to 11-6.

    “We definitely didn’t have anything to lose, they’re going to 5A next year and we sent them to 5A in style,” Griffin said. “I felt like we were the underdogs and I’ve played Wheat Ridge a number times and never beaten them before so I think our team just wanted it more today.”

    The scoring for the Mustangs slowed to a crawl in the fourth quarter, just at Wheat Ridge redoubled their efforts. Ponderosa held a 13-7 lead with 6:49 to go in the game, but would soon get put back on their heels. As the seconds ticked away, so the did the Mustangs’ lead. John Roach added another and senior Tyler Knott added two more as the Farmers pulled to within two goals.

    The momentum appeared to be with the Farmers, but with 52 seconds left in the game Roach was called for a cross-check, giving the Mustangs a one-man advantage for the remainder of the game. They were able to control the ball for that last minute, taking down arguably the best 4A lacrosse team of all-time.

    “I think we had enough players on the field that when we had a chance we executed,” Tierney said. “And by executing, we were able to keep them at a distance but we got into some trouble with penalties and that late in the game it was tough to fight off. But it was a great win, I’m so happy for them. They worked hard for it; they worked hard for three years, most of these guys.”

  • Ponderosa boys lacrosse reaches 4A title game after topping Steamboat

    Ponderosa Steamboat Springs boys lacrosse
    More photos. (Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com)

    PARKER — Momentum can be an elusive entity in sports. The team that finds it can be vaulted to victory.

    Ponderosa rode a tidal wave of momentum all the way to the Class 4A boys lacrosse state championship game.

    The No. 2-seeded Mustangs out-roughed and out-toughed a quality No. 6 Steamboat Springs team 17-13 on Wednesday evening at Sports Authority Stadium in a physical battle throughout.

    Neither squad could gain possession or momentum early as the excitement of the stage and the physicality of the squads seemed to fluster both.

    Ponderosa Steamboat Springs boys lacrosse
    More photos. (Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com)

    Ponderosa trailed 3-2 at the end of the first quarter and was unable to find the net with consistency, but a rough hit by a Steamboat player may have been just the trick for the Mustangs.

    “It made me want to show them that they shouldn’t do that,” Ponderosa junior attacker Derik Mango said about the key to his team-leading six goals.

    The Mustangs rode their horses offensively — Mango, Blake Bruner, Ben Zimbeck, and John Griffin (five goals) — and utilized speed, crisp execution, and a fiery assault to begin seizing control of the game.

    Mango nearly kept pace with Steamboat in the first half as the Sailors only outscored the talented attacker 5-4. Ponderosa held a slight 7-5 halftime lead, but unleashed a 7-2 run to put the Sailors in a huge hole, 14-7 early in the final period.

    “We got our shots, but just couldn’t bury them,” Mango said of the early lack of offense. “We hit a bunch of pipes and we just missed the goal. Once we started burying them, we started rolling and everything was clicking.”

    Known as a team that never quits, Steamboat stayed true to their reputation and made a final push.

    “They’ve come back a few times this year, so you have to be ready for a team like that to not just go away,” Ponderosa coach Patrick Tierney said of the Sailors. “When they got chances, they took advantage of them. When we got chances on the other end, we fortunately finished a few of them to keep them at a distance.”

    The game turned chaotic as the teams combined for nine goals in the final six minutes, six by the Sailors and three by Ponderosa, but it wasn’t enough for Steamboat as they saw their season come to a close with their second straight semifinals loss.

    The Mustangs credited the win to their team-oriented squad.

    “Mango, Griffin, Bruner, our defense was outstanding, and our goalie was phenomenal,” Tierney said. “It’s a team. It is the group that makes them better.

    “I think it was just sticking together as a team,” Mango added. “Seasons past, when we got down or they scored a bunch of goals in a row, we would get down on each other, but we stepped up as a team and fought through the tough times.”

    Ponderosa Steamboat Springs boys lacrosse
    More photos. (Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com)

    The reward for a hard-nosed semifinals victory will be powerful Wheat Ridge waiting in the championship game on Saturday at Mile High Stadium. The game is set to begin at 2 p.m.

    Ponderosa is ecstatic about the opportunity to face the defending 4A state champions.

    “If you had told me I would get to play Wheat Ridge this season, I would have been excited about that,” Tierney said. “That means we’re playing a team that hasn’t been beaten in 4A yet, but I think we have a strong enough team to hopefully win a good game.”

