LAKEWOOD — Green Mountain senior Jose Luis Cedillo had himself an impressive first inning late Thursday afternoon.

The Rams’ lead-off batter went 3-for-3 from the plate with four RBIs in the opening frame against Alameda International. Cedillo came to the plate three times as Green Mountain scored 17 runs in the bottom of the first inning.

“It’s always good to see that bats come alive,” said Cedillo, who finished 4-for-5 from the plate with five RBIs in the Rams eventual 26-6 victory. “When we string the hits together it takes the pressure of the pitching. They just have to go in there and throw strikes.”

Green Mountain (3-4, 3-2 in Class 4A Jeffco League) actually fell behind 4-0 against the Pirates (1-5, 0-4). The Pirates scored 4 runs on three hits, including a 2-run single by sophomore Oscar Nguyen to cap off the nice top of the first inning.

However, it didn’t stand up to what the Rams did in the bottom of the frame. The first eight batters reached the scored. Green Mountain sent 21 batters to the plate in the inning.

Junior Caton Lodice delivered the most impressive hit that nobody saw. With the bases loaded and no outs, the Rams’ clean-up hitter rocketed a high shot to dead centerfield. With the sun behind home plate nobody really picked up the flight off the ball of the bat, including Lodice.

“I did not see that ball,” Lodice said. “It was launched straight up.”

Alameda’s centerfield didn’t pick the ball up either. It wasn’t until everyone could see the ball land beyond the centerfield fence did people realize it was a grand slam home run.

“It definitely sparked something,” Lodice said. “It started our offense off strong and finished strong.”

It was the start of the largest scoring output of the season for Green Mountain. The Rams scored seven more runs in the bottom of the second inning to extend the lead to 24-6. Green Mountain induced the 20-run mercy rule to end the game in the bottom of the third inning with a RBI pinch-hit single by Sebastian King.

Sophomore Donovan Baca picked up the win on the mound. He took over for junior Luke Davis on the mound in the top of the first inning after Davis had some control issues. Baca struck out the first two batters he faced in the second inning and gave up just a single in the third inning.

“We didn’t get to see him earlier in the year because of the weather during tryouts,” Green Mountain coach Brad Kidwell said of his sophomore pitcher. “We are seeing what he can do and he’s been impressive.”

Pitching will be a key element as Green Mountain has four games in six days starting Saturday, May 22, against Golden.

“Of course Golden is going to be tough competition,” Cedillo said of the showdown against the Demons. “We need to compete through seven innings and hopefully string some hits together and the pitching comes in clutch as well.”

Behind focusing on finishing strong to hopefully make a run at qualifying for the 24-team postseason, Green Mountain’s handful of seniors also have graduation on their minds.

“It has been hard because everyone’s mindset has been different,” said Cedillo, who is one of the four seniors that will graduate Friday at Red Rocks. “It has been a little tough.”

It has been a rough season with the Rams losing three games by 1-run. The latest was Wednesday with a heartbreaking walk-off victory by Ralston Valley.

LAKEWOOD — Alameda International was actually the last high school boys soccer team to play at historic Lakewood Memorial Field … that was 507 days ago.

The Pirates suffered a 2-0 loss in the opening round of the Class 4A boys soccer state tournament back on Nov. 2, 2019. The loss marked the end of an outstanding 14-2 record for Alameda. Little did anyone know then that the COVID-19 pandemic would leave Lakewood Memorial nearly dormant until Tuesday night.

“We all cherished that first step,” Wheat Ridge senior Jace Sandler said about returning to Lakewood Memorial Field. “It feels good to be back out here. This is our home. We love it.”

Wheat Ridge faced off against Alameda — No. 7 in this week’s Class 4A CHSAANow.com rankings — in a 4A Jeffco League match. The night belonged to Sandler, who scored four goals and an assist in the Farmers’ 5-2 victory over the Pirates (3-1, 2-1 in league)

“It’s been awhile,” Sandler said when asked if he had ever scored four goals in a single game. “It was a lots of fun. Anytime you get to go out there with your team and have success. I’m not putting in those goals without the center-mid giving me that perfect pass on my foot.”

