Click on a game number to see details, including time and site. ^- Indicates extra innings.
Bracket notes:
The site director will flip a coin for home team in all games.
The loser of Game 11 (L11) and winner of Game 11 (W11) may change places so that previous opponents are not matched. CHSAA will make determination.
If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 (W11) draws a bye to Game 15. If W11 loses Game 12, there will be three teams left and W11 earns the bye. W12 then plays W13 to reach finals. This spot is marked by a percentage sign (%) on the bracket.
Heading into the game, we knew it essentially would be the difference between hosting a 5A district this Saturday because of the way the Wild Card point standings were set up. But we thought the loser would end up as No. 9, or thereabout.
Instead, ThunderRidge dropped all the way to No. 12 the night of the game, and wound up as the No. 11 seed in the 5A tournament. That’s because, in the end, teams Nos. 9-12 were separated be a mere 0.158 points in the final Wild Card standings. So the Lobos will play at home as the No. 7 seed, while ThunderRidge must travel to No. 6 Arvada West — a tougher road for the defending champions.
That district — it’s District 8 — could be among the most entertaining in 5A. The potential title game matchup between T-Ridge and Arvada West is an interesting storyline.
On one hand, you have Arvada West, winner of eight games in a row. I saw the Wildcats in early April during a 9-1 loss to Fairview, and they didn’t look like a team that would host a district. Needless to say, A-West has come a long way since then and is at this point a different team.
On the other, there’s ThunderRidge, the early favorite and a mainstay at No. 1 in CHSAANow.com’s poll for much of the early part of the year. But the Grizzlies had a rough week — three losses in four days — in late April which changed the complexion of their season. So this district is really their chance at redemption, of sorts.
Other interesting storylines in baseballs districts, which are this Saturday:
How will Chatfield respond to the criticism thrown its way about to the Chargers getting 5A’s No. 1 overall seed? Seems like a good source of motivation. Chatfield, for what it’s worth, has never won a baseball title, though it has appeared in two championship games.
What will Montrose do? The Indians are 4A’s No. 1 seed — but the program hasn’t reached a title game since 1959, and its last championship was 1952.
Either Eaton or Holy Family have played in 3A’s title game for each of the past seven seasons. Will that trend continue? Fittingly, Eaton is 3A’s No. 1 seed; Holy Family is No. 2.
Which of the non-hosts can emerge from a district? Will there be a, say, No. 23 seed making the Final 8 in any of the classifications? That was Cheyenne Mountain in 4A during the 2011 postseason — those Indians went on to win a title. Last year, Mountain View won 4A as the No. 27.
Spring weather bothers soccer, but no issue for tennis
The NAAC saw its share of weather on Wednesday night. (Dennis Pleuss)
Much of 4A girls soccer’s postseason was interrupted by a major storm moving through parts of the state Wednesday night.
At the NAAC, Wheat Ridge and Discovery Canyon had to suspend the start of overtime roughly an hour and a half because of lightning and golf-ball sized hail. That pushed the start of Green Mountain-Longmont to close to 9 p.m.
Up north, Windsor and Palisade actually had to suspend their game with 32 minutes left in the second half to 11:30 a.m. Thursday. There were reports of softball-sized hail in that area.
All that had our office worried about Thursday’s start to the 5A girls tennis state tournament. Rain was in the forecast, and the area was soaked with an overnight drizzle. It was 45 degrees when players began to arrive.
But the tournament kicked off on time Thursday morning — after workers squeegeed any remaining water off the courts. By 11 a.m., the sun was out and the jackets were off. Such is life in this state.
Update:Alas, the rain did not hold off forever for 5A girls tennis. Some first-round matches were delayed to Friday. 4A was also affected by rain.
St. Clair moves to Rampart
J’on St. Clair has resigned as Cheyenne Mountain’s boys basketball coach, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. He was 57-20 in three seasons, and led the Indians to the 4A final four this past season.
Update: Later Thursday afternoon, Rampart announced it had re-hired St. Clair. The veteran coach headed that program from 2004-10 before leaving to take the Doherty girls job for one season and then eventually landing at Cheyenne Mountain.
In St. Clair’s final season at Rampart (2009-10), the Rams went 23-3 and advanced to the 5A Great 8.
Short stuff
Girls golf’s regionals started on Monday, and it meant the return of live scoring via a partnership with iWanamaker. Live scores, a hit during the boys postseason in the fall, will also be back for the state meet.
2A’s Sedgwick County baseball came up to Greenwood Village to scrimmage 5A’s Cherry Creek last Friday as both teams prepared for the postseason. It’s something Cherry Creek has done in recent years — the Bruins scrimmaged 2A’s Rye last season.
