Holy Family won its first girls soccer state championship Saturday with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Evergreen. The No. 12-seeded Tigers defeated the No. 5, 4, 1 and 2 seeds on the way to the state championship. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

COLORADO SPRINGS — Twelve is a number that is going to be remembered for a long time for Holy Family’s girls soccer program.

The Tigers entered this season’s Class 4A state tournament as the No. 12 seed. Holy Family defeated the No. 5, 4 and 1 seeds to reach Saturday’s championship game at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

“I think they were better than the No. 12 seed for sure,” Holy Family coach Michelle Griego said. “We took it as a sign of disrespect.”

Holy Family earned plenty of respect when junior Gianna Sandoval’s shot from 30 yards out was perfectly placed in the far corner of the net with 12 seconds left in regulation-time to give the Tigers a dramatic 2-1 victory over No. 2 Evergreen.

Senior Jaelen Giron had made a strong run down the right side for the Tigers before losing control of the ball in the Cougars’ defensive end. However, an Evergreen clearing attempt went right to Sandoval who knew she didn’t have much time to get a shot off.

“I was definitely looking at the clock. I knew I had to do something,” Sandoval said. “I thought it was going overtime, but I didn’t want it to go overtime. We had to put whatever we had on net.”

Evergreen junior goalie Aubrey Huerta made a valiant leaping attempt, but the shot was just too good.

“Gianna makes those shots all the time,” Griego said.

The Tigers (11-2 record) went into celebration mode as the Cougars (13-1) were shocked that their undefeated season had come to a close with another loss in a 4A state championship game. Evergreen suffered 1-goal losses to D’Evelyn and Cheyenne Mountain in 4A title games in 2017 and 2019.

“This was the year, disappointment definitely,” Evergreen senior Myla Stewart said of the Cougars’ third runner-up finish in five years. “We came in with a good mindset, but we didn’t play with a good mindset and that’s the difference of winning and losing.”

Steward opened up the scoring in the 7th minute with a direct free kick that she hit hard on the ground that Holy Family junior goalie Olivia Dietrich couldn’t reach. It would be the lone goal of the game for Evergreen as Dietrich was solid making a handful of saves.

“Our team is scrappy and our keeper (Dietrich) is amazing. She kept us in it,” Griego said. “She made a ridiculous save in the first half that kept the game from being 2-0.”

Sandoval tied the game at 1-1 with a goal that she admitted went off her chin guard from right in front of Evergreen’s net in the 32nd minute. Tying things up before halftime kept the belief alive for Holy Family that it could pull off one final upset to grab the school’s first girls soccer championship in its first trip to a title game on the pitch.

“We made it this far. It would have been sad if we would have lost,” Sandoval said of upsetting a higher seed in each of the Tigers’ four playoff victories. “

The Tigers graduate just five seniors, so a repeat could be in the card with Dietrich and Sandoval leading the way.

“The girls rally around her (Dietrich),” Griego said about the Tigers’ junior goalie. “They all come to play in different ways. They all do their part. I’m super proud of them because it takes everyone on the field. I love them all.”

Holy Family players swarm junior Gianna Sandoval after she scored with 12 seconds remaining in regulation time to give the Tigers a 2-1 victory over Evergreen on Saturday at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Evergreen won the school’s first girls lacrosse title Wednesday night at Legacy Stadium with a 19-5 victory in the Class 4A state title game against Castle View. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

AURORA — Rachel Sanford knew when she took over Evergreen’s girls lacrosse program three years ago the Cougars could win a state championship.

“It’s crazy,” Evergreen senior Margo Miller said. “Rachel (Sanford) when she first came to our school she looked at the (trophy) wall and said one day you are going to be state champs. I was a sophomore then and we all kind of laughed, but today is that day.”

Top-seeded Evergreen finished off its historic season by winning the first-ever Class 4A girls lacrosse state championship Wednesday night at Legacy Stadium in Aurora. The Cougars took a 19-5 victory over No. 10 Castle View.

“This is awesome,” Evergreen sophomore Bella Reece, who had six goals in the state title game. “To make a name for Evergreen. This is so big. All of our seniors they hyped us up and brought our team together this year. I’m so excited.”

The Cougars (11-2 record) never trailed in the title game. Evergreen scored 10 unanswered goals in the final 13 minutes of the first half to grab a commanding 14-2 lead after halftime.

For the second straight playoff game Evergreen induced a running-clock with a 10-goal lead in the first half.

“We had to come out super strong and look for that extra pass,” Reece said. “We were hyped. We were able to get that running-clock before halftime.”