Sandler scored goals on breakaways in the 13th and 39th minutes of the first half, giving the Farmers (2-0-1, 2-0-1) a 2-0 lead at the break.

Alameda senior Jose Martinez got the Pirates right back in the game with a hard shot that was deflected into the goal in the 43th minute. However, Sandler answered with a nifty turn in front of Alameda’s goal to create some space and complete his hat-trick in the 44th minute.

“He is just a stud,” Wheat Ridge coach Nate Flack said of Sandler. “The coolest thing about Jace is he is such a team player. He loves this family and loves his team. He is the first guy out and last one to leave. I’m glad he got reward tonight with some goals.”

Alameda responded with a direct free-kick goal by senior Jonathan Serrano in the 50th minute to make it a 3-2 game.

It was Sandler again giving the Farmers back the 2-goal lead, but this time with an assist. The senior slid a pass over to senior Jack Francis in the 62nd minute. Sandler finished off the scoring with his fourth goal in the 65th minute on a tight angle shot.

Wheat Ridge remained undefeated with Evergreen and Golden in 4A Jeffco. The Farmers’ lone blemish was a 1-1 tie against Littleton over the weekend.

“We were just really antsy and the guys have been working really hard,” Flack said. “We just focus on what we can control. You can’t the regulations or the weather. We can just control coming out and working.”

The Farmers hadn’t won a conference game since the Fall 2017 season, but already have two league wins under their belt.

“You look at this league and there are a lot of great opponents. A lot of great coaches,” Flack said. “We know what we have here is special. They are a tight family and group of kids. We are excited to keep working and going after it.”

Wheat Ridge is scheduled to face Standley Lake in another league game Friday, March 26, at the North Area Athletic Complex before Spring Break.

“League is wide open. We are looking to take it,” Sandler said. “We’ll go forward from here. Each game is a worthy game. It’s one game at a time. We want league for sure.”

Alameda is still in the thick of the conference race despite the loss. The Pirates return to action against Golden on Friday night at the NAAC.

Jeffco Stadium and North Area Athletic Complex turned on its lights last week to recognize the Colorado High Schools Activities Association’s state track meet and honor the Class of 2020 and student-athletes across the state.

Jeffco Stadium would have hosted all-classifications of the state track meet May 21-23. NAAC’s soccer and football fields would have hosted girls soccer, along with boys and girls lacrosse games this spring.

LAKEWOOD — Jeffco Stadium and the North Area Athletic Complex will turn on their stadium lights this week.

Jeffco Stadium (6th Ave. and Kipling St., Lakewood) would have hosted the three-day, all-classification state track meets starting Thursday, May 21. The spring sports season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 61-year-old stadium will turn on its stadium lights at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday (May 21-23) to honor the state track meet, graduating Class of 2020 and student-athletes who missed out on the spring athletics season.

The North Area Athletic Complex (HWY 93 and 64th Pkwy., Arvada) will also join the statewide Be The Light campaign by turning on its lights at 8:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday (May 21 and 22).

LAKEWOOD — Conifer’s boys basketball team has worked its way into a familiar position.

The Lobos (13-5, 5-0 in Class 4A/3A Colorado 8 League) are two conference victories away from winning a league title for the second straight year.

“The goal is to win out and win the league,” Conifer senior Landon Wallace said. “We want those back-to-back league championships and bring those back to the school. Then come into the state tournament with some momentum.”

A 63-37 road win over Alameda International on Thursday night sets up Conifer with two huge games next week that will decide the conference champion. The Lobos are at Fort Lupton (11-3, 5-0) on Tuesday, Feb. 11, and host Weld Central (12-6, 4-1) on Thursday, Feb. 13, to wrap up league play.