    The 4A classification, which is in its second year of existence for boys lacrosse after previously being one class, has been controlled by the Farmers thus far.

    Ponderosa will be a worthy contender to try and take Wheat Ridge’s crown. The Mustangs are impressive physically with heaps of speed and offensive firepower and an imposing, staunch defense.

    Ponderosa will be appearing in their first boys lacrosse state title game as a team united in battle, united by their physical and mental strength. They hope it will be enough to lift their first state title Saturday on the state’s biggest stage.

  • Photos: Ponderosa boys lacrosse beats Steamboat Springs in semifinals

    PARKER — Ponderosa boys lacrosse beat Steamboat Springs to advance to the Class 4A championship game on Wednesday.

  • State tennis: Final results from 5A and 4A girls

    The 2014 girls tennis state championships are in the books. Cherry Creek (5A) and Cheyenne Mountain (4A) took the team titles.

    Full results:


    [divider]

    Class 4A

    Team Results
    Rank Team Points
    1 Cheyenne Mountain 80
    2 St. Mary’s Academy 53
    3 Kent Denver 50
    4 Niwot 42
    5 Pueblo West 25
    6 Valor Christian 24
    7 Eaton 22
    T8 Air Academy 7
    T8 D’Evelyn 7
    T10 Mullen 4
    T10 Centaurus 4
    T12 Holy Family 2
    T12 Discovery Canyon 2
    T14 Montrose 1
    T14 Pueblo South 1
    T14 Steamboat Springs 1
    T14 Windsor 1
    T14 Alexander Dawson 1
    T14 Colorado Academy 1
    T14 Fountain Valley 1

    Individual results

    No. 1 singles

    • Championship: Kalyssa Hall, So., Cheyenne Mtn. def. Alex Weil, Jr., St. Mary’s Academy (6-3, 7-6)
    • 3rd place: Alex Middleton, Valor Christian, Sr. def. Sarah Schoenbeck, Pueblo West, Fr. (6-2, 6-0)

    No. 2 singles

    • Championship: Delaney Nalen, Sr., Kent Denver def. Daniella Adamczyk, So., Cheyenne Mtn. (6-3, 6-3)
    • 3rd place: Suzy Xiao, St. Mary’s Academy, Sr. def. Megan Londa, Niwot, Sr. (6-2, 6-0)

    No. 3 singles

    • Championship: Caitie McCarthy, So., Pueblo West def. Maeve Kearney, Fr., Kent Denver (7-6, 6-3)
    • 3rd place: Jessica Metz, Cheyenne Mountain, So. def. Jami Albert, Niwot, Jr. (6-0, 6-0)

    No. 1 doubles

    • Championship: Casey Ahrendsen, Fr., Ally Arenson, Fr., Cheyenne Mtn. def. Lauren Richards, Sr., Maura Derr, Jr., Niwot (6-4, 6-3)
    • 3rd place: Maddy Shelton, Sr., Cathryn Harper, Jr., Eaton def. Elizabeth Smedley, Jr., Rachael Prokupek, Jr., Kent Denver (6-4, 5-7, 6-4)

    No. 2 doubles

    • Championship: Tory Louis, Jr., Claire Dibble, Fr., Cheyenne Mtn. def. Jisyasa Sharma, Sr., Rachel Haas, Sr., St. Mary’s (6-1, 3-6, 6-1)
    • 3rd place: Haley Miller, Sr., Karen Sigg, Sr., Eaton def. Olivia Bansky, Sr., Sophia Hsaio, Sr., Kent Denver (6-3, 7-6)

    No. 3 doubles

    • Championship: Megan Dibble, Jr., Chelsey Geisz, So., Cheyenne Mtn. def. Tempel Haifleigh, Jr., Lily Rogers-Masamori, Jr., Kent Denver (6-4, 6-2)
    • 3rd place: Nonie Viel, Sr., Emma Lerner, So., Niwot def. Emily Harper, So., Courtney Leafpren, Fr., Eaton (6-2, 6-0)

    No. 4 doubles

    • Championship: Kate Melberg, Sr., Julia Chowdhury, Sr., St. Mary’s def. Frauke Aumann, Jr., Geya Kairamkonda, Jr., Niwot (1-6, 6-1, 7-5)
    • 3rd place: Julia Oblack, Sr., Maggie Hime, Fr., D’Evelyn def. Emilie Benedict, Sr., Jackie Pettet, Jr., Valor Christian (7-6, 6-4)