The Cougars had one of the most potent offensive attacks in 4A this season. Miller, along with sophomores Averi Gardner and Reece all finishing the season with 40-goal seasons.

“That’s pretty sweet,” Miller said about the three 40-goal scorers. “ Bella and Averi are studs. I’m so excited to see what they do in the future with this program. It was so great to have so many offensive threats.”

Senior goalie Lauren Spence and Evergreen’s defense held all opponents under double-digit goals during the Cougars’ 11-game winning streak to finish the year. Spence will head to continue her playing career at Loyola University Maryland.

The Cougars had defeated the Sabercats earlier this season. Evergreen took a 14-7 win against Castle View back on May 28.

Castle View actually entered the state tournament with a 5-5 record, but the Sabercats went on a remarkable run in the state tournament. They upset Golden, Aspen and Grand Junction to make Castle View’s first girls lacrosse season a memorable one, but the Cougars ended the Sabercats run in the title game.

“We have really been building to the level of play that we are showing now all season long,” Sanford said. “We have prepared all week and pretty much all season to show up today and they did.”

Evergreen got off a bit of a rough start this season with opening losses to 5A programs ThunderRidge and Fairview. However, the top-seeded Cougars hit their stride winning 11 straight games to close out the season. Eight of those victories were by double-digit margins.

“After the first two game we really learned what we needed to do,” Reece said of the 0-2 start. “We got to play two amazing 5A teams and were able to grow from that. Our team has developed so much.”

Evergreen becomes the first Jeffco Public School to ever win a girls lacrosse state title.

“It’s so great to end it like this,” said Miller, who will play lacrosse at Cornell University.

HIGHLANDS RANCH — Four teams met up at Shea Stadium on Monday evening to decide which two programs would have the honor of playing in Colorado’s first ever Class 4A girls lacrosse state championship. By the time the stadium lights were shut off, top-seeded Evergreen and No. 10 Castle View had punched their ticket to the new classification’s inaugural title game.

The Cougars and Sabercats will square off for the 4A trophy on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Legacy Stadium in Aurora.

(1) Evergreen 17, (5) Thompson Valley 5

There were nerves, but Evergreen’s girls lacrosse team projected complete confidence during the program’s first state semifinal game Monday night at Shea Stadium.

“I have lot of faith in this team. Everyone worked together,” Evergreen senior Kate Nierenberg said after the Cougars’ 17-5 victory over Thompson Valley punched their ticket to Wednesday’s Class 4A state championship game at Legacy Stadium in Aurora. “To have a running clock before halftime was pretty great.”

Evergreen senior Margo Miller (7) spins away from Thompson Valley sophomore Rachel Shannon (6) during the first half Monday night at Shea Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Nierenberg and sophomore Bella Reece had four goals each for the No. 1-seeded Cougars. Senior Margo Miller and sophomore Averi Gardner poured in three goals each.

“We have a lot of offensive threats,” Evergreen coach Rachel Sanford said of Evergreen having four different multiple goal scorers against Thompson Valley (10-3). “They really moved the ball well and shot well. I’m proud of the chemistry of the team looking for one more pass.”

Evergreen (10-2 record) actually induced a running clock with 2:09 left in the first half when senior Carly Poole scored to give the Cougars a 12-2 lead.

Senior Lauren Spence — who has signed to play women’s lacrosse at Loyola University Maryland — was stellar in net facing the Eagles’ Carr sisters. Sophomore Aidan Carr and freshman Rory Carr had combined for 89 goals so far this season.

“They (Thompson Valley) has some very good shooters,” Spence said. “The Carr sisters are very good. I was ready for those.”

Evergreen hasn’t allowed double-digit goals by an opponent since the Cougars’ opening season loss to ThunderRidge. The Cougars actually started the season 0-2 with losses to ThunderRidge and Fairview.

“She (Spence) is just incredible,” Sanford said. “She is so fast and her decision making is amazing.”

The Cougars will enter Wednesday’s title game on a 10-game winning streak.

“It’s really exciting,” Sanford said of the Cougars headed to the title game against the winner of Castle View and Grand Junction that played in the night cap at Shea Stadium. “I hope we bring it like we did tonight.”

Thompson Valley sophomore Aidan Carr (26) gets pressure from Evergreen senior Carly Poole (8) and sophomore Averi Gardner (12) during the Class 4A girls lacrosse state semifinal Monday night at Shea Stadium in Highlands Ranch. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

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(10) Castle View 17, (3) Grand Junction 4

The 2020 season was canceled on the same day the Castle View girls lacrosse team was scheduled to play its first game last spring, which was meant to be filled with excitement surrounding the first season of Class 4A girls lacrosse in Colorado.

