The Season D all-state baseball teams honor the best players in the sport as judged by the leagues and coaches. They are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a vote of head coaches.
Player and coach of the year was also selected by a vote of the coaches.
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Class 5A
(Paul Shepardson)
Player of the year: Radek Birkholz, Valor Christian
Coach of the year: Ron Quintana, Mountain Vista
First Team
Name
School
Pos.
Year
Radek Birkholz
Valor Christian
P/SS
Senior
Greysen Carter
Fairview
–
Senior
Alex Champagne
Heritage
SS
Senior
Sam Krysa
Mountain Vista
3B
Senior
Quinton Low
Chatfield
P/1B
Senior
Trevor Moore
Mullen
SS/RHP
Junior
Caden Potter
Valor Christian
3B
Senior
Alec Willis
Regis Jesuit
–
Senior
Blake Young
Mountain Vista
C/DH
Junior
Second Team
Name
School
Pos.
Year
Beau Baldensperger
Cherokee Trail
C/P
Senior
Cale Claridge
Legacy
–
Senior
Joe Clinton
Cherokee Trail
3B/P
Senior
Christian Foutch
Chatfield
P
Junior
Connor Hasse
Denver South
–
Junior
Aaron Kidd
Legend
INF/OF
Junior
Cade Kunz
Heritage
LHP/1B/OF
Sophomore
Evan Magill
Mountain Vista
RHP
Senior
JC Rodriguez
Far Northeast Warriors
OF/C
Senior
Cody Trebelhorn
Cherry Creek
RHP/1B/OF
Junior
Honorable mention:
Tucker Buniger, UTIL, Fruita Monument, Senior
Gerardo Caldera, C/P, Adams City, Senior
Caleb Cancino, C, Castle View, Junior
Benji Carrington, Rampart, Junior
Reese Chapman, OF/RHP, Grandview, Junior
Ty Chapman, SS, Grandview, Senior
Cade Collins, 2B/SS, Dakota Ridge, Freshman
Cory Cooper, Denver South, Sophomore
Carter Dorighi, INF, Cherry Creek, Senior
Braden Doumer, C/OF/1B, Legend, Junior
Garrett Dykstra, LHP/1B, Arapahoe, Senior
Jacob Frazzini, P/1B, Cherokee Trail, Senior
Matt Glover, Denver South, Senior
Nathan Gutierrez, LHP/OF, Douglas County, Senior
Jacob Hill, P/2B, Ralston Valley, Senior
Liam Hohenstein, OF/RHP, Rock Canyon, Junior
Chase Jaworsky, SS/2B, Rock Canyon, Sophomore
Brant Kragel, 1B/P, Valor Christian, Junior
Cale Lansville, RHP/1B, ThunderRidge, Senior
Dallas Macias, Regis Jesuit, Junior
Cort McDaniel, C, Fruita Monument, Senior
Miguel Medina, CF/P/SS, Hinkley, Senior
Adam Moser, Fairview, Senior
Matthew Oberlander, OF/P, Fort Collins, Senior
Brooks Rodarte, Castle View, Sophomore
Camden Ross, Broomfield, Junior
Jeremiah Sanchez, OF/LHP, Pueblo West, Junior
Jace Schlegel, LHP/1B/OF, Pueblo West, Senior
Landen Sehr, Legacy, Junior
Luke Silverman, Fairview, Senior
Danny Spence, INF/RHP, Pueblo West, Junior
Tyler Stonebraker, OF/UTIL, Douglas County, Junior
Tommy Valdez, Broomfield, Senior
Will Vasseur, INF/RHP, Rocky Mountain, Junior
Isaac Wachsmann, Regis Jesuit, Junior
Chris Wallace, Poudre, Senior
Jacob Weaver, P/SS, Fruita Monument, Senior
Kody Woods, P/C/3B, Palmer, Senior
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Class 4A
(Paul Shepardson)
Player of the year: Dom Lopez, Ponderosa
Coach of the year: Bob Maloney, Ponderosa
First Team
Name
School
Pos.
Year
Dylan Carey
Ponderosa
SS/P/3B
Junior
Denton Damgaard
Cheyenne Mountain
C
Junior
Carson Fagan
Severance
SS/RHP
Junior
Brad Helton
Cheyenne Mountain
3B/OF/RHP
Senior
Dom Lopez
Ponderosa
1B/P/OF
Senior
Cole Martino
Pueblo County
P/1B/3B
Senior
Nolan McCracken
Windsor
RHP
Senior
Thomas Schreffler
Evergreen
INF/P
Senior
Izaak Siefken
Holy Family
P/2B/SS
Senior
Second Team
Name
School
Pos.
