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)

Results from the 2021 Class 4A girls tennis regionals, which includes info on who has qualified for the state championships.

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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.

Golden girls soccer exploded with an eight-goal second half and came away with a 9-1 win over Pomona on Thursday.

A list of girls tennis regional schedules for the 2021 season.

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Class 5A

Region 1

• Date: June 1-2
• Site: Cherry Creek HS
• Site contact: Chris Jacobs
• Schools: Cherry Creek, Boulder, Legend, Northglenn, Columbine, Overland.

Region 2

• Date: June 2
• Site: Fairview
• Site contact: Rod Beauchamp
• Schools: Fairview, Valor Christian, ThunderRidge, Horizon, Grandview, Highlands Ranch.

Region 3

• Date: June 2
• Site: Denver City Park
• Site contact: Michelle Topf
• Schools: Denver East, Castle View, Legacy, Hinkley, Far Northeast, Eaglecrest.

Region 4

• Date: June 2
• Site: Fossil Ridge
• Site contact: Brandon Carlucci
• Schools: Fossil Ridge, Cherokee Trail, Chaparral, Rocky Mountain, Adams City, Arvada West.

Region 5

• Date: June 2
• Site: Mountain Vista
• Site contact: Jim Flanigan
• Schools: Mountain Vista, Arapahoe, Fountain-Fort Carson, Monarch, Mountain Range.

Region 6

• Date: June 2-3
• Site: Ken Caryl
• Site contact: Craig Aukland
• Schools: Chatfield, Regis Jesuit, Fort Collins, Doherty, Lakewood.

Region 7

• Date: June 2-3
• Site: APEX
• Site contact: Kim Greason
• Schools: Ralston Valley, Poudre, Rock Canyon, Prairie View, Douglas County.

Region 8

• Date: June 4
• Site: CMU
• Site contact: Paul Cain
• Schools: Fruita, Heritage, Smoky Hill, Broomfield, Rangeview.

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Class 4A

Region 1

• Date: June 2-3
• Site: Pine Creek & John Venezia Park
• Site contact: Ron Sukle
• Schools: Discovery Canyon, Air Academy, Falcon, Palmer Ridge, Pine Creek, Ponderosa, Sand Creek.

Region 2

• Date: June 3-4
• Site: Kent Denver
• Site contact: Richard Judd
• Schools: Kent Denver, Aurora Central, Denver South, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Gateway, Vista PEAK, Littleton.

Region 3

• Date: June 1-2 (June 3-4 rain dates)
• Site: Mullen (doubles) & Harlow Park Courts (singles)
• Site contact: Hank Hooper
• Schools: Mullen, Bear Creek, Denver North, Golden, Evergreen, Wheat Ridge, Green Mountain, Dakota Ridge, Pomona.

Region 4

• Date: June 3
• Site: North Lake Park
• Site contact: Chris Stine
• Schools: Loveland, Frederick, Greeley Central, Greeley West, Mead, Mountain View, Severance, Windsor, Thompson Valley.

Region 5

• Date: June 1-2
• Site: Niwot
• Site contact: Joe Brown
• Schools: Niwot, Centaurus, Erie, Longmont, Thornton, Silver Creek, Skyline, Standley Lake.

Region 6

• Date: June 3-4
• Site: Cheyenne Mountain HS
• Site contact: Kris Roberts
• Schools: Cheyenne Mountain, Coronado, Lewis-Palmer, Liberty, Mitchell, Palmer, Rampart.

Region 7

• Date: June 4-5
• Site: Pueblo City Park
• Site contact: Ed Francis
• Schools: Pueblo East, Canon City, Pueblo Centennial, Pueblo West, Mesa Ridge, Widefield.

Region 8

• Date: June 4
• Site: CMU
• Site contact: Paul Cain
• Schools: Grand Junction, Durango, Grand Junction Central, Montrose.

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Class 3A

Region 1

• Date: June 1-2
• Site: Colorado Academy
• Site contact: Jon Hill
• Schools: Colorado Academy, Lincoln, Lutheran, Denver West, Kennedy, St. Mary’s Academy.

Region 2

• Date: June 2
• Site: Holy Family
• Site contact: Ben Peterson
• Schools: Holy Family, Prospect Ridge, Justice, Skyview, Northfield.

Region 3

• Date: June 3-4
• Site: Dakota Ridge HS
• Site contact: Jerry McWhorter
• Schools: D’Evelyn, Arvada, Conifer, Englewood, Jefferson, Alameda.

Region 4

• Date: June 3-4
• Site: Windsor
• Site contact: Steve Longwell
• Schools: Eaton, Fort Morgan, Northridge, Severance, Sterling, University.

Region 5

• Date: June 3
• Site: Dawson
• Site contact: Mike Jacobsma
• Schools: Dawson, Berthoud, Fort Lupton, Peak to Peak.

Region 6

• Date: June 2-3
• Site: Memorial Park
• Site contact: Marc Knutila
• Schools: St. Mary’s, Colorado Springs Christian, Colorado Springs School, Sierra, Vanguard, Fountain Valley.

Region 7

• Date: June 3-4
• Site: Pueblo City Park
• Site contact: Ed Francis
• Schools: Pueblo South, Pueblo Central, Pueblo County, La Junta, Harrison, Salida.

Region 8

• Date: June 1-2
• Site: Canyon View Park (GJ)
• Site contact: Christina Curtis
• Schools: Delta, Aspen, Basalt, Cedaredge, Glenwood Springs, Montezuma-Cortez, Paonia, Steamboat Springs, Vail Mountain.

Ralston Valley girls soccer scored nine goals in the first half and rolled to a 10-0 win over Pomona on Monday.

In the latest coaches poll, Holly moved into the top spot in Class 1A.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association.

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

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CHSAANow.com Baseball Polls

Coaches looking to vote should email bcochi@chsaa.org.

Talea Kuennen and Ava Erickson each scored two goals to lead Class 5A No. 11 Chatfield girls soccer to victory on Friday.

Jeffco Preps With Pleuss is a monthly roundup of Jeffco prep highlights hosted by Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ sports information director. The Season C sports were in full swing during the month of April. Standley Lake and Lakewood boys’ soccer teams combined to end a 57-year drought between the two programs when it came to winning a league title. Ralston Valley and Evergreen girls’ volleyball programs also celebrated winning conference championships. The gymnastics season came to an end with some stellar individual performances by Jeffco gymnasts.