Just over a year later, the Sabercats are making up for lost time in a big way.

With the shot to play in an historic title game on the line, the Castle View girls lacrosse team didn’t take any chances in securing its spot against Grand Junction on Monday night. The 10th-seeded Sabercats (8-5) raced out to an early lead over the higher-seeded and unbeaten No. 3 Tigers (11-1) at Shea Stadium and powered their way to a 17-4 semifinal victory.

On Wednesday night, the Sabercats will have a chance to become the first 4A state champions in Colorado history.

“It was devastating,” Castle View head coach Samantha Silverman said. “It happened right as we were getting ready to play. We actually had a lot of freshmen on our team last year and they never got to play. So to come out this year and make it all the way to the championship game is extremely exciting.

“We are super excited. It feels great and not having a season last year, coming together as a team this year was really special to make it happen. It was awesome.”

In the state championship game on Wednesday, Castle View will play No. 1-seeded Evergreen at Legacy Stadium in Aurora.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Evergreen senior Jocelin Zimmerer (7) gets ready to fire a shot that led to the Cougars’ opening goal in the 18th minute Wednesday night at Evergreen High School. The Cougars defeated Northfield 2-0 to advance to the Class 4A state quarterfinals. The Cougars will host Steamboat Springs on Saturday back at Evergreen High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

EVERGREEN — Two first-half goals is all Evergreen needed offensively Wednesday night to advance to the Class 4A girls soccer state quarterfinals.

The No. 2-seeded Cougars (11-0 record) got goals from senior Jocelin Zimmerer (18th minute) and junior Catherine Rapp (27th minute) on the way to a 2-0 shutout victory against No. 15 Northfield.

Evergreen senior Myla Stewart (21) assisted on the second Cougar goal Wednesday before finishing up playing goalie for the second part of the second half against Northfield. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“My teammate (Lily Maus) played me a great ball in the middle,” Zimmerer said. “I just made a touch forward and took the shot.”

Zimmerer tucked her shot just under the crossbar to give the Cougars the early lead. Evergreen extended the lead to 2-0 less than 10 minutes later with a brilliant connection from senior Myla Stewart to one of the Cougars’ Rapp triplets — Catherine.

Stewart lofted a centering pass from the right wing to Catherine Rapp, who headed the ball past Northfield senior goalie Veda Miles.

“I actually watched the Italy game during Euro 2020 today. The guys play like that,” Stewart said of sending the aerial pass to Catherine Rapp. “I know the (triplets) love header crosses. We are taught to play it on the ground, but this one had to go in the air. It was incredible.”

Evergreen controlled the majority of play holding onto a 2-0 lead before halftime, but couldn’t get a third goal.

Unfortunately for the Cougars the most noticeable news of the scoreless second half was Evergreen junior goalie Aubrey Huerta receiving a red card for handling a ball outside the goal box in the 56th minute.

“It’s a mandatory red card,” Evergreen coach Peter Jeans said of Huerta grabbing the ball outside the goal box. “It is what it is. The player learns a lesson on how to handle that a little differently, but the good news is we made adjustments and we were still carry the game.”

Jeans actually turned to Evergreen’s leading scorer — Stewart — to finish the final 24 minutes in goal for the Cougars. It wasn’t a total surprise to Stewart, who said that she had practiced in goal earlier this year when Huerta was injured.

Evergreen junior Elizabeth Rapp (11) fends off Northfield junior Bailey Williams (13) and sophomore Isabel Bauer (8) during the first half Wednesday night at Evergreen High School. The Cougars took a 2-0 victory in the first-round Class 4A state playoff game. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“I was actually running over the to the referee to have her explain the call,” Stewart said after Huerta’s red card. “Peter (Jeans) looked at me and told me to put the gloves on. I’ll do whatever it takes to get the team where we need to be.”

Stewart faced one legit scoring chance for Northfield, but the Nighthawks put a direct free kick over the net following the red card.

“Everyone knew their first job was the clear the ball,” Zimmerer said of the team’s mindset after the red card. “We did that the entire time and they didn’t get any chances on goal.”

Evergreen continued to put pressure on Miles despite Stewart not able to lead the offensive charge up top for the Cougars. The Nighthawks (8-3) were able to keep the Cougars from scoring in the second half mainly due to a handful of great saves to Miles.

“Hats off to (Northfield),” Jeans said. “They really made us have to play a full 80-minute game and I felt like our girls did that.”

