The preseason football rankings were released on Monday for all seven classifications. Leading their respective polls are: Stratton/Liberty (6-man), Sedgwick County (8-man), Limon (1A), Delta (2A), Pueblo South (3A), Pine Creek (4A), and Cherry Creek (5A).
The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.
PUEBLO WEST — As Falcon’s Reese Knox walked off the ninth green at Desert Hawk golf course, he looked to his dad and complained about his putting.
So on the back nine, he decided to hole shots out rather than putt them. In a two-hole span he hit one fairway, one green in regulation and just a single putt while shaving three strokes of his score. By the time he got to the clubhouse he had carded a 3-under-par 69 to claim the Class 4A Region 1 title.
A big piece of that round came as he chipped in for eagle at the par-5 12th and holed out from a greenside bunker on 13. That stretched helped him fall back to around even where Coronado’s Noah Keller lingered most of the day.
“On the front I was lipping (putts) out a bit,” Knox said. “By the time I got to the back I just decided I was going to play golf and not worry about the score. I started playing and just fell into the moment. I started chipping in and getting some lucky breaks.”
His approach shot from the rough on No. 2 landed inches from the hole for his first birdie of the day, but his ensuing tee shot was out of bounds resulting in a double-bogey. He bogeyed No. 4 before making a birdie on the par-3 fifth and eventually made the turn at 1-over. He played the first six holes on the back at 4-under with a par and a bogey before coasting to three pars in the final three holes.
Pueblo West held off Falcon by three strokes to claim the team regional championship. The Cyclones got solid performances from Toby Sailnas and Noah Wagner at last year’s 4A tournament at the Bridges. They’ll head to the Country Club of Colorado looking to make another run at a state title and coach Dan Sanchez thinks the experience from last year is key.
“In all high school sports, if you’ve been in those pressure situations and you’ve felt the struggle, to me that’s what it’s all about,” Sanchez said.
It was announced last week that the 4A state tournament was moving to the Country Club of Colorado but for several players from all around the state, there is a feeling of excitement when it comes to qualifying for the tournament and getting a chance to play a new venue with new players to compete with.
“Today was fun, I had never really met these guys,” Durango junior Levi Tichi said. “I had played (Eisenhower) once or twice, it was my freshman year regional course. I was happy to hear about the change to the Country Club of Colorado because I’ve been struggling with putting all year.”
Not that the greens at CC of C are a cakewalk, but Eisenhower has proven to be one of the toughest putting courses in all of the front range. Regardless of the venue, the qualifiers from the Desert Hawk regional will get back to work on Tuesday with an eye on competing at state.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
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Regionals elsewhere:
St. Mary’s claims team title at 3A Region 2
With two players finishing in the top three, St. Mary’s came away with a regional team title at Murphy Creek. Kent Denver’s Jeffrey Zhou shot 73 to claim medalist honors.
Sterling and Eaton send teams to Dos Rios
Sterling and Eaton each grabbed a pair of top 10 finishers at 3A Region 3 at Boomerang Golf Links. The Tigers won the team title as senior Trey Kuntz finished second overall with a 73. Strasburg’s Jacob Gilbert won the individual title.
Ford tames Country Club of Colorado
Discovery Canyon’s Kaden Ford was laughing the last time he played the Country Club of Colorado, calling it the “worst ball-striking day of my life.”
The result was much better at regionals. Ford claimed the individual championship at the Country Club of Colorado. Cheyenne Mountain won the team title as Ponderosa took second.
Rock Canyon’s team finishes under par at Raccoon Creek
Nick Fallin led the way with a 65 as Rock Canyon grabbed the individual and team regional titles at Raccoon Creek. Overall, five players shot under par at the tournament.
Ralston Valley’s Gage Messingham led Ralston Valley with a 67 and the Mustangs finished second to get their team to state.
Fossil Ridge edges Pine Creek at Hyland Hills
Lengend’s Ryan Parker claimed the 5A Northern regional title at Hyland Hills with a 71. Pine Creek’s Wesley Erling matched him, but ultimately finished second.
Fossil Ridge claimed the team title by beating out Pine Creek by just two strokes.
Eaton’s softball team, now 7-1-0, has moved up to the No. 1 spot in this week’s Class 3A rankings.
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.
