Ace Courtney Browne pitched Grandview to its first Class 5A state softball title last season, and the Wolves begin 2015 as the big-school favorites. Games officially begin Aug. 21.
File photo by Derek Regensburger
Admittedly, it took some time to sink in. Now the
Grandview (Aurora) softball team will discover the intricacies of life as a champion.
The Wolves won the Class 5A state tournament last year as a No. 6 seed, one that entered the final rounds a solid-but-not-dominant 15-6.
En route to their first title in the sport, the Wolves sizzled at the correct time and ultimately captured the crown with a 6-2 win against
Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins). Afterthoughts no longer, Grandview, with a large contingent of returning contributors, including pitcher Courtney Browne, begin the season ranked No. 1 in the
CHSAANow.com poll.
The Wolves will be the proverbial targets for dual reasons: They are reigning title-winners and they occupy pole position to start the season. Such is life for a champ.
"I think there's definitely a lot of pressure on us to do well this year," said Browne, a senior who compiled a 15-5 mark last season. "I think it'll be very important for us to go out there and play our own game and not worry about what we did last year."
While the Wolves will need to replace two key seniors on the left side of the infield, they bring back some clout. Leading hitter Alexandra Velasquez (.471 average last season) returns, as does heavy-hitting second baseman Loghan Thomas, who had six homers, 29 RBIs and 16 extra-base hits. Key pieces Sydni Odegard and Terran Caldwell also return.
Grandview coach Dave Thies was surprised at being bestowed the preseason favorite, saying Fossil Ridge made a good case. Things are a bit different as early-season practices ensue in that, rather than chasing the crown, the Wolves are trying to defend it.
Otherwise, it's business as usual, and the Wolves' schedule again is peppered with opponents that will prepare them for the postseason.
"We're looking at it like we had a great team last year and we accomplished some big goals there," Thies said. "So going into this season, we're taking it a day at time, practicing the same way we did last year and preparing for league play, preparing for regionals and hopefully we'll be in state again."
Just remembering the feeling from last season is enough to motivate Browne and her teammates.
"It was definitely an exciting time," Browne said. "People at school for the next couple months are excited for you, and every time you think about high school softball, it's still like ‘wow, it was kind of a shocker.'"
While Fossil Ridge,
Broomfield,
Eaglecrest (Centennial) and
Brighton highlight the lengthy list of additional 5A contenders, it is 4A
Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) that can most identify with Grandview.
The Eagles also captured their first title last season, with Dave Atencio's group upending previously unbeaten
Frederick in a thrilling championship game. It's difficult to veer against the same two teams this season, as Valor returns sophomore standout pitcher
Alexandria Kilponen and Frederick brings back junior mound maven
Alicia Hernandez.
It's no surprise those two teams begin the season ranked Nos. 1 and 2, joining final-four mates
Erie and
Wheat Ridge in the top four. Erie returns junior pitcher/slugger
Rio Sanchez, but longtime coach Bob Bledsoe has moved on to become an assistant at Colorado Mesa under former longtime Pueblo East front man Ben Garcia.
Perennial-contending Wheat Ridge brings back senior standout
Ann Marie Torres, who clubbed 21 extra-base hits en route to a .500 average last season.
In 3A,
Strasburg begins the season back on top. The Indians had a 51-game winning streak snapped in the championship game, a 3-2 loss to
La Junta that denied them a third straight crown. Pitcher Dakota Stotyn went as 19-1 with a 1.21 ERA as a freshman and figures to have the high-powered Indians right back in the hunt.
Strasburg, which will have to replace only two senior starters, will receive challenge
Sterling, La Junta and
Brush among a handful of top-flight contenders.
2014 champions
Class 5A: Grandview (defeated Fossil Ridge 6-2)
Class 4A: Valor Christian (defeated Frederick 7-4)
Class 3A: La Junta (defeated Strasburg 3-2)
Returning CHSAA/MaxPreps All-State selections:
Class 5A
First team: Courtney Browne, Sr., P/1B, Grandview; Hunter Huser, Jr., P, Mountain Range; Melissa Rahrich, Sr., P/3B, Brighton.
Second team: Gracie Cordova, Jr., OF, Pomona; Riley Craig, Sr., 3B, Mountain Range;
Clara Larson, Sr., IF, Douglas County;
Lindsey Malkin, Jr., 3B/C, Broomfield; Valerie Ortega, Sr., C, Mountain Range; Alexa Romero, Sr., P/1B, Eaglecrest; Alexa Samuels, Jr., C/3B, Ralston Valley; Megan Sansburn, Sr., P/SS, Dakota Ridge; Sloane Stewartson, Jr., C, Rock Canyon; Emily Taggart, Jr., C, Legacy; Alexandra Velasquez, Jr., OF/P, Grandview.
Class 4A
First team: Alicia Hernandez, Jr., P, Frederick; Alexandria Kilponen, So., P, Valor Christian; Bailey Kleespies, Sr., IF, Niwot;
Gabby Loya, Sr., C/IF, Wheat Ridge, Jr.; Rio Sanchez
, Jr., P, Erie; Ann Marie Torres, Sr., IF/P, Wheat Ridge.
Second team: Taylor Armitage, Sr., P/IF, Berthoud; Brooklynn Delozier, Sr., OF, Niwot; Chayanna Gallardo, Jr., C, Pueblo East;
Hailey Hinson, Sr., OF, Windsor; Allie Mason, Sr., IF/P, Thompson Valley;
Mae Mitchell, Sr., IF, Frederick; Megan Moss, Pueblo West Sr., Util.,
Christina Nelson, Sr., IF/P, Wheat Ridge; Ashley Thomas, Sr., P/1B, Pueblo West;
Paris Woods, Jr., OF, Frederick.
Class 3A
First team: Annie Davis, Sr., SS/P, La Junta; McKenna Gubanich, Jr., SS, Faith Christian; Annie Oakley, Sr., Util., Strasburg; Taylor Renaud, Sr., OF, Eaton; Jordan Roesch, Sr., OF/P, Strasburg; Alex Rutz, Sr., P, Sterling; Dakota Stotyn, So., P, Strasburg.