The dilemma Evergreen has now is playing its state quarterfinal match Saturday against No. 10 Steamboat Springs without Huerta in net. A one-game suspension comes with the red card.

“It’s a huge challenge,” Jeans said of playing without Huerta. “We’ll have our work cutout for us. We are going to have to figure out a game-plan and shift some players around.”

Stewart believes there is a good chance she will be back in net against Steamboat Springs, who defeated No. 7 Durango 2-1 on Wednesday night, but the senior captain said all options will be poured over.

“I’m confident we can keep the ball away from our defensive half,” Zimmerer said of the Cougars, who have given up just four goals in 11 games this season. “We’ll be fine. Hopefully we’ll have Aubrey back for the semis.”

Evergreen junior Rami Rapp (10) is tripped up by Northfield sophomore Isabel Bauer, right, during the first-round playoff game Wednesday night at Evergreen High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

ARVADA — Golden reminded the rest of the Class 4A boys lacrosse state tournament field on Tuesday night that the Demons are still the defending state champions.

No. 5-seeded Golden dominated No. 12 Northfield 13-1 in the first playoff game for the Demons since claiming the Class 4A boys lacrosse state title 757 days ago.

Golden senior Chance MacCagnon strolls past the goal after scoring in the first quarter for the Demons on Tuesday night at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“It seems like ages ago. Last playoff game I was a sophomore,” Golden senior Ben Kirschner said. “Now I’m a senior and a captain on the team.”

The Demons pulled off one of the most dramatic come-from-behind victories in history of the state boys lacrosse tournament back on May 20, 2019 at All-City Stadium in Denver. Golden trailed Cheyenne Mountain 7-2 late in the second quarter, but the Demons rallied for an eventual 10-9 overtime victory.

Golden looked primed for a run at a repeat in 2020, but COVID cancelled the spring season a year ago, preventing the Demons’ chance to win back-to-back state titles.

“It’s been a long strange journey as they say,” Golden coach Mike Thumim said.

Golden looked to be on a mission to get back to that title game again Tuesday night at the NAAC. The Demons jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead four and a half minutes in the first quarter. Seniors Chance MacCagnon and Kirschner both found the back of the net and sophomore Chase Marini added an early goal.

The Demons kept it going in the second quarter. Golden sophomore Locky Rogers scored three straight goals over the span of 5 minutes to open out an 8-0 lead for the Demons.

“It was really nice to see Locky Rogers to breakout today and get that hat-trick,” Thumim said. “I assume Erie was here and that gives them something else to think about.”

Golden sophomore Chase Marini (12) attempts to get off a shot before Northfield junior Connor Smithburger (23) closes in. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

No. 4 Erie received a first-round bye in the 12-team state tournament. Erie hosts Golden at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Tiger Stadium. The Demons and Tigers actually met up in the state quarterfinals two years ago with Golden pulling off a 5-4 victory.

“We are getting everyone’s best shot,” Thumim said. “Erie is not going to overlook us like they did in 2019. I’m going to be working my butt off tomorrow to get our boys ready to go.”

The veteran leadership for Golden is also doing its part to get the younger Demons ready for the state quarterfinal game Thursday.

“We tried to outline the importance of this game,” Kirschner said of what was told to the young Demons who weren’t even in high school two years ago. “We wanted to focus on this game and know get them mentally focused for Erie on Thursday.”

Northfield sophomore Asher Poppleton ended the shutout bid by the Demons with a goal at the 7:29 mark in the third quarter. Golden senior goalie Kyle desGarennes was attempting to get is first shutout win in net this season.

“Kyle saves us all the time,” Kirschner said. “To allow just one goal through the whole game today is great. He is going to come up big for us in the playoffs.”

The 4A state semifinals are scheduled to be played Saturday, June 19, at Englewood High School. The title game will be Tuesday, June 22, back at Englewood High School.

Golden junior Louie Ficco, left, delivers a hit on Northfield junior Eli Rosenberg during the first half Tuesday night at the NAAC. The Demons dominated the Nighthawks 13-1 in the first-round Class 4A playoff game. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

DENVER — D’Evelyn’s baseball team didn’t wilt in the near 100-degree heat Monday afternoon.

The Jaguars remained hot on the diamond grabbing their fourth win over the last five games. More importantly, the 9-2 victory over Falcon on D’Evelyn’s home field punched the Jaguars’ ticket to the Class 4A double-elimination state tournament that begins Friday, June 18, in Pueblo.