Denver Public Schools has been planning to field a hockey team next season. Now, that district program has a home: Denver East. The Angels will play in the Peak Conference, essentially replacing Bishop Machebeuf, which dropped its program.
Grandview’s boys basketball job, briefly accepted by Arapahoe’s Dan Snyder before he stepped away from coaching, has been reposted. Candidates should apply through the Cherry Creek School District website.
A rule change for boys and girls basketball, beginning next season: During free-throw attempts, players in marked lane spaces can move into the lane once the shooter releases the ball. Previously, players couldn’t move into the lane until the ball hit the backboard or the rim.
Erie hired Bill Giampietro as its girls basketball coach, replacing Noel Potter, who resigned. Giampietro is an alum, and has been an assistant there. The school had 16 applicants for the job. “He is dedicated to our school and basketball program,” athletic director Richie Wildenhaus said. “Those are just some of the factors that set him apart from the rest of the field. Bill is a great motivator of young people, and his high energy and positive approach will be a great fit for our program.”
Dayspring Christian Academy is looking for a boys basketball coach, as well as a girls basketball assistant. Info is available via athletic director Harley Lowe: hlowe@dayspringeagles.org.
Former Rampart football coach JJ Owens has landed a job at Dallas’ Woodrow Wilson High School. Owens, who resigned in November, will teach and be an assistant for the Wildcats, who are coming off a 10-2 year in which they won Texas’ 4A Region II District 12. The team returns eight players on both offense and defense. Sounds like a great situation for one of the better guys in the coaching ranks.
Chatfield is the No. 1 seed in 5A baseball’s district bracket. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
AURORA — Chatfield, Montrose and Eaton are the top seeds in their respective classifications for baseball’s district rounds.
The 32-team fields for 5A, 4A and 3A were released on Wednesday. In 4A and 5A, seeds were determined in large part by the final Wild Card point standings. Class 3A has a seeding committee.
The district format has the top eight seeds in each classification hosting four-team pods. Each district will play three games this Saturday, with the championship at 3 p.m. Winners of each district move on to their respective state tournaments.
Chatfield had been at the head of 5A’s Wild Card points for much of the season. The Chargers will host No. 32 Doherty, No. 16 Pine Creek and No. 17 Central (G.J.).
Regis Jesuit got 5A’s No. 2 seed, Fairview is No. 3, Columbine is No. 4 and Mountain Vista is No. 5. Also hosting districts are No. 6 Arvada West, No. 7 Rocky Mountain and No. 8 Cherry Creek.
Like Chatfield, Montrose has been atop 4A’s Wild Card points most of the year. The Indians are set to host No. 32 Coronado in the first round. No. 16 Erie and No. 17 Palmer Ridge will play in that district’s other first-round game.
4A’s other district hosts are No. 2 Windsor, No. 3 Valor Christian, No. 4 Delta, No. 5 Pueblo East, No. 6 Wheat Ridge, No. 7 Durango and No. 8 Evergreen.
Eaton heads the 3A field. The Reds draw No. 32 Denver Science & Tech in the first round, and will also host No. 16 St. Mary’s and No. 17 Brush in their district.
Also hosting in 3A are No. 2 Holy Family, No. 3 Faith Christian, No. 4 Lamar, No. 5 Bayfield, No. 6 Cedaredge, No. 7 Sterling and No. 8 Alamosa.
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.
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.
Chatfield senior Nick Chamberlain throws to the plate Wednesday during the Chargers’ 5-4 victory against Ralston Valley. Chamberlain gave up just four hits in six inning of work to get the victory on the mound. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss)
LAKEWOOD — Fittingly, the baseball found Chatfield senior Nick Chamberlain on the final out Wednesday afternoon as the Chargers hung on to down Ralston Valley 5-4.
The senior pitched six strong innings for the No. 5 ranked team in the CHSAANow.com Class 5A baseball state rankings against Jeffco League rival Ralston Valley at Keli McGregor Field at All Star Park in Lakewood. Chamberlain gave up just four hits and an unearned run to allow the Chargers to take a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh frame.
However, the Mustangs (13-5, 3-4 in league) rallied when junior Sean O’Dell took the mound to close the game for Chatfield.
“I didn’t know what to do,” said Chamberlain, who moved to shortstop for the seventh inning. “It was a little nerve-wracking after that home run.”
Ralston Valley senior Daniel Jurney ripped a two-out, three-run home run to cut Chatfield’s lead to 5-4. Senior Jacob Knipp then dropped in a single to bring the game-winning run to the plate, but Jordan Holloway hit a grounder to Chamberlain at shortstop. Chamberlain calmly fielded the ball and fired it to first base for the final out.