Columbine 29, Castle View 23, Rocky Mountain 19, Arvada West 16, Douglas County 16, Horizon 15, Hinkley 10, Fruita Monument 8, Highlands Ranch 7, Brighton 6, Ralston Valley 6, Cherry Creek 5, Fort Collins 5, ThunderRidge 5, Valor Christian 5, Denver East 3, Fountain-Fort Carson 3, Mountain Range 3, Rampart 3, Eaglecrest 2, Arapahoe 1, Pomona 1, Regis Jesuit 1.
Dropped out
None.
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Mead (7)
8-0-0
129
1
1-0-0
2
Wheat Ridge (6)
7-0-0
122
2
2-0-0
3
Holy Family
6-2-0
96
3
3-0-0
4
D’Evelyn (1)
8-0-0
67
–
5-0-0
5
Silver Creek
5-4-0
55
7
3-0-0
6
Erie
5-3-0
46
4
1-1-0
7
Riverdale Ridge
9-1-0
38
5
4-0-0
8
Conifer
6-1-0
37
–
3-0-0
9
Frederick
8-2-0
28
6
3-1-0
10
Ponderosa
5-2-0
18
9
3-2-0
Others receiving votes:
Pueblo Central 17, Mesa Ridge 15, Pueblo West 14, Windsor 14, Roosevelt 12, Pueblo South 9, Northfield 9, Mullen 8, Pueblo Centennial 8, Bear Creek 6, Air Academy 5, Discovery Canyon 5, Falcon 5, Golden 3, Palisade 2, Niwot 1, Pueblo County 1.
Dropped out
Air Academy (8), Mesa Ridge (10).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Eaton (6)
7-1-0
101
2
2-0-0
2
University (5)
6-2-0
98
1
1-1-0
3
Rocky Ford
6-0-0
74
3
1-0-0
4
Lyons
5-2-0
66
5
2-0-0
5
Strasburg
4-3-0
59
8
0-0-0
6
Limon
6-2-0
55
4
1-1-0
7
Lutheran (1)
6-1-0
43
9
1-0-0
8
La Junta
4-3-0
40
10
2-2-0
9
Brush
4-4-0
35
7
1-1-0
10
Sterling
5-3-0
29
6
1-1-0
Others receiving votes:
Fort Lupton 15, Delta 10, Alamosa 9, Basalt 8, Denver West 8, The Academy 8, Aspen 7, Burlington 7, Montezuma-Cortez 7, Weld Central 7, Faith Christian 6, Holyoke 6, Lamar 6, Yuma 4, Jefferson 3, Sheridan 2, Cedaredge 1, Harrison 1.
AURORA — Being a little unpredictable and a bit wild can be pretty effective for a softball pitcher.
Lakewood junior Destiny Martinez was just that in the circle during the opening round of the annual Dave Sanders Tournament on Friday afternoon at Aurora Sports Park. Martinez hit three batters, walked a pair, but didn’t give up a hit in a complete-game, no-hit shutout victory against Ponderosa.
Lakewood junior Destiny Martinez had 16 strikeouts during her no-hitter against Ponderosa on Friday afternoon at Aurora Sports Park. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“I was ready. I know what I need to do. Sometimes it just doesn’t happen,” Martinez said after her 16 strikeout performance in a 2-0 victory for the Tigers (5-0 record). “I just needed to stay calm for my team.”
Martinez wasn’t picture perfect throwing a number of pitches well over the head of catcher Abigail Swartz, but in turn, the Mustangs weren’t able to square up any pitches. Ponderosa (3-1) put just four balls in play. Two were ground balls back to Martinez.
“She (Martinez) always does a great job in the circle for us. It was a little of a mechanical thing for her,” Gunn said of Martinez’s wildness. “She needed to use her legs a little more and she was making adjustments throughout the game.”
Lakewood — No. 7 in the current Class 5A softball CHSAANow.com rankings — used the long ball to produce both runs. Junior Reagan Medina belted a lead-off home run to start the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior Faith Giebenrath hit a lead-off shot well over left field to start the bottom of the fifth inning.
“My whole mindset was that we just needed runs after Reagan’s home run,” Giebenrath said. “We only had one run and we need more on the board. I just wanted to hit it as hard as I could and it went over. It was a good hit.”