Year
Michael Casillas
Pueblo East
RHP/SS/2B
Sophomore
Jared Delgado
Holy Family
SS/C/2B
Junior
Luke Guarienti
Pueblo South
OF/C
Senior
Blake Hammond
Holy Family
P/2B
Senior
Chase Hartman
Pueblo County
CF/C
Senior
Justin Hudson
Lewis-Palmer
RHP/INF
Senior
Kolton Miller
Ponderosa
2B
Senior
Kyle Miller
Pueblo East
SS/RHP
Senior
Devin Nowells
Longmont
3B/RHP
Senior
Honorable mention:
Tony Benko, D’Evelyn, Junior
Bradley Blakemore, CF/LF/RHP, D’Evelyn, Junior
Nate Bollinger, 3B, Palisade, Senior
Nolan Boone, INF/P, Montrose, Senior
Sammy Cabral, Thornton, Senior
Jimmy Chastain, 1B, Windsor, Senior
Connor Cooney, CF, Holy Family, Senior
Derrick Domenico, 3B/SS, Pueblo County, Junior
Nick Espinola, INF/RHP/OF, Thomas Jefferson, Senior
Sage Ferguson, P/INF, Elizabeth, Senior
Connor Frickey, 1B/RHP, Cheyenne Mountain, Junior
Logan Gross, P/3B/SS, Rifle, Freshman
Mason Hamlin, 2B/SS, Falcon, Junior
Nolan Hertzke, RHP/3B, Severance, Sophomore
George Hogan, SS/P, Evergreen, Senior
Nolan Hydock, 1B/RHP, Greeley West, Senior
Carson King, INF/P, Evergreen, Junior
Cael Langford, Fort Morgan, Senior
Derek Lukes, C/P/1B, Ponderosa, Junior
Gage Mestas, Durango, Senior
Westin Miller, SS, Wheat Ridge, Senior
Nate Moorehead, INF/P/OF, Falcon, Senior
Elijah Morales, OF/IF/P, Battle Mountain, Junior
Isaiah Padilla, INF/P, Denver North, Sophomore
Anders Page-Roth, SS, Golden, Sophomore
Holden Pantier, SS/3B, Erie, Sophomore
Melesio Perez, INF, Palisade, Junior
Chase Prestwich, Frederick, Senior
Dakota Pruitt, SS/P, Riverdale Ridge, Senior
Caleb Ralph, RHP/INF, Lewis-Palmer, Senior
Coletin Renn, INF/P, Canon City, Junior
Rocco Salvatore, 1B, Roosevelt, Senior
Clayton Sanger, 1B/LHP, Falcon, Senior
Brock Saya, SS/RHP, Roosevelt, Junior
Dylan Sayler, LF/SS/CF, Mesa Ridge, Senior
Gavin Shary, INF/OF, Denver North, Junior
Cole Simms, C/P, Canon City, Senior
Nick Spidel, P/OF, Elizabeth, Senior
Andrew Syverson, C/2B, Holy Family, Junior
Nick Vilims, P/OF, Evergreen, Senior
Cal Walsh, Durango, Senior
Nick Weiderholt, OF/1B/LHP, George Washington, Junior
In the final coaches poll of Season D, Colorado Academy and Evergreen finished at No. 1.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. This data will be used as one criteria for postseason qualification and seeding.
Chatfield senior Quinton Low, far right, and the Chargers’ dugout watch Low’s 2-run bast in the first inning Saturday afternoon at Dakota Ridge High School. The Chargers edged the Eagles 7-6. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LITTLETON — In the 90-degree heat Saturday afternoon, top-ranked Chatfield sweated out 7-6 victory over Class 5A Jeffco League rival Dakota Ridge.
“It was crazy, but that’s Jeffco baseball,” Chatfield coach Brett Pieratt said about Dakota Ridge bring the tying run to the plate after sophomore Thomas Hartman belted a 2-run home run to make it a 1-run game with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Dakota Ridge senior Logan Balfanz (10) is greeted at home plate by senior Ben Gultig (6) after a solo home run by the senior in the bottom of the first inning against Chatfield. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Chatfield senior lefty Colby Cruser didn’t wilt after giving up the home run on the first pitch he threw after coming in relief for starter Matthew Lighthall. Cruser struck out the next batter — Dakota Ridge senior Ben Gultig — to end the game.