    [divider]

    Class 5A

    Team Results
    Rank Team Points
    1 Cherry Creek 83
    2 Fossil Ridge 51
    3 Arapahoe 47
    4 Denver East 44
    5 Fairview 25
    6 Ralston Valley 15
    7 Loveland 14
    8 Ponderosa 12
    9 Highlands Ranch 8
    10 Lakewood 5
    11 Mountain Vista 4
    T12 Greeley West 3
    T12 Heritage 3
    T14 Chatfield 2
    T14 Fruita Monument 2
    T14 Legacy 2
    T14 Mountain Range 2
    T14 Rock Canyon 2
    T14 Rocky Mountain 2
    T20 Dakota Ridge 1
    T20 George Washington 1
    T20 Liberty 1

    Individual results

    No. 1 singles

    • Championship: Tate Schroeder, So., Arapahoe def. Rebecca Weissmann, So., Loveland (6-4, 6-3)
    • 3rd place: Gloria Son, Cherry Creek, So. def. Bria Smith, Denver East, Sr. (6-3, 1-6, 6-2)

    No. 2 singles

    • Championship: Natalia Dellavalle, Sr., Denver East def. Natalie Munson, So., Fairview (6-0, 6-0)
    • 3rd place: Kaitlyn Motley, Fossil Ridge, Sr., def. Julia Mannino, Cherry Creek, Jr. (6-4, 6-4)

    No. 3 singles

    • Championship: Madeline Roberts, Jr., Cherry Creek def. Emma Jo Wiley, Jr., Fossil Ridge (6-2, 6-0)
    • 3rd: Claire Cox, Ponderosa, Fr. def. Kaye Johnson, Denver East, Sr. (4-6, 6-0, 6-3)

    No. 1 doubles

    • Championship: Rachael Scheber, Sr., Mia Hoover, Sr., Cherry Creek def. Shelby Mavis, Sr., Andrea Motley, Sr., Fossil Ridge (6-2, 6-3)
    • 3rd place: Brooke Jacks, Sr., Nicole Eiten, Sr., Highlands Ranch def. Abigail Kruz, sr., Natalie Sloboth, Fr., Arapahoe (6-3, 6-2)

    No. 2 doubles

    • Championship: Hanna Fernley, So., Jessie Murphy, Jr., Cherry Creek def. Sam Penhale, Jr., Nicole Newell, Sr., Fossil Ridge (6-2, 7-5)
    • 3rd place: Caroline Berzins, Jr., Laura Wells, Jr. Denver East def. Allison Snyder, So., Sarah Shortall, So. (6-3, 6-4)

    No. 3 doubles

    • Championship: Laura Wilms, Sr., Bridget O’Brien, Sr., Arapahoe def. Sarah Grace Walker, Jr., Phoebe Mackenzie, So., Cherry Creek (6-2, 6-7, 7-6)
    • 3rd place: Taylor Toepke, Sr., Tara Teslow, Jr. Fossil Ridge def. Risa Eck, Jr., Lucy Sherman, Fr., Ralston Valley (6-2, 6-7, 6-2)

    No. 4 doubles

    • Championship: Kara Lee, Sr., Jessica Diamond, Jr., Cherry Creek def. Ellie Savage, Fr., Carolyn Roberts, So., Fairview (6-2, 6-7, 6-4)
    • 3rd: Adrien Horowitz, Jr., Hayley Weidmann, Jr., Ralston Valley def. Natalie Betts, Jr., Bria Busta, Sr., Arapahoe (6-3, 4-6, 6-4)

  • Photos: Ponderosa girls soccer beats Durango in playoffs

    PARKER — No. 16-seeded Ponderosa held off No. 17 Durango 2-1 at home in the first round of the Class 4A girls soccer playoffs on Wednesday.

  • Centaurus, Cherry Creek, Wheat Ridge top seeds as lacrosse pairings unveiled

    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
    Centaurus is the No. 1 seed in the girls’ playoff field. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    AURORA — Centaurus girls lacrosse was runner-up last season in its first-ever trip to the state title game.

    This season, the Warriors enter the tournament as the favorite. Centaurus was the No. 1 seed in the 20-team playoff field which was unveiled on Monday morning.

    The Warriors went 14-1 during the regular season, including 13-0 against in-state teams. Centaurus has a first-round bye, and will face the winner of No. 16 Regis Jesuit and No. 17 Dakota Ridge.

