The softball season gets underway today, and MaxPreps has a quick look at each classification:
Class 5A
The Legacy softball team wasn’t built to win a state championship. It was built to win three.
The Lightning has accomplished the first two-thirds of that equation, and enters 2009 once again as the team to beat. Legacy likely would be the favorite regardless of who it filled in behind two-time All-Colorado pitcher of the year Shelby Babcock, but the Lightning is talented up and down the lineup.
Babcock, 22-1 last season with an 0.15 ERA and 274 strikeouts, appears even stronger this season. The University of Arizona-bound senior sometimes was a perfectionist to a fault, but now has reeled in the reins a bit.
“That’s why being a perfectionist is sometimes a bad thing,” Babcock said. “You can get frustrated too easily. I’ve learned that if I walk someone, it’s not the end of the world.”
The Lightning also returns All-Colorado catcher Buggs Torrez and center fielder Shae Rodriguez among a strong cast of veterans. If the Lightning needs to stay focused, it can do so knowing Ralston Valley is still on its tail.
The Mustangs lost to Legacy in the state championship last season and fell 1-0 to the Lightning during the regular season. Narrowing the gap is one of the chief priorities for coach Wendy Davies’ Ralston Valley squad.
“It’s a good rivalry and the nonleague games are competitive, and I’m sure they feel the same about us,” Davies said. “But like I tell our kids all the time (about a possible title rematch), it’s not a given. You have to earn your way to that state game.”
The Mustangs had to fill two outfield spots and one in the infield, but otherwise are an experienced group guided by University of Indiana-bound pitcher Meaghan Murphy.
Other contenders in the classification include Rocky Mountain, Mountain Vista, Chaparral, Grand Junction Central and up to six teams in the Jefferson County League.
Colorado High School Coaches Association/MaxPreps Poll
- Legacy
- Ralston Valley
- Chaparral
- Bear Creek
- Rocky Mountain
- Mountain Vista
- Brighton
- Rampart
- Columbine
- Eaglecrest
Others receiving votes: Liberty, Pomona, Dakota Ridge, Fairview, Fort Collins, Lakewood, Poudre, Standley Lake, Grand Junction Central, Cherokee Trail.
Top returning players
P Shelby Babcock, Legacy, Sr.; 1B Megan Bond, Columbine, Sr.; SS Lindsey Boyd, Standley Lake, Sr.; P Taylor Cox, Loveland, So.; IF Lauren Dalton, Mountain Vista, Jr.; OF Alby Drayton, Cherokee Trail, Sr.; P Mikayla Duffy, Grand Junction Central, Jr; 3B Jenna Engle, Heritage, Sr.; U Rainey Gaffin, Legacy, So.; OF Alex Groeger, Fort Collins, Sr.; 2B Rebecca Hart, Dakota Ridge, Sr.; P Raya Johnson, Eaglecrest, Jr.; IF Katelyn Londo, Rampart, Sr.; 2B Aubrey Mable, Eaglecrest, Sr.; 2B Melissa Marcovecchio, Legacy, Jr.; OF Shannon Massine, Douglas County, Sr.; U Kaitlyn Matilla, Legacy, Sr.; 2B Lexy Minch, Chaparral, Sr.; OF Kaylee Moody, Bear Creek, Sr.; P Meaghan Murphy, Ralston Valley, Sr.; P Kaci Oberfoell, Brighton, Jr.; SS Kelly Reeves, Ralston Valley, Jr.; OF Shae Rodriguez, Legacy, Sr.; OF Jessica Severinson, Chaparral, Sr.; C Sami Springer, Cherry Creek, Sr.; C Buggs Torrez, Legacy, Jr.; 3B Brianna VanSickle, Rocky Mountain, So.; IF Alyssa Zimmerman, Pomona, Sr.
Class 4A
Last season, Wheat Ridge was the earmarked team in 4A because the Farmers had moved down after a lengthy successful stint in 5A. This year, the Farmers stand out because they are the reigning 4A champs.
“We’re taking the same approach as last year, like we’re playing with a target on our backs,” Wheat Ridge coach Marty Stricklett said.
It would make sense if Wheat Ridge outfielder Elle Madsen’s at-bat song was Paramore’s Crushcrushcrush, because that’s all Madsen did as a freshman. En route to All-Colorado honors, she hit .519 with six homers and 45 RBI. She was joined by teammate Stephanie Routzon, who had to fight for the starting pitching job in camp last season before erupting for a 23-0 record.
The Farmers lost five starters and plenty of power from the lineup, but will have an immediate litmus test against 5A powers Bear Creek and Arvada West before venturing to the competitive Erie Tournament.
“I know they are going to come out as the preseason favorite because of what they did last year,” Mullen coach Tony Lopez said. “But there are a lot of teams you have to beat along the way to get there.”
Lopez’s Mustangs are one of a handful of legitimate candidates aiming to overthrow the Farmers. Mullen, led by returning standouts Shannon Lembeck, Brandi Hawkins and reigning 4A player of the year Jenna D’Ottavio, is a junior-heavy outfit that can make some noise. Northern Leaguers Windsor and Frederick had impressive runs at state last season and will be back in the mix, as could D’Evelyn, which returns all nine starters including pitchers Holly Reinke and Kendal Bergman.
“The caliber of 4A has really improved over the past few years,” Lopez said. “There are so many good pitchers now.”
Colorado High School Coaches Association/MaxPreps Poll
-
Wheat Ridge
-
Windsor
-
Mullen
-
Northridge
-
Frederick
-
Lewis-Palmer
-
Mountain View
-
Castle View
-
D'Evelyn
-
Rifle
Others receiving votes: Thomas Jefferson, Falcon, Pueblo East.