D’Evelyn senior Matt Hatch slides into third base after driving in the Jaguars’ first run Monday against Falcon. D’Evelyn’s lone senior had a pair of doubles and drove in three runs in the Jaguars’ 9-2 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“It’s huge. We have never been really good since I’ve been here,” said Matt Hatch, D’Evelyn’s lone senior on the squad this spring. “It’s amazing to do this good, especially with how young we are.”

No. 8-seeded D’Evelyn (12-4 record) faced a strong No. 9 Falcon (13-2) squad that was trying to carry over momentum from a 3-hour marathon 12-9 victory over Erie just to reach the Region 8 title game.

“Obviously we had an advantage today. Falcon had to play a 3-hour game before in this heat and had to throw its No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers,” D’Evelyn coach Dan Porreco said. “We were sitting good, but we came out and attacked right away. That kind of melted them away a little bit.”

D’Evelyn scored the first run thanks to a 2-out rally in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Troy Benko ripped a double into the gap and senior Matt Hatch followed it up with a double to drive in the first run.

Benko and Hatch led the way offensively combining to go 5-for-6 from the plate with a pair of walking while driving in four runs. The Jaguars scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 6-0 lead.

“We haven’t been able to do that most of the season,” Hatch said about D’Evelyn adding on to its lead by scoring in every inning except the bottom of the sixth. “Starting to get those bats going in the playoffs is huge.”

Benko was just as impressive on the mound. The junior gave up just a pair of unearned runs while allowing four hits through six innings. Junior Blake Reini took over on the hill in the final inning to get the last three outs.

D’Evelyn junior Troy Benko allowed just a pair of unearned runs off four hits in his six innings of work on the mound Monday against Falcon. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“It was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been before a game,” Benko admitted. “Once you get that first out it just seems like a normal game.”

It’s the first trip back to the state tournament for D’Evelyn since 2015.

“We haven’t been back (to state) in five or six years,” Porreco said. “It’s a good feeling, especially with such a young group.”

The Jaguars started four juniors and four sophomores against Falcon. D’Evelyn will be short-handed pitching wise heading to Pueblo. Sophomores Tate Aurich and Gabe Jackson were involved in a car accident a few weeks ago and both are out for the remainder of the year.

“We are going to go down to Pueblo and try to enjoy it,” Porreco said. “We are missing our No. 1 pitcher (Tate Aurich), but we’ll play the game — catch, throw and hit.”

D’Evelyn doesn’t what to change its approach that has been successful this year. The Jaguars begin the state tournament with a 9:30 a.m. game Friday, June 18, at Hobbs Field at the Runyon Complex against Severance (14-4). The Sliver Knights upset No. 1 Durango in the Region 1 title game Monday.

“It’s just another day at the office,” Hatch said of the Jaguars approach heading to Pueblo. “We don’t want to overthink it.”

D’Evelyn shortstop Colin Kim, left, catches the ball as Falcon senior Clayton Sanger steals second base during the Class 4A Region 8 title game Monday. The Jaguars won 9-2 to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2015. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

LAKEWOOD — Evergreen’s girls lacrosse team remained as hot as the artificial turf field at Trailblazer Stadium late Thursday afternoon.

The Cougars — No. 2 in the CHSAANow.com Class 4A girls lacrosse rankings — won their seventh straight game with a 13-8 victory over rival Green Mountain. Evergreen (7-2, 5-0 in 4A West League) also wrapped up the conference title with the league win over the No. 5 Rams (7-3, 3-2).

Evergreen junior Maddie Cortez (10) and senior Maddie Mancini (11) battle with Green Mountain sophomore Sophie Warren (0) for a loose ball Thursday at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“It’s really special. We’ve had a great season,” Evergreen coach Rachel Sanford said of the undefeated league record. “We’ve faced some top competition in our league, so we are happy with the success.”

Green Mountain could have created a three-way tie for the conference title with a win over Evergreen. The Rams held a 4-3 lead late in the first half, but Evergreen sophomore Averi Gardner scored with 55 seconds left before halftime to gain some momentum.

The Cougars preceded to score 5 unanswered goals to take a 8-4 lead in the first 10 minutes into the second half.

“It was a big goal of our’s today to have a strong second half. We have been flat the last couple of games,” Sanford said. “We had lot of people come up big and we did great on the draws.”

Evergreen sophomore Averi Gardner (12) races toward the front of the net that is guarded by Green Mountain sophomores Louisa Steinbock (13) and Gina Meyer (20) during the first half Thursday at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Senior Margo Miller, along with sophomores Bella Reece and Gardner combined for all 13 of Evergreen’s goals.