“That would be our goal no matter what league we are in,” Conifer coach Eric Valerio said about finishing off this 4-year run in the Colorado 8 League before the Lobos return to the 4A Jeffco League for the 2020-21 season.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Conifer against Alameda, who will also return to the 4A Jeffco League next season. The Pirates (1-17, 0-5) stayed within striking distance for the majority of the game.

Sophomore Justin Le scored a team-high 13 points for Alameda. The Pirates trailed 26-23 at halftime.

“The second quarter we just got sloppy and kind of slow,” Wallace said. “At halftime we just all got together and focused on what we needed to get done. In the second half there was a lot more intensity and the energy was a lot higher.”

Wallace is nearly averaging a double-double this season in points and assists. The senior captain is someone who Valerio relies on a lot and it was no different Thursday night.

“When you have great leaders and a senior point guard (Wallace) that is a four-year starter, he set the tone at halftime. I didn’t have to say much,” Valerio said. “I proud of the way they responded. We’ve got to find a way to play 32 minutes if we want to be an elite level team.”

Conifer put the game away in the fourth quarter outscoring Alameda 24-4. Seniors Ocean Hageman, Elijah Cook and Wallace combined for 48 points in the Lobos’ 5th straight victory.

“We had a good talk in the locker room about playing as a team and coming together,” said Hageman, who finished with a game-high 18 points. “I think we really executed.”

Heading down the final stretch, Conifer will have experience on its side — both good and bad. While the Lobos captured a conference title and went into the 4A state tournament last season as the No. 24 seed and on an 8-game winning streak, Conifer was bounced out of the playoffs in the opening round.

“We were really upset about that,” Wallace said reflecting on the 57-53 home loss in the opening round of the 4A state tournament last year to Eagle Valley.

Conifer did get a measure of revenge against Eagle Valley earlier this season. The Lobos defeated the Devils by 40 points in the championship game at the Steamboat Springs Tournament back in mid-December.

That season-ending loss definitely gave this year’s squad some motivation.

“After that (playoff) loss we kind of build this grit in us about working hard in the off-season together,” Hageman said. “We want to push and achieve more this year. We are ready for it.”

Jeffco Preps With Pleuss is a monthly roundup of Jeffco prep highlights hosted by Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ sports information director. This month’s edition features one final look back at the 2019 football season that concluded with Columbine facing Cherry Creek in the Class 5A state championship game. Dakota Ridge boys cross country team was honored for its back-to-back 5A team state titles with an all-school assembly. The basketball season got going in a hurry. Green Mountain hosted the annual Paul Davis Classic, along with Wheat Ridge boys and girls hoopsters squaring off against Lakewood and Alameda International. The first National Letter of Intent Signing Day was also a topic before the calendar turned to 2020.

LAKEWOOD — All good things must come to an end.

That was the case Saturday afternoon at Lakewood Memorial Field. Alameda International’s boys soccer team had a historical season setting a program record with 14 victories and grabbing the No. 6 seed for the Class 4A state tournament.

However, No. 27 Mullen spoiled any kind of long postseason run for the Pirates. The Mustangs (9-6-1 record) took a 2-0 victory to end the storybook season for Alameda.

Mullen scored a pair of goals in the opening 20 minutes to take a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Eli Kerschen put the first goal five minutes into the game.

“That was our game plan … strike early,” Kerschen said. “Once you do that you can kind of have that relief and really not worrying about scoring again. It puts the other team under pressure.”

Junior AJ Gamueda made it a 2-goal lead in the 17th minute and that was all the scoring in the first-round playoff game.

“Unfortunately, it was two mistakes that cost us the game, but it’s a learning process,” Alameda coach Cesar Alcocer said. “Everyone is young and this is my third year coaching. I’ve got a lot to learn from this game.”

Mullen is set to hit the round again to face No. 11 Denver North on Tuesday, Nov. 4. The Mustangs were the lowest seed — 27th — to advance to the second round of the tournament.

It’s a bit of a curse and blessing that Mullen plays in the tough 5A/4A Centennial League before the start of the 4A state tournament.