Top returning players
1B Kendal Bergman, D'Evelyn, Jr.; 3B Jenna D'Ottavio, Mullen, Sr.; C Heather Dettrey, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; SS Victoria Durkop, Castle View, Jr.; SS Kellie Eastman, Mountain View, Jr.; C Amy Ekart, Berthoud, Sr.; P Holli Englert, Castle View, Sr.; SS Tori Esparsen, Pueblo Central, Sr.; P Dominique Garcia, Frederick, Jr.; P Aryn Grywusiewicz, Thomas Jefferson, Sr.; U Brandi Hawkins, Mullen, Jr.; P Linda Hernandez, Pueblo Centennial, Jr.; SS Shannon Lembeck, Mullen, Jr.; P Miranda Lyndes, Falcon, Sr.; OF Elle Madsen, Wheat Ridge, So.; SS Mackenzie Miller, Conifer, Jr.; OF Chelsea O'Connor, Windsor, Sr.; P Mariah Peterson, Lewis-Palmer, Jr.; P Holly Reinke, D’Evelyn, So.; P Alisha Rodebaugh, Rifle, Jr.; P Stephanie Routzon, Wheat Ridge, Sr.; P Tiffany Schaaf, Delta, Jr.; OF Lindsey Shell, Mullen, Jr.; 2B Alexa Snyder, Pueblo East, Jr.; C Kelsey Tillery, Windsor, Sr.; OF Laura Trehal, Castle View, Jr.; C Jordan Walker, Falcon, Jr.; P Megan Wilkinson, Windsor, Sr.
Class 3A
Discussions in 3A softball typically begin and end with Erie and Holy Family. For the last four seasons, that has been the state championship matchup (Erie has won three). Could it be heading that way again?
“I’d be tempted to say yes, but you can’t take anything for granted,” Erie coach Bob Bledsoe said. I think we’re going to be strong, but it’s too early to look far. I can’t speak for Holy Family, but they always seem to have talent.”
On the surface, Erie appears to be in better shape. The Tigers return junior Mariah Bledsoe, the winning pitcher in each of the past two title games, second baseman Jordan Ruiz, third baseman Sasha Fong, first baseman Brittany Maul, outfielder Haley David, etc. Holy Family, meanwhile, has a to-do list that includes replacing its starting pitcher, catcher, second and third basemen.
But coach Glen Ramos’ squad returns standouts such as shortstop Rachel Wild and outfielders Daiva Jarasius and Rachel Boothe and appears en route to abiding by the don’t-rebuild-reload philosophy.
Look for Faith Christian, Valley and Burlington to be among those offering challenges, with Brinley Benson-led Faith Christian hoping to leapfrog Holy Family in the Metro League. But no matter how it shakes out, can anyone overthrow Erie, who has participated in all 12 3A titles games and won 10?
“It was always a dream to get one, but after we won that first year, I made my goals a little bit bigger,” said Mariah Bledsoe, who has the opportunity to earn the rare designation of winning four titles as a pitcher if Erie keeps rolling the next two seasons. “I’d love to win four in my career of course, but I’ll be thankful for whatever I get.”
Colorado High School Coaches Association/MaxPreps Poll
- Erie
- Holy Family
- Faith Christian
- Valley
- Platte Canyon
- Burlington
- Limon
- Middle Park
- Strasburg
- La Junta
Others receiving votes: Rocky Ford, Lyons.
Top returning players
OF Alexa Aitken, Basalt, Sr.; SS Hope Asbury, Valley, So.; OF Brinley Benson, Faith Christian, Sr.; P Mariah Bledsoe, Erie, Jr.; 3B Sasha Fong, Erie, Jr.; IF Chelsea Holi, La Junta, Sr.; OF Naphtalee Hollenbaugh, Limon, So.; P Taylor Hutton, Valley, Jr.; OF Daiva Jarasius, Holy Family, Jr.; P Taylor Johnson, Faith Christian, Sr.; 1B Faith Klein, Strasburg, Sr.; 1B Amy Klopfenstein, St. Mary’s, Sr.; SS Rilee Krier, Strasburg, So.; C Kenzie Kuhn, Basalt, Jr.; OF Dani Lenz, Wray, Jr.; P Amber Lowther, Rocky Ford, Sr.; P Karly Maes, La Junta, Sr.; IF Jenny Marshall, Platte Canyon, Jr.; P Jessie Marshall, Platte Canyon, Jr.; SS Jamie Matherly, Basalt, Jr.; 1B Brittany Maul, Erie, Jr.; P Jordan May, Burlington, Sr.; C Casey Mitchek, Cheyenne Wells, Sr.; C Brandi Moser, Platte Valley, So.; P Lauren Murphy-Payne, Erie, So., P; U Beth Peterson, Holy Family, Jr.; 3B Elisabeth Roob, Peak to Peak, Sr.; 2B Jordan Ruiz, Erie, Sr.; P Jaicy Sutak, Lyons, Jr.; SS Myndee Thompson, Faith Christian, Jr.; C Rebecca Walker, Brush, Jr.; SS Rachel Wild, Holy Family, Sr.; 1B Brittany Weber, Burlington, Sr.
Coaches who wish to participate weekly in the CHSCA/MaxPreps Poll, email Gerry Valerio at gvalerio@maxpreps.com. Also, follow Gerry Valerio on Twitter for Colorado high school sports updates.