    Chatfield is the No. 2 seed for the girls, Air Academy is No. 3, Arapahoe is No. 4 and defending champion Cherry Creek is No. 5.

    The girls semifinals will be at the University of Denver on May 17. The championship will also be at DU, on May 21.

    See the full girls lacrosse bracket.

    The boys’ fields were also released on Monday, and Cherry Creek (5A) and Wheat Ridge (4A) garnered the top seeds.

    Wheat Ridge won the state’s first 4A title last season, and is unbeaten against 4A teams this season. The Farmers open up vs. No. 16 Denver South.

    Ponderosa got 4A’s second seed. Valor Christian is third, Battle Mountain is fourth and Aspen is fifth.

    See the full 4A boys bracket.

    Cherry Creek, meanwhile, has been runner-up each of the past two seasons. The Bruins are 11-0 against in-state teams this year.

    Regis Jesuit got the No. 2 seed, Mountain Vista is No. 3, Kent Denver is No. 4 and Colorado Academy is No. 5.

    The 5A boys quarterfinals will be held at Regis Jesuit, and the semis are at All-City Field at Denver South. 4A’s quarterfinals and semifinals are at home sites. Both the 5A and 4A title games will be held at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on May 17.

    See the full 5A boys bracket.

  • Notebook: Green Mountain’s Hendon nets career shutout record

    Green Mountain's Lindsey Hendon. (Carl Auer, MaxPreps)
    Green Mountain’s Lindsey Hendon set the state record with her 40th career shutout on Tuesday. (Carl Auer, MaxPreps)

    Green Mountain goalkeeper Lindsey Hendon has made 221 saves in her career. She carries a 0.631 goals-against average, and has 55 wins for the Rams. But most impressive is what happened Tuesday.

    Hendon.
    Hendon.

    Hendon, a senior, set the Colorado record with her 40th career shutout during a 10-0 win over Colorado Springs Christian on Tuesday.

    CHSAA does not maintain soccer records, but the National Soccer Coaches Association of America has extensive data. According to that record book, Hendon broke the mark of 39 career shutouts set by Overland’s Lisa Griffin after the 1988-89 season.

    Ten of Hendon’s 40 shutouts have come this season. She notched 11 as a junior, 10 as a sophomore and nine as a freshman.

    Hendon, an Iowa State recruit, is now 55-6-6 in net.

    Green Mountain is 12-1-1 this season in Class 4A.

    Cherry Creek boys lacrosse in driver’s seat

    Cherry Creek boys lacrosse had probably its biggest win of the season on Tuesday night — and what a time to have it.

    The second-ranked Bruins beat No. 1 Regis Jesuit 10-7 and are now 10-0 against in-state competition.

    Cherry Creek has finished runner-up each of the last two seasons. Should they beat Kent Denver in the Friday’s season finale, it seems very likely that the Bruins end up as the No. 1 seed of the Class 5A field. In that scenario, I think Regis — 12-1 against in-state teams — would still wind up as the No. 2 seed.

    Other high seeds should include Mountain Vista, Kent Denver and Colorado Academy.

    Boykins talks new Douglas County job

    New Douglas County boys basketball coach Earl Boykins, the former Denver Nugget, is a weekly guest on 104.3 The Fan. Tuesday, he talked about his new job.

    “I’ve always wanted to teach young people basketball,” he said. “That’s always been a desire of mine and something I wanted to do. That’s why I started Boykins Basketball Academy. While doing the Academy, I decided I should take it to the next level, and the next level would be high school.

    “It’s been a process that I’m enjoying and I look forward to the next basketball season.”

    Douglas County went 3-20 last season, and actually hasn’t had a winning season since 2007-08. That’s also the last time the Huskies made the state tournament. Over the past six seasons, the Huskies are 29-110.

    “I believe in Earl, I’ve seen him coach in person,” said Alfred Williams, co-host on 104.3. “I believe the guy’s going to be a great coach. Can’t wait to see it all come together.”

    Arapahoe girls soccer turns it around

    Arapahoe Cherry Creek girls soccer
    (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    Arapahoe’s girls soccer team finished the regular season 11-3-1 and won the Centennial League by virtue of a win over Cherry Creek on April 15.

    It was quite a one-season turnaround for the Warriors, who went 3-11-0 a year ago and lost seven of their final eight games.

    Though, these guys didn’t exactly come out of nowhere. Arapahoe was 14-3-0 in 2012, and made the 5A title game in 2010.