“I felt loose and my arm was feeling pretty good. There are pitch-count rules and I let my pitch-count get a little too high,” Lighthall said after coming out with 2 outs in the bottom of the seventh inning after striking out 15 batters. “We’ve got plenty of guys in the pen who can come in and close it.”
Dakota Ridge (7-6, 5-2 in 5A Jeffco) had only four hits on the game, but three of the hits were home runs. Senior Logan Balfanz had a solo run in the first inning. Senior Bennett Gregory had a 2-run blast off Lighthall in the sixth inning to cut the Chargers’ lead to 5-4. Then there was Hartman’s blast to make it a 1-run game again.
“We had our fingers crossed,” Pieratt said after Hartman hit the 2-run home run on the first pitch he saw from Cruser. “Colby does a good job. He has closed a few times for us.”
The final strikeout call was even a little strange. It appeared that the home plate umpire pointed to first base on the full-count pitch. Gultig wasn’t sure if the umpire had called a ball or a strike.
“It was crazy,” Lighthall said of the final inning. “There wasn’t a doubt in my mind he (Cruser) wouldn’t get it done.”
Offensively, senior Quenton Low did his damage early with a monster 2-run home run in the top of the first inning.
“We barreled up a couple of balls early,” Low said of his 2-run home run in the first inning that was followed up by sophomore Mason Lowe’s 2-run shot in the sixth inning. “You can’t be mad about 11 hits.”
Dakota Ridge senior Thomas Hartman steps on second base on the way to turning a double-play Saturday against Chatfield. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Chatfield (11-2, 6-1) had four straight hits from the 6 to 9 hole hitters in the top of the seventh inning that produced two key insurance runs. Junior Mason Cowgill had an RBI double and senior Drew Lytle drove in another run with an RBI single.
Dakota Ridge junior Gavin Kaiser had a strong five innings on the mound giving up just three runs on five hits.
“Every time we play Dakota Ridge it’s a grind,” Pieratt said. “It’s always a 1-run game.”
The win kept Chatfield No. 1 in the RPI standings. Valor Christian (11-2, 7-0) defeated Chatfield 3-1 a few days earlier to clinch the conference title for the Eagles.
“The goal is host a regional and hopefully see Valor again,” Lighthall said of the bounce-back win after the loss to Valor. “A loss like that you have to come back and just play your game to get the win. That is what we did today.”
Heading into the final week of the regular season, Chatfield and Valor are locks to make the 24-team regional field. Dakota Ridge, Ralston Valley and Lakewood are right on the bubble to make the postseason.
“This games are important,” Low said of the high school baseball season extended three weeks due to COVID this year. “Growing up with all these kids my entire life it’s fun getting this last round in.”
Chatfield will be without pitcher Logan Carlisle if the Chargers make it all the way to the second week of the state tournament scheduled for June 25 and 26. The hard-throwing Carlisle reports to the Air Force Academy on June 24.
“The vibe is strange,” Pieratt admitted. “Our seniors graduated three weeks ago. We are practicing sometime in the morning. It’s been a little weird for us, but the great thing is we have great senior leadership. They have adapted and have led the way. Our guys don’t seem tired.”
Chatfield senior Matthew Lighthall struck out 15 Dakota Ridge batters Saturday in the Class 5A Jeffco League showdown. The Chargers will finish second in the conference behind Valor Christian. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Golden and Valor Christian girls golf programs were able to sweep the team and individual medalist titles this spring in the Class 4A and 5A Jeffco League.
Golden junior Jessica Morrissey shined winning the 4A Jeffco medalist title this spring. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Golden junior Jessica Morrissey dominated the 4A Jeffco race to the medalist title. Morrissey shot a round of 88 during the final conference tournament of the season May 27 at Indian Tree Golf Course. Her 41.9 9-hole average over the five league tournaments was nearly 5 strokes better than runner-up Littleton senior Sarah Young that finished with a 46.50 9-hole average.
Morrissey spearheaded the Demons’ run to the 4A Jeffco League team title. Conifer placed second and Evergreen took third in the team standings.
Valor cruised to the 5A Jeffco team title winning all five conference tournaments. Valor senior Grace Young’s 37.8 9-hole average was a full stroke better than Arvada West senior Anju Ogi to claim the 5A Jeffco medalist title.
