Colorado: Weekly high school notebook

State championship teams that graduate 18 seniors usually don’t find themselves in title contention the following season. The Arapahoe (Littleton) boys lacrosse team is primed to be the exception to that notion. 

Drew Fleming, Arapahoe

File photo by Patrick Miller

"Losing the senior class we did, we weren’t sure what we were going to have this season," Arapahoe coach Guy Cerasoli said. "We hoped we would be in the top six (seeds), but if someone had told me at the beginning of the season that we would be the top seed going into playoffs, I would have thought they were crazy."

Top-ranked and defending champion Arapahoe virtually assured itself of the top seed in the postseason, as the Warriors outlasted No. 2 Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) 7-6 on April 21. Boys lacrosse will be the first Colorado spring sport to begin the playoffs; the regular season ends May 1.

After trailing at halftime, Arapahoe held off a late charge by the Bruins to secure the win. Cherry Creek led 3-2 at intermission before Arapahoe answered with five goals in the third quarter to take a 7-4 lead into the fourth. Greg Colosimo tallied three goals to lead Arapahoe, while Dylan Leary added two assists. Henri Halle paced the Bruins with three goals and two assists.

"What really impressed me most is that we didn’t give up when we got down," Cerasoli said. "We really fought back in that third quarter, stuck to it and held in there to come back.

"It certainly helps the coaching staff, knowing that they have that drive in them if they get down. It also was nice to have some hard-fought competition and us being able to step up to a challenge. We will need that for the playoffs."

Colosimo leads the Warriors with 40 goals (he also has 14 assists), five ahead of fellow senior Hunter Hall. Colosimo, who signed to play at Drexel, has scored at least three goals in a game eight times this season. His season high was seven goals against Smoky Hill (Aurora). Hall scored a goal and an assist against Cherry Creek and finished the regular season with 35 and 19, respectively.

"Offensively, (Colosimo and Hall) are our two go-to guys," Cerasoli said. "Greg has stepped into the role to temper our offense, to make sure we are going at the right pace we need to be successful."

As potent as the offense has been, though, in scoring 195 goals in 15 games, the defense has allowed only 90 tallies for an average of 6.0 a game.

"Overall, I really have to credit our defense for our success," Cerasoli said, noting the efforts of defenders Davis Gunter and Chip Stahmer, and goalie Scott Thompson. "That has been the big key for us this season."

Arapahoe (14-1) suffered its only loss to Highland Park (Dallas, Texas) at a tournament in late March. Highland Park was ranked No. 25 nationally by MaxPreps last week. Arapahoe checks in at No. 55, and the Warriors have beaten three teams ranked in Colorado’s top 10. Arapahoe finished the regular season April 24 with a 17-9 win against Grandview (Aurora). Now, perhaps the top issue for the Warriors entering the playoffs is the schedule. They will not play again until the second round, either May 11 or 12. The Warriors will receive a bye in the first round.

"One big challenge for us as coaches will be to make sure we stay sharp and focused," Cerasoli said. "It’s a little bit concerning that we will have a long layoff before our first playoff game."

Top boys games this week (MaxPreps rankings): No. 7 Mullen (Denver) at No. 6 Kent Denver (Englewood) (Tuesday), No. 9 Regis Jesuit (Aurora) at No. 2 Cherry Creek (Tuesday), No. 4 Chatfield (Littleton) at No. 5 Wheat Ridge (Wednesday), Regis Jesuit at Kent Denver (Thursday), Wheat Ridge at Mullen (Friday), No. 8 Fort Collins at Kent Denver (Saturday).

Top girls games this week (MaxPreps rankings): No. 2 Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) at No. 6 Boulder/Centaurus (Tuesday), No. 10 Colorado Academy (Denver) at No. 1 Denver East (Wednesday), No. 5 Kent Denver (Englewood) at Cherry Creek (Thursday), No. 4 Air Academy (U.S. Air Force Academy) at Cherry Creek (Friday).

Baseball

Diamond notes: Wet weather essentially wiped out the state’s schedule late last week, but there were some top performances early. Roosevelt’s Greg Hassell tossed a no-hitter in a 12-2 victory against Greeley Central on April 20. Hassell struck out six and walked nine in the win.  . . . For Battle Mountain (Minturn), April 19 will be a day to remember, as the Huskies accomplished something they hadn’t done in five years – win a league game. Battle Mountain scored a 9-7 victory against Glenwood Springs to snap the Class 4A Western Slope League drought. Joe Webb pitched a complete game for the win. "They're playing better baseball," Huskies manager Jason Spannagel told the Vail Daily. "We're handling situations properly — not always executing. But we're in the right places and doing the right things."

Top games this week (MaxPreps rankings): Class 5A – No. 5 Cherokee Trail (Aurora) at No. 1 Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) (Thursday), 4A No. 6 Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch) at 5A No. 8 Chaparral (Parker) (Friday). Class 4A – No. 1 Mountain View (Loveland) at No. 10 Greeley West (Thursday). Class 3A – No. 8 Brush at No. 1 Eaton (Tuesday).

Girls soccer

Top games this week (Denver Post rankings): Class 5A – No. 4 Arapahoe (Littleton) at No. 2 Grandview (Aurora) (Wednesday), Arapahoe at No. 1 Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) (Friday). Class 4A – No. 7 Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins) at No. 10 Silver Creek (Longmont) (Tuesday), No. 1 Lewis-Palmer (Monument) at No. 2 Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs) (Thursday). Class 3A – No. 10 Front Range Christian (Littleton) at No. 8 Colorado Academy (Denver) (Monday), Colorado Academy at No. 5 Peak to Peak (Lafayette) (Friday), No. 7 Holy Family (Broomfield) at No. 4 Kent Denver (Englewood) (Saturday).

ETC.

The Greeley West boys swimming team had its 55 dual-meet win streak snapped April 20 in a 119-67 loss to Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins) . . . Highlands Ranch junior Brett Olson has signed to play basketball at the University of Denver . . . Steve Vecchio has been hired as the new football coach at Fossil Ridge. He has been an assistant for the SaberCats since 1994 . . .

Also, Jay Lukes will take over for Chad Koepke in leading the Littleton football program . . . One of the most successful coaches in state history, Jim Harrison, has been hired as the boys basketball coach at Pueblo Centennial. Harrison, who retired as the girls coach at Pueblo South in 2008 after 18 highly successful seasons, has a 352-80 career record, according to the Pueblo Chieftain. Harrison led the Colts to three consecutive state titles (1992-94). "I still had the itch to coach, something I've always had," Harrison told the Chieftain. "I feel like I have a lot of energy left and playing golf every day isn't getting it done. I'm real excited. I like challenges and I'm up for this one." . . .

Nominations for the Fred Steinmark High School Athlete of the Year Award are due by May 1. The Steinmark Award recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and citizenship. For information go to the Colorado High School Coaches Association’s Web site or e-mail Scott Stocker at sidelines1971@gmail.com.

Gerry Valerio is the former high school sports editor of the Rocky Mountain News and has covered preps for more than 20 years. Send news and notes to gerry.valerio@gmail.com. Also, follow Valerio on Twitter for Colorado high school sports updates.