“The problem is we play some really good 5A teams and we get a bad seed for the 4A tournament, but ultimately it prepares us for the 4A state tournament,” Kerschen said of the Mustangs, who went 3-3-1 in conference play. “I think playing in the 5A league helps us.”

For Alcocer, a 2009 graduate of Alameda, guiding the Pirates (14-2) to their first postseason bid since 2015 and setting the school record for wins in a single season are just a few of the many accomplishments during the historic season.

“I’m really proud of how far they made it. All the sacrifices they made throughout the entire season. It’s just a learning process,” Alcocer said after his team broke its post-game huddle after the loss by saying, ‘family’ in unison. “I’m really blessed to be here and to be apart of this. We’ll keep working hard.”

Alameda graduates double-digit seniors, but will still have a solid core coming back that includes the Pirates’ top three leading goal scorers — Jose Martinez, Eduardo Rodriguez and Adrian Diaz — returning for their senior season.

Find a photo gallery from the game here.

LAKEWOOD — Alameda International boys soccer coach Cesar Alcocer is helping to set a new standard.

“I’m seeking better opportunities for our kids, our school to get recognized and talk about Alameda in a positive way,” said Alcocer during Monday’s practice for the Pirates. “I wanted to change the reputation.”

Alcocer is a 2009 graduate of Alameda and stayed involved with the Pirates’ soccer program since he graduated as an assistant. He took over the head coaching duties in 2017 after longtime coach Steven Houwen retired from coaching.

Over the past three years, Alcocer’s dream of changing the culture and giving his student-athletes more opportunities on-and-off the field has already started to materialize. Alameda has a stellar 10-1 record, including victories over Class 4A Jeffco League’s Golden and Standley Lake. Golden is currently ranked No. 2 in the 4A boys soccer CHSAANow.com poll.

“Those two wins (Golden and Standley Lake) gave us a lot of confidence,” Alameda senior captain Alisdaid Ovalle said.

The Pirates are No. 6 in the CHSAANow.com rankings and No. 7 in the RPI standings with four regular-season games left.

“I don’t think it’s surprising,” Ovalle said of the Pirates in the top-10 in the rankings and RPI. “It’s been a two-year process where we’ve been on the verge of playoffs. Our hard work is paying off.”

Alameda was just outside the top-32 in RPI the previous two years. The last time the program made the 4A state playoff field was in 2015.

“Being in the playoffs is an honor,” Alameda junior captain Eduardo Rodriguez said. “I’m pretty sure if we make it to the playoffs we’ll be able to compete and we’ll do good.”

The Pirates dropped their 4A/3A Colorado 7 League opener 2-1 to No. 4 Skyview last week, but having a bump along any road is expected.

“That loss was tough. I can’t deny that,” Ovalle said of the loss to Skyview. “We can’t let minor setbacks hold us back. We’ve just got to keep doing what we’ve been doing and learn from that loss.”

Over the next two weeks, Alameda has conference games against Fort Lupton, Englewood, Conifer and Arvada. The Pirates can clinch a playoff berth and maybe more importantly continue to build on Alcocer’s goals.

“We look at each other as family,” Rodriguez said. “We are really strong together. A lot of us have learned how to play together since our freshman year. I feel like that helps us a lot.”

Alameda junior Jose Martinez is the Pirates leading scoring this season with 13 goals and five assists. The forward believes the work Alameda put in even before the 2019 season began back in August is the reason for the success, along with the mentality.

“The effort that we have put into the game,” Martinez said when asked about how the Pirates have been successful. “We play like it could be our last game of our life. This isn’t a team, it’s more like a family.”

Alcocer has stressed to his players that they need to believe in themselves to continue their rise.

“On the field we are 11-versus-11, but if we have right mentality anything can happen,” Alcocer said. “They need to believe in themselves and trust themselves.”

While the wins have been nice, Alcocer remains focused on the big picture of the future his players after their high school careers are over.