“It was huge,” Miller said after her 6-goal performance to lead the Cougars. “I’m a senior and I’ve never won league. I wouldn’t have wanted to do this with any other team. Everyone came together this year.”

Evergreen’s defense was solid in front of Evergreen senior goalie Lauren Spence. Green Mountain junior Shea Murphy led a comeback attempt for the Rams in the final 8 minutes. Murphy scored a team-high 5 goals to get Green Mountain as close as 10-7 with 3:31 left.

However, Miller and Gardner scored three straight goals in the final minutes to get the lead back to a comfortable margin.

“She (Miller) is a tremendous player and leader,” Sanford said. “She really puts the team on her back a lot, but we have a lot of other threats. It’s really a nice rounded offense.”

Evergreen sophomore Bella Reece (3) protects the ball while getting checked by Green Mountain junior Shea Murphy (19). (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Evergreen has one more non-league game at Arapahoe on Tuesday, June 15, before the Cougars find out where they will be seeded for the 12-team state tournament. Evergreen should get a very high seed. The Cougars were No. 5 in the RPI standings before the victory against Green Mountain.

“We are looking forward to hosting,” Sanford said of the postseason. “It’s going to be fierce. We are looking forward to competing and playing our best.”

Evergreen’s boys lacrosse team also went undefeated winning the first league title in the program’s history this Spring 2021 season.

“The guys are having a great season too,” Miller said. “It would be pretty cool for both of us to go really far in the playoffs.”

Green Mountain could also make history if it earns the program’s first playoff bid. The Rams were No. 8 in RPI before the loss to Evergreen. First-round playoff games are scheduled for Thursday, June 17, after brackets are released Wednesday, June 16.

Green Mountain junior Shea Murphy, middle, tries to work past Evergreen’s Carly Poole (8), Maddie Cortez (10) and Margo Miller (7) during the first half Thursday. Murphy had five goals for the Rams, but it wasn’t enough as the Cougars took a 13-8 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Pomona baseball coach EJ Mapps gathers his team before his final game coaching the Panthers on Thursday at Bart Mapps Field. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

ARVADA — EJ Mapps coached his final game Thursday afternoon on the baseball field that bares his late father’s name — Bart Mapps Field.

After 32 years at Pomona High School — 28 years as the head baseball coach — Mapps filled out his final line-up card, hit his last pre-game infield and coached third base for the final time.

EJ Mapps fills out his final line-up card before the Panthers took on Mountain Range on Thursday at Bart Mapps Field. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“Four years ago I kind of had this in my mind with my son (Griffee Mapps) graduating that would be a good time to do it,” Mapps said of stepping down after this season. “I really wanted his last game to be my last game. I felt it was a good time to close this book and start a new chapter.”

And what a book was written over the three decades at Pomona. Mapps finished with 288 victories to go along with winning the Class 5A state title in 2003 after state runner-up trophies in 1998 and 2000.

“We just kept pushing and pushing and pushing,” Mapps said of the Panthers’ state runner-up runs in 1998 and 2000. “It was similar to what Jay Madden did in football here at Pomona. You have to get to the title game a couple of times and maybe lose before you figure how to push over and through to get the title.”

Pomona edged Regis Jesuit 2-1 in the winner-take-all championship game at All-City Field in Denver back in May 2003.

“We’ve had a million great teams. That 2003 team has to be the best ever,” Mapps said. “Just fantastic memories, great ball players and great people that I’m still friends with.”

While the wins and heated rivalries with the likes of Arvada and Arvada West back in the late-1990s and early-2000s were legendary, it was the family aspect that Mapps brought every day to Pomona.

EJ Mapps started his coaching career at Pomona as an assistant baseball coach in 1990. He took over the head coaching duties in 1994, racking up 288 wins and the Class 5A state title in 2003. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

In 2000 the baseball field was actually named after Bart Mapps, EJ’s father that had been there from Day 1.

“Those were good times. A lot of people thought he was the coach before me,” Mapps said. “Right as I was about to start my career my Dad was retiring from Coors. What a great thing for him and I. He was able to come everyday. He did our scorebook. He worked on the field. He relaced kids’ gloves. The kids just fell in love with him because of the kind of person he was.”

Bart Mapps passed away in 2013.

Mapps will continue to teach physical education at Pomona next school year. He also plans on getting back into coaching sooner rather than later.

“This is what I do. Coaching is in my blood. I can’t stop. I’m a terrible golfer,” Mapps admitted with a laugh. “I won’t be away for long. It will be hard for me to be away from the game for very long. I’m sure there will be some opportunities.”

