Kilponen, Valor Christian Seeking Unprecedented Fourth Straight Colorado Softball Title

While the Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) softball team remains in pursuit to achieve what few have done, pitcher Ali Kilponen is attempting to do what no one has done. Within a single classification of Colorado softball, at least.

The Eagles have won three consecutive Class 4A championships, and the 6-foot-1 right-hander has been in the pitching circle for all three. That has already matched the achievement by a single pitcher, joining former Legacy (Broomfield) and University of Arizona standout Shelby Babcock, who won three straight for Legacy during the Lightning's five-year run from 2007-11.

If Kilponen can nab a fourth championship victory, it will equal the feat of Mariah Bledsoe, who pitched Erie to four straight titles spanning two classifications from 2007-10 (three in 3A, one in 4A). Marco Gonzales, who pitched in four straight 5A clinchers for the Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins) baseball team, is the only Colorado athlete to pitch four straight clinchers within a single classification. Gonzales, currently in the Seattle Mariners rotation, registered his quartet of wins from 2007-10.

Fifth-year Valor coach Dave Atencio notes that his team will be partially revamped this season, particularly up the middle.



"We're going to be very tough to beat, still," said the 25-year veteran, who spent 18 years at Dakota Ridge. "It's going to be anyone's game, but when you have someone as powerful as Ali who had 283 strikeouts last year and has gotten bigger and stronger over the summer, that's a huge factor. It starts and finishes with who's on the hill for you."

As major Division I programs continue to clamor for her services, Kilponen (65-3 career record with 725 strikeouts) will be adjusting to a few new components of her defense. Valor, which has only 14 players in its entire program, will feature five new starters. Many of those are up the middle.

Junior Katie Meredith will move to catcher after starting at third base last season. Sophomore Kaleigh Kreimeyer, a key reserve last season, will start at shortstop. Freshman Amaya Ruiz will take over second base. The up-the-middle defense will maintain a key piece in center fielder Savannah Behabetz (.476 average, 37 runs scored last season), who will remain in place.

The Eagles have played the past several seasons without the benefit of a junior varsity program and had only 12 players during the first of the title runs, but it hasn't slowed them down. The program will jump to 5A next season and Atencio knows the Eagles will have to gradually increase their numbers. But for now, four is the primary number on the mind.

"We'll be looking to gain experience for our five new starters, but yeah, repeating is definitely our ultimate goal," Atencio said. "Why not?"

While Kilponen's pursuit will be one of the primary storylines throughout the season, here's an overview of what to watch for in each classification:

Class 5A
Broomfield begins the season ranked No. 1 in the CHSAANow.com poll despite the graduation of its top eight hitters from last season. Senior Lainey Hughes (.315 average, two homers, 15 RBI last season) is the top returner for the Eagles, who fell 1-0 in eight innings to Cherokee Trail (Aurora) in last season's championship game.



The Cougars check in at No. 3 and return the hard-hitting senior Meghan Medus (.439, four homers, 28 RBI). Sandwiched between those two is No. 2 Eaglecrest (Centennial), a semifinalist last season that returns all-everything junior shortstop Rachel Sabourin. She batted .567 last season, drove in 37 and clobbered nine homers among 21 extra-base hits.

Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins), which has advanced to the semifinals in four straight seasons including one title-game appearance, checks in at No. 4. Legacy begins the season No. 5 and Continental League squads Douglas County (Castle Rock) and Legend (Parker) are next in line.

Class 4A
Kilponen and Valor were a near-unanimous No. 1, with only third-ranked only Wheat Ridge receiving another first-place vote. The perennial-power Farmers graduated their top four hit producers but generally retool quickly. Gianna Welker, Kate Anderson and Sydnee Flotron combined for 71 hits as juniors last year for Wheat Ridge.

Fresh off a trip to the semifinals, Air Academy (US Air Force Academy) and senior pitcher Cassidy Horn (18-3, 1.82 ERA) begin the season ranked No. 2. Hard-hitting Karsen Romines also returns for the Kadets.

Mullen (Denver), a quarterfinalists last season, begins the year ranked fourth and 2016 runner-up Erie checks in at No. 5. Sixth-ranked Silver Creek (Longmont) might feature the finest hitter in the classification in junior Jetta Nannen, who had a breakout sophomore season. She drilled 10 homers, drove in 42 and batted .571.

Pueblo West and all-state pitcher Jade Garbiso start the season No. 7 and Mountain View (Loveland), which upset its way into the semifinals last season, checks in at No. 8.



Class 3A
Although Strasburg fell to Rocky Ford in last season's title game, the Indians begin the season atop the rankings. That seems fair considering Strasburg has appeared in the past five championship games and has won three of them.

And that's not to mention that top pitchers Dakota Stotyn and Alexis Rayburn return for the Indians, along with essentially their entire roster. Stotyn also is among the elite with her bat, as she crushed nine homers, registered 58 RBI and batted .595 last season.

In defense of its title, No. 2 Rocky Ford will need a new ace to emerge in the pitching circle, but the cupboard is hardly bare. The Meloneers return several standout hitters, including senior Ashley Jaramillo.

Patriot League standouts (District 3 for softball purposes) Brush and Eaton advanced to the semifinals last season and check in at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. Fellow league foes Valley (Gilcrest) (No. 7) and Sterling (No. 9) also are in the fray.

Southern standouts Lamar and La Junta, who join Rocky Ford as the premier teams in District 2, begin the season ranked Nos. 5 and 6.

Returning all-state selections

Class 5A
First team: SS Rachel Sabourin, Jr., Eaglecrest; C/SS Rheanna Will, Sr., Fossil Ridge.
Second team: 2B Aubrea Leikam, Sr., Cherry Creek; OF Alyssa Pinto, Sr., Cherokee Trail.

Class 4A
First team: P Jade Garbiso, Sr. Pueblo West; P Alexandria Kilponen, Sr., Valor Christian; IF Jetta Nannen, Jr., Silver Creek; P Taylor Puga, Sr., Pueblo Central.
Second team: IF Hannah Hackney, Erie, Sr.; C/1B Sevi Harden, Sr., Thomas Jefferson; P Makayla Keck, Jr., Pueblo South; P Mikayla Marquez, Sr., Kennedy.

Class 3A
First team: SS Kamryn Leoffler, Jr., Brush; SS Priscilla Lozoya, Sr., Valley; P Dakota Stotyn, Sr., Strasburg. Second team: C Morgan Brantmeyer, Sr., Peak to Peak; C/IF Jolene Carrica, Sr., Rocky Ford; P/1B McKenzie Connor, Jr., Faith Christian; P Cordelia Hanger, So., The Academy; P/SS Lexi Smith, Sr., La Junta.