“My goal is to have them go to college so they have a better future academically because that is the most important thing, soccer comes after that,” Alcocer said. “I want a better future for them.”

LAKEWOOD — Not one current Alameda International boys basketball player was even alive the last time the Pirates won a playoff game on their home court.

However, the Pirates successfully turned back the clock Wednesday night with a thrilling 38-36 victory against old Jeffco rival D’Evelyn in the opening round of the Class 4A state tournament.

“I’ve never seen Alameda come together like this,” Alameda senior Isiah Lawson said while students were still celebrating on the court. “I’ve never seen these many people in the crowd. The vibe at the school is just amazing.”

In the crowd Wednesday night included Duane Lewis and Scott Smith, two former Alameda boys basketball coaches that guided the Pirates during their glory days. The program advanced to the 4A Final Four in 2000 and the 4A championship game in 1996.

Lewis and Smith witnessed the first postseason victory on the Pirates home court in nearly two decades since CHSAA went to then extended state tournament field.

“It means a lot to be honest,” Alameda coach Geremey Gibson said. “It’s good for the school. It was good for us.”

While D’Evelyn (8-16 record) entered the game as the No. 42 seed and Alameda (18-6) came in as the No. 23 seed, history on the Jaguars’ side. D’Evelyn had advanced to the Sweet 16 of the state tournament in the first three years under coach Dan Zinn.

The fourth quarter started with the game knotted up 28-28.

“It was either eight minutes or go home,” Lawson said of his thoughts going into the final quarter tied. “It’s my senior year and I didn’t want to go out like that. I was just trying to play lockdown defense.”

Lawson literally stole the show in the final quarter. He had a number of steals and fittingly made the eventual game-winning shot.

“Alameda came out in that fourth quarter and we determined not to lose,” Zinn said. “Give credit to them. They did it on the defensive end and that has created their offense all year.”

Alameda trailed 36-35 with less than a minute to play. The Pirates called a timeout with the ball and drew up a familiar play designed for Lawson. Senior Dominic Creazzo feed a pass to a cutting Lawson in the lane. The 5-foot-10 guard put up an aerobic shot in the lane and was fouled.

“We run that everyday in practice,” Lawson said of his driving layup in the lane that led to the 3-point play with 23.9 seconds left to play, giving the Pirates a 38-36 lead. “I knew something good was going to happen.”

Lawson came up with another big steal with 11.8 seconds left and was fouled again.

“He clearly stole it,” Gibson said of Lawson’s defensive effort in the final few minutes. “We’ve been harping defense and our senior captain came up big.”

Lawson missed the front-end of the one-and-one to give D’Evelyn a chance to send the game into overtime. D’Evelyn senior Evan Willis was about to get off a potential game-tying shot in the final seconds, but Creazzo blocked his shot from behind. Lawson grabbed the loose ball and fired it into the air as the buzzer sounded.

“They are good. There is a reason why they have won a lot of game this year,” Zinn said of Alameda. “It was a good basketball game. It was back-and-forth there in the fourth quarter. They just happened to come out on the winning side tonight.”

Alameda faces No. 10 Harrison (19-4) in the second round of the state tournament Saturday in Colorado Springs.

“I feel like we need to play better,” Gibson said ahead of the Pirates’ second-round game. “We played really good in that first quarter and then we slowed down. I don’t think it’s going to get easier. We’ve got to get tougher and be able to execute.”

Alameda jumped out to an early 15-3 lead against D’Evelyn. Creazzo and Lawson led the Pirates in scoring with a dozen points each.

Seniors Dan Brady (11 points) and Willis (eight points) led the Jaguars in the season-ending loss.

“It was a tough year in a lot of ways,” said Zinn, who had his team play one of the toughest schedules in 4A. “Our seniors battled, but I think in the end it’s our young guys who have to take away and learn. We are going to be put through the gauntlet as far as the schedule because that is how we set it up. We have to rise to the occasion and be better.”