That was all the offense Lakewood needed. Ponderosa finally advanced a runner to second base for the first time in the final inning after a hit-by-pitch and fielding error by the Tigers. However, Martinez finished the game off herself fielding a comebacker to the mound to record the final out.
Ponderosa junior Kaylee Ely, right, steals second base as Lakewood junior Reagan Medina reaches for the ball during an opening game of the Dave Sanders Tournament on Sept. 11. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
It was the third shutout victory of the season for the undefeated Tigers.
“There is only pressure when we don’t hit,” Martinez said who already has 43 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched. “But I think that we can hit. We are a good hitting team.”
After another close shutout victory — Lakewood defeated Conifer 1-0 earlier in the season — Gunn is looking for a little more offense from her Tigers.
“We need a little more consistency,” Gunn said. “Our bats were a little slower in that game. Consistency is what we are looking for.”
Lakewood’s bat got hot in the night game against Brighton. The Tigers cranked out an 11-0 victory with Medina picking up the victory on the mound to give Lakewood its fourth shutout win of the season.
The Tigers are scheduled for three games Saturday, Sept. 12, at Aurora Sports Park to close out the annual tournament hosted by Lakewood and Columbine. Lakewood faces Pueblo Central (11 a.m.), ThunderRidge (1 p.m.) and Pueblo East (3 p.m.) at the sight of the one-day state tournament scheduled for Oct. 10.
After the Sanders Tournament, Lakewood will play seven 5A Jeffco League games over the span of 16 days. Only the conference champion in each 5A league receive an automatic bid for the state tournament this year.
“Absolutely,” Gunn said of more stress this season with no regional tournaments to qualify for state and RPI filling the remainder of the 16-team field. “What we do is take it day-by-day. We are in a great spot right now. We are excited to be out here and that the Dave Sanders Tournament is still going on. It’s awesome to be out here today.”
Ponderosa junior Kaylee Eyl forces out Lakewood junior Jazlyn Arvizo at second base Friday afternoon at Aurora Sports Park. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Five new teams hopped into the softball rankings this week: Grand Junction Central, Cherokee Trail, Ponderosa, Mesa Ridge, and La Junta.
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.
Castle View 23, Columbine 23, Rocky Mountain 21, Cherry Creek 18, Brighton 13, Douglas County 10, Hinkley 10, Arvada West 7, Highlands Ranch 7, Horizon 6, Fountain-Fort Carson 5, Mountain Range 5, Chaparral 4, Eaglecrest 3, Fort Collins 3, Rampart 2, Arapahoe 1, Ralston Valley 1, ThunderRidge 1, Valor Christian 1.
Dropped out
Columbine (8), Cherry Creek (9).
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
1
Mead (12)
7-0-0
164
1
2
Wheat Ridge (5)
5-0-0
150
2
3
Holy Family (1)
3-2-0
112
3
4
Erie
4-2-0
79
4
5
Riverdale Ridge
5-1-0
56
10
6
Frederick
5-1-0
52
5
7
Silver Creek
2-4-0
35
6
8
Air Academy
4-1-0
33
7
9
Ponderosa
2-0-0
29
–
10
Mesa Ridge
5-0-0
23
–
Others receiving votes:
Pueblo South 21, Pueblo West 21, Windsor 20, Conifer 17, Pueblo Central 16, Northfield 16, Pueblo Centennial 12, Discovery Canyon 11, Roosevelt 11, Mountain View 9, Mullen 8, Berthoud 7, Coronado 5, Bear Creek 4, Pueblo County 4, Golden 3, Severance 3, Durango 1, Elizabeth 1, Evergreen 1, Niwot 1, Palisade 1, Standley Lake 1.
Dropped out
Pueblo South (8), Windsor (9).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
1
University (8)
5-1-0
106
1
2
Eaton (1)
5-1-0
90
2
3
Rocky Ford (1)
5-0-0
80
3
4
Limon
5-1-0
54
4
5
Lyons
3-2-0
46
7
6
Sterling
4-2-0
45
10
7
Brush
3-3-0
42
6
8
Strasburg
4-3-0
40
5
9
Lutheran (1)
5-1-0
35
9
10
La Junta
2-1-0
20
–
Others receiving votes:
Lamar 16, Peak to Peak 11, Basalt 8, Cedaredge 5, Fort Lupton 3, Montezuma-Cortez 3, Weld Central 1.