Mapps felt like it was an ideal time to turn over Pomona’s baseball program after going through the COVID pandemic that cancelled the 2020 high school season completely in Colorado and shortened this season.

EJ Mapps goes over the ground rules with the umpires and Mountain Range coach D.J. Yeager. Yeager was actually on Pomona’s 2003 state baseball championship team that Mapps coached. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“Last year with COVID I think that sucked the life out of a lot of us,” Mapps said. “I’m assume they will go back to a normal full regular season next year. I feel like it’s a great time for the next person to take the reins and start off on the right foot. The cupboard, in my opinion, is still stocked.”

Pomona had more than 70 students tryout for baseball this spring.

“The school is a great place. The administration has been totally supportive in everything we wanted to do,” said Mapps, who had Pomona’s principal Andy Geise and athletic director Mike Santarelli on hand Thursday for his final game.

Santarelli spoke before Thursday’s game simply saying, “Coach Mapps did it the right way.”

“I just appreciate all the players and their families. The support they have given to the program and me personally,” Mapps said. “I feel like everyone here is family. This is a special place for sure.”

EJ Mapps spent 28 years at the head baseball coach at Pomona High School. He coached his final game for the Panthers on Thursday in a 7-6 loss to Mountain Range. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

LAKEWOOD — Winning the Class 4A girls soccer state championship isn’t going to be easy, but after Evergreen swept through the tough 4A Jeffco League this spring the task of taking state is clearly within reach.

“It’s really gratifying,” said Evergreen coach Peter Jeans on Wednesday night after the Cougars defeated Wheat Ridge 2-1 at Lakewood Memorial Field. “The girls really had to focus each game. You can’t let down in this league. There are a lot of very challenging teams and they beat them all. That is very hard to do.”

Wheat Ridge senior Emelia Probst (8) attempts to hold of Evergreen freshman Brooke Gimbel (2) during the first half Wednesday at Lakewood Memorial Field. Gimbel scored in the 17th minute to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Evergreen — No. 1 in the CHSAANow.com 4A rankings — completed a 9-0 record in the deepest conference in 4A. The Cougars outscored their opponents 49-4 this season, that includes a forfeit victory over Alameda International.

“You hope it helps,” Jeans said of the conference gauntlet the Cougars went through that included 1-goals wins over Golden, D’Evelyn and Wheat Ridge. “The mental toughness and we’ve seen a lot of adversity.”

Evergreen dominated possession early against No. 9 Wheat Ridge (7-3, 6-3). The Cougars put in their first goal off a corner kick from senior Jocelin Zimmerer in the 17th minute. Freshman Brooke Gimbel was able to get her head on the corner kick from Zimmerer for the opening goal.

The Cougars extended the lead to 2-0 in the 49th minute with junior Elizabeth Rapp feathering a shot over Wheat Ridge junior goalie Ariel Martin.

“I just wanted to put on in,” Rapp said of her goal. “I saw the goalie was way off her line so I chipped it in.”

Wheat Ridge did make the final minutes interesting. A low hard shot from senior Jessica Brummett found the back of the net for her 12th goal of the season in the 77th minute to make it a 2-1 game.

However, Evergreen was able to hold on to the victory and end the hopes of the Farmers on making the postseason. Wheat Ridge dropped it last three conference games to Golden, D’Evelyn and Evergreen.

Wheat Ridge sophomore Sonja Probst, left, tries to get the ball from Evergreen senior Jocelin Zimmerer during the Class 4A Jeffco League game Wednesday at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“I think that actually focused us more,” Rapp said of the Cougars having already wrapped up the conference title heading into the league finale against Wheat Ridge. “We want to go into the playoffs 10-0 to make a statement that we are here to win it all.”

Golden (8-1-1, 7-1-1) will grab the other automatic bid out of 4A Jeffco for the 16-team state tournament. The state pairing a scheduled to be released on Sunday, June 13. First-round game will be Wednesday, June 16.

Evergreen has come close to winning a state title over the past four seasons. The Cougars were 4A state runner-up in 2017 and 2019. League rival D’Evelyn edged Evergreen 1-0 four years ago at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Two years ago Cheyenne Mountain defeated the Cougars 2-1 in the title game.

“They know they did a lot right that year, but they also came up one goal short,” Jeans said of the 2019 state tournament run. “Obviously they are motivated for that not to happen again.”

The three top scorers — senior Myla Stewart, Catherine Rapp and Elizabeth Rapp — from the 2019 team are the three top goal scorers for the Cougars this year.

“I think that will be key,” Elizabeth Rapp said of the playoff experience from two years ago. “We have become so close as a team. We were really young as freshmen two years ago.”