    Short stuff

    • In an abrupt change, Dan Snyder will not become Grandview’s new boys basketball coach. The longtime Arapahoe coach decided instead “to step away from high school coaching for awhile,” according to the Aurora Sentinel.
    • Prairie View baseball senior Caleb Dameron now has 22 steals this season with three games yet to play. That is believed to be a big-school state record.
    • Sedgwick County’s Chase Dunker threw his third no-hitter of the season on Saturday. This time, he struck out 16. Earlier this season, Dunker struck out 19 of the 21 batters he faced while tossing a perfect game.
    • County Line remained unranked in the final 2A baseball poll of the regular season, but the Rivals — it’s a co-op between Wiley and McClave — are now 13-3, including a double-header sweep of then-No. 1 Swink on Saturday.
    • Grand Junction boys basketball coach Dutch Johnson resigned to become an assistant at Colorado Mesa next season, according to this tweet.
    • Longmont volleyball coach Holli Stetson has resigned, according to BoCoPreps.com, following a difficult season during which she endured the death of her father and had a variety of health issues.
    • Spring championship season around the corner, and most of the events will be carried on the NFHS Network. The Network recently released an official app — download it here.
    • Ponderosa’s booster club tweeted out new jerseys the team will wear next season under first-year coach Jaron Cohen. Here’s away, and home.
    • Brandon Bailey, a 2013 graduate of Broomfield, was named the West Coast Conference’s baseball player of the week on Monday. He pitched a complete-game win over Saint Mary’s last Saturday, allowing just one earned run on eight hits. He also struck out a career-high seven batters. Bailey, who didn’t pitch his senior season because of an arm injury, is now 4-5 with a 3.24 ERA for the Bulldogs as a freshman.
    • Greeley West is looking for boys and girls basketball coaches. Apply here.

     

  • Rock Canyon returns to 5A boys lacrosse ranking

    Rock Canyon Highlands Ranch boys lacrosse
    Rock Canyon is No. 9 in this week’s 5A boys lacrosse poll. (Mark Adams)

    Rock Canyon has rejoined CHSAANow.com’s Class 5A boys lacrosse poll.

    The Jaguars are No. 9 this week after extending their winning streak to five games.

    Elsewhere, Regis Jesuit remained at No. 1 — and is actually a unanimous pick this week. The Raiders are now 15-0.

    Wheat Ridge is also a unanimous No. 1 pick in 4A. Air Academy was the lone newcomer to that ranking, joining at No. 10.

    These rankings will serve as the final of the regular season with the schedule ending on Saturday and the postseason beginning next week.

    Complete rankings for both classes are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Boys Lacrosse Polls

    Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

    Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

    Go to: 5A | 4A

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Regis Jesuit (12) 15-0 120 1 3-0
    2 Cherry Creek 10-2 107 2 0-1
    3 Mountain Vista 13-2 97 3 3-0
    4 Kent Denver 10-3 77 4 1-1
    5 Colorado Academy 11-3 74 6 3-0
    6 Arapahoe 11-5 63 5 1-2
    7 Mullen 9-6 47 8 1-1
    8 Columbine 10-4 39 7 1-1
    9 Rock Canyon 9-5 16 – 2-0
    10 Palmer 9-3 9 9 2-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Highlands Ranch 6, Dakota Ridge 3, Chaparral 1, Monarch 1.
    Dropped out
    Chaparral (10).

    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Wheat Ridge (7) 12-3 70 1 3-0
    2 Ponderosa 12-1 63 2 2-0
    3 Steamboat Springs 12-1 51 4 0-0
    4 Valor Christian 9-3 49 6 3-0
    5 Thompson Valley 10-4 39 5 1-1
    6 Battle Mountain 11-2 36 8 4-0
    7 Aspen 10-2 31 3 0-1
    8 Cheyenne Mountain 8-4 22 9 2-0
    9 Alexander Dawson 10-4 17 7 1-1
    10 Air Academy 5-8 6 – 1-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Durango 1.
    Dropped out
    Conifer (10).

  • Photos: Rocky Mountain, Grandview win track’s Grandview Invite

    AURORA — Rocky Mountain’s girls and Grandview’s boys won the Grandview track Invitational on Saturday.

    Rocky Mountain finished with a total of 109 points, besting second-place Grandview (94 points) on the girls side. Rampart was third with 65 points.

    Grandview’s boys won with 142.5 points, while Arapahoe was second with 75.5. Highlands Ranch was third with 73.