Lakewood finished second and Ralston Valley third in the 5A Jeffco team standings.
LITTLETON — It kind of felt like a summer league baseball game Friday morning at Frank DeAngelis Field on the Columbine High School campus.
“It is a little weird. I’m usually playing summer ball by now,” Dakota Ridge senior Reese Randell said of playing the morning game on a weekday. “It’s fun. I’m happy we are playing in warm weather that’s a good thing.”
Columbine junior Zach Butler (10) slides into second base ahead of the tag by Dakota Ridge freshman Cade Collins on Friday morning at Frank DeAngelis Field. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The rivalry game between Dakota Ridge (5-3, 3-0 in 5A Jeffco) and Columbine (5-5, 1-3) was actually a key Class 5A Jeffco League showdown in the middle of the conference schedule. The Eagles stayed undefeated in league play with a dominating 17-3 victory.
“It is so weird. Everything is so weird. The scores everywhere are weird,” Dakota Ridge coach Jeff Legault said after the 14-run victory over Columbine. “It’s just a weird year. We are trying to keep the guys focused and our guys are doing a good job of that. They have bought in.”
Dakota Ridge got an impressive start on the mound by junior Gavin Kaiser against the Rebels. Kaiser went five innings and gave just one unearned run to pick up his third victory this season.
“I felt pretty good coming into it,” Kaiser said after giving up just two hits in five innings. “I was throwing my fastball pretty well.”
Kaiser also got plenty of run support. Dakota Ridge senior Joey Cavallaro got things going with a lead-off single to start the game. He would eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Logan Balfanz to get the scoring going.
The Eagles added four more runs in the top of the second inning that started with a solo home run from senior Reese Randall.
“He just hung me a slider and I put a good swing on it,” Randell said of his solo home run in the 4-run second inning for the Eagles. “It was a good swing and the ball went a long way.”
Dakota Ridge’s 6 through 9 hitters were extremely productive scoring nine of the Eagles’ 17 runs.
“It takes a lot of stress off me,” Kaiser said about the bottom half of the Eagles’ line-up producing during the 4-run second inning and 8-run seventh inning.
Randell actually ended the scoring for Dakota Ridge. He ripped an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning to cap off the offensive production.
Dakota Ridge junior Gavin Kaiser pitched a strong five innings giving up just two hits to pick up the win on the hill. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“We’ve had our times when we’ve struggled,” Randell said about the backend of the Eagles’ line-up. “When 6 through 9 are hitting you are pretty much unbeatable. You need to have the bottom of your order hitting.”
Seniors Bennett Gregory, Brock Hoos, Randell and sophomore Josh Ezell did an outstanding job at the back half of the line-up.
“We are not a strong offensive team. We are more pitching and defense,” Legault said after the Eagles’ largest scoring output of the season. “To score that may runs … I was pleased with that.”
Freshman Cade Collins had a big game in the No. 2 hole. Dakota Ridge’s starting second baseman went 3-for-4 from the plate with 4 RBIs. He also made an outstanding play in the field chasing down a fly ball for the second out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
“He (Collins) is a special baseball player. He is really good and nothing fazes him,” Legault said of the freshman. “He is one of our best hitters and defenders. He is awesome.”
While during a normal season the high school season would just be wrapping up, during this COVID school year the baseball season doesn’t end until the state championship games scheduled for Saturday, June 26.
Dakota Ridge is scheduled for eight regular-season games between Saturday, May 29, and Friday, June 11. That’s eight games in 14 days. Legault believes his pitching staff, along with his team is up to the task.
“We’ve good four good starters and we have the right amount of breaks. We’ll see,” Legault said. “We are just trying to squeeze our way into the playoffs. Trying to find a way to that top 24.”
The top 24 teams in the RPI standings advance to regionals that are scheduled for Monday, June 14.
“We need to win the games we should win,” Randell said. “We are going to face some really good pitchers. We’ll face someone who throws 90 mph against Chatfield. Against Valor we’ll face a good pitcher no matter who they throw. We just have to go out there and play our game.”
Dakota Ridge is at No. 4-ranked Valor at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, May 29). The following Saturday (June 5) the Eagles host No. 1 Chatfield.
Dakota Ridge senior Reese Randell (13) is greeted at home plate by fellow senior Bennett Gregory after Randell’s solo home run in the second inning against rival Columbine. The Eagles cranked out 16 hits in their 17-3 road victory to stay undefeated in 5A Jeffco League play. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