Ralston Valley senior Daniel Jurney (17) is greeted at home plate by teammates Mitch Robinson (16), Jacob Gallegos (27) and Jacob Knipp (5) after Jurney’s three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday. It wasn’t enough as the Mustangs lost to Chatfield 5-4. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss)
“He (Chamberlain) is a good athlete,” Chatfield coach Brandon Stone said. “He made the play when we needed it made. You can’t ask anything more from a player.”
After back-to-back conference losses last week to No. 3 Columbine and No. 6 Arvada West knocked Chatfield (16-2, 5-2) from it undefeated record, the Chargers needed to respond going into the final week of the regular season. They have.
Chatfield put up 20 runs in a 20-4 victory against Standley Lake on Monday. The Chargers can make it three-straight wins and clinch an top three finish in the competitive 5A Jeffco League going into the postseason that begins Saturday, May 10.
“I knew it was a huge game today,” Chamberlain said. “I knew my teammates needed me to come out and perform. I threw a lot of strikes and got them a lot of ground balls. It worked out for us.”
The Chargers’ big offensive inning came in the top of the second. Junior Kyle Winkler led off with a double to start the three-run inning. Senior Matthew Jarecki ripped a RBI single before O’Dell contributed a two-run single to give Chatfield a 3-0 lead.
Chatfield senior Nick Chamberlain crosses home plate in the top of the seventh inning Wednesday. The Chargers tacked on a pair of runs in the inning and were able to hold on to a 5-4 victory against Ralston Valley. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss)
Chamberlin and Winkler both scored in the top of the seventh inning to extend the Chargers’ lead to 5-1. Winkler finished 3-for-4 from the plate with a pair of doubles and two runs scored.
“It’s real big,” said Winkler of the victory. “This was a really good opponent. We really needed to get this win. Ralston Valley was ready for us. We got their best.”
Ralston Valley senior Jake Griffith took the loss on the mound. They lefty had to leave the game in the top of the second inning with an injury. Senior Mitch Robinson moved to shortstop to pitcher and after giving up the two-run double to O’Dell he was pretty solid pitching into the seventh inning.
“He (Robinson) was really sharp,” Ralston Valley coach Shane Freehling said of Robinson, who gave just four hits and struck out six. “He kept us in the ball game and gave us a chance to win.”
The Mustangs lone run before Jurney’s three-run home run came off an error in the bottom of the sixth inning. Knipp had a strong day at the plate going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
“It shows where you are at. We are even-steven with a team that was No. 1 in the state,” Freehling said. “That was a good baseball game. It was well-pitched and well-played.”
Ralston Valley has lost three of its last four games, but a win Saturday, May 3, against rival Pomona should assure the Mustangs one of the seven wild card spots for the playoffs.
“This team can get hot,” Freehling said. “If they get hot at the right time we are as dangerous as anybody.”
Chatfield closes out its regular season at home against Bear Creek at 11 a.m. Saturday.
“I don’t think our mentality has never wavered,” Stone said of his team’s losses last week. “I think we’ve come back to realize that everything is out in front of us, just like everybody else. We are trying to play every game tough, down to the wire, and see what happens come playoff time.”
Chatfield junior Sean O’Dell (2) forces out Ralston Valley senior Jordan Holloway at second base before completing a double play Wednesday afternoon at Keli McGregor Field at All Star Park in Lakewood. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss)
Regis Jesuit is No. 1 in this week’s 5A baseball ranking. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
For the second consecutive week, there’s a new team atop CHSAANow.com’s Class 5A baseball ranking. This time, Regis Jesuit has ascended to the top.
The Raiders, now 14-3, went 3-0 last week — including a 7-5 win over then-No. 6 ThunderRidge. They are now 9-0 in the always tough Continental League, and are riding an 11-game winning streak.
Fairview actually received the same amount of first-place votes (six) that Regis Jesuit did, but remained at No. 2 with 125 overall points to the Raiders’ 137. The Knights are now 16-1 — 13-0 against in-state teams.
Arvada West jumped into the rankings at No. 6, just behind No. 5 Chatfield and No. 4 Mountain Vista.
ThunderRidge dropped to No. 7, Rocky Mountain is No. 8 and Chaparral is No. 9. Cherry Creek rejoined the poll at No. 10.
There are also new teams atop the 3A and 2A polls. In 3A, Eaton received nine of the 10 first-place votes to overtake Holy Family, which dropped to No. 2. In 2A, Resurrection Christian got five of the seven first-place votes and took over for Swink, which also fell to No. 2.
Windsor retained its spot atop the 4A ranking, and Stratton held firm atop 1A.
The 4A poll added Pueblo East at No. 9, and also saw Lewis-Palmer move from No. 5 to No. 3, and Evergreen go from No. 7 to No. 4.
3A added Bayfield (No. 8), while 2A added Limon (No. 9) and Lyons (No. 10).
With the regular season ending Tuesday, these rankings will serve as the final poll of the regular season.