Confidence is definitely high for the Cougars heading into the postseason.

“We relish being No. 1 because we deserve that,” Elizabeth Rapp said. “We want teams to know that they have to come out strong against us to take us out of the playoffs.”

Evergreen junior Elizabeth Rapp (11) uses some fancy footwork during the Cougars’ 2-1 victory over Wheat Ridge on Wednesday at Lakewood Memorial Field. The No. 1-ranked Cougars now head into the Class 4A state tournament that beings next week. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

WHEAT RIDGE — Eight new members of Jeffco Public Schools’ Athletic Hall of Fame were inducted on Wednesday at The Vista at Applewood.

Due to COVID, the Class of 2020 and 2021 were both honored since a ceremony wasn’t held last year. The exclusive group of now 116 members began with the charter group back in 1986.

Here are this newest members of the Jeffco Athletics Hall of Fame.

Class of 2020

Jeffco Athletics inducted its Hall of Fame Class of 2020 on Wednesday at The Vista at Applewood. From left to right … Griff Wirth, Lisa LaGuardia, Dave Rulli and Scott Smith were inducted. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools)

Dave Rulli

Rulli worked for Jeffco Public Schools for 33 years. His final 15 years he worked in the athletic department primary at Jeffco Stadium. He finished his career as the Manager of Stadium Operations overseeing the four central athletic stadiums. Rulli was instrumental in bring all-classifications of track and field of the now 3-day state meet held at Jeffco Stadium.

Scott Smith

Smith is a Golden High School graduate who went on to play basketball at Western State University in the mid-1970s. He returned to Jeffco where he was a boys basketball coach at Alameda International High School from 1979-2007. Smith was the head boys basketball coach for the Pirates from 1991-2006. He still remains the head boys and girls tennis coach for Alameda.

Lisa LaGuardia

LaGuardia was one of the top girls basketball players in Jeffco in the early 1980s. She was First-Team All-State Colorado for three seasons while playing at Wheat Ridge High School where she scored over 1,000 points for the Farmers. She went on to play college hoops at the University of Nebraska. She returned to Jeffco in the early 1990s where she taught and coached basketball at Alameda and Golden high schools. LaGuardia is currently a teacher at Campbellsport High School in Wisconsin.

Griff Wirth

Wirth is a Wheat Ridge High School graduate who was a football, basketball and baseball standout for the Farmers in the early 1980s. He was the Gold Helmet award winner as Colorado’s most outstanding student-football player his senior year. Wirth was a teacher and coach in Jeffco before turning to Wheat Ridge High School as its principal in 2007. The Farmers had great athletic success during Wirth’s 10-year run at Wheat Ridge. The Farmers won 10 state titles and 24 league titles. He was honored as the CHSAA School Administrator of the Year in 2016 before his retirement.

Class of 2021

From left to right … Blayne Van Dyke, Coni Sanders (daughter of Dave Sanders), Kami Keiter and Steve Greivel stand together as the Jeffco Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2021 on Wednesday at The Vista at Applewood. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Steve Greivel

Greivel was a fixture at Bear Creek High School for more than 50 years. He began his teaching and coaching at Bear Creek in 1967. He would retire from teaching in 1998, but would continue coaching until 2020. Greivel was the Jeffco boys track and field Coach of the Year in 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996 and 1999. While track was his main coaching focus, he also was an assistant coach for wrestling, cross country and football, along with the head golf coach for a time at Bear Creek.

Kami Keiter

Keiter was one of the best softball players ever to come out of Jeffco. The hard-throwing lefty pitched Arvada West High School to back-to-back Class 5A state titles in 1999 and 2000. She also played basketball and was on the track team during her time at Arvada West. Keiter went on to play softball at the University of Oklahoma from 2002 to 2005. She helped the Sooners to three consecutive trips to the College World Series and finished her career as one of the top pitchers in OU history.

Dave Sanders

Sanders taught and coached basketball and softball at Columbine High School for nearly 25 years. He died during the tragic shooting at Columbine on April 20, 1999 while saving students’ lives. The memory and spirit of Dave Sanders lives on more than 20 years after his death in the classrooms and athletic fields in Jeffco every day.

Blayne Van Dyke

Van Dyke has become a fixture during Friday Night Lights at Jeffco Stadium for more than 40 years. He has been a member of the chain crew primarily at Jeffco Stadium since the 1980s. Van Dyke was inducted into the Colorado Football Officials Association Hall of Fame in 2013 to recognize his longtime service to high school athletics.