Colorado: Weekly high school sports notebook

"When we knew we had the potential to get the top seed, we really made it a goal to make sure that happened," Arapahoe coach Guy Cerasoli said. "We wanted that No. 1 seed, so we are where we want to be (entering the postseason). Now, we have to make sure we don’t get overconfident or complacent. Because of the parity in the state, from 1 to 10, we know any team can beat any other on a given day."

The Warriors will have to wait a while to get back on the field, as the top eight seeds all earned byes. The first round must be completed by May 8.

Also earning top seeds were No. 2 Cherry Creek, and, in order, Colorado Academy, Chatfield, Regis Jesuit, Kent Denver, Mullen and Fort Collins, which won its fifth consecutive Northern League title this season.

Top girls games this week (MaxPreps rankings): No. 3 Columbine at No. 9 Mullen (Tuesday), No. 1 Denver East at No. 2 Cherry Creek (Tuesday), No. 5 Kent Denver at No. 6 Boulder/Centaurus (Thursday), Kent Denver at No. 10 Colorado Academy (Saturday).

Diamond notes: Roaring Fork freshman John Nieslanik tossed a no-hitter against Basalt on April 27 to lead the Rams a key 2-0 victory. Nieslanik struck out nine and walked only one. . . . Tim Koons of Castle View has signed to play at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College. . . . Liberty (Colorado Springs) snapped an eight-year losing streak to Class 5A Colorado Springs Metro League counterpart Doherty with an 8-4 win April 29. . . . Heritage outfielder Mitch Griebel hit for the cycle in a 13-11 victory against Chaparral on April 28. He scored three runs and drove in two. . . . Class 5A, 4A and 3A complete the regular season this week, while Class 2A and 1A move to district play May 8.

Top games this week (MaxPreps rankings): Class 5A – No. 2 Cherry Creek at No. 10 Grandview (Tuesday), No. 1 Rocky Mountain at No. 9 Fort Collins (Tuesday), Grandview at No. 8 Arapahoe (Thursday). Class 4A – No. 7 Skyline at No. 10 Niwot (Thursday). Class 3A – No. 8 University at No. 9 Erie (Monday), No. 1 Eaton at University (Tuesday), No. 2 Faith Christian at No. 5 Kent Denver (Tuesday), Erie at No. 7 Yuma (Thursday), Yuma at University (Saturday).

On the pitch: Not only was the Class 4A Colorado Springs Metro League title at issue, so most likely was the top seed in the playoffs when No. 1 Lewis-Palmer and second-ranked Cheyenne Mountain played April 29. Lewis-Palmer prevailed on a late header from senior Jade Ryals to post a 3-2 victory. The goal came off a corner kick from teammate Sammie Lewis. "I jumped I don’t know how high," Ryals told The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. "I felt it hit me, and I fell to the ground and sat there and waited for people to either scream or walk away. And I heard them scream." . . . Durango won its third Class 5A Southwestern League title in four years with a 4-0 win against Fruita Monument on May 1 . . . This is the last week of the regular season for all classifications. Playoff brackets will be announced May 9.

Top games this week (Denver Post rankings): Class 5A – No. 4 Air Academy at No. 5 Pine Creek (Monday), 4A No. 9 D’Evelyn at 5A No. 6 Columbine (Thursday). Class 4A – No. 8 Silver Creek at No. 7 Broomfield (Tuesday). Class 3A – No. 4 Kent Denver at No. 8 Colorado Academy (Tuesday), No. 2 St. Mary’s at No. 3 Manitou Springs (Tuesday).

Basketball coach news was heavy this past week as Boulder hired alumnus Terry Gallagher as its new girls basketball coach, Poudre promoted longtime assistant Steve Hawes to the head boys basketball position and Adam Williams and Jerry Knafelc were tabbed as the girls basketball coaches at Littleton and Arapahoe, respectively. Also, Rampart boys coach J’on St. Clair resigned to take over the girls program at Doherty. The move was prompted by family reasons, according to The Gazette. "There were a lot of family things that factored into this; my daughter will be a freshman at Doherty this fall and Pat’s daughter will be a sophomore," St. Clair told The Gazette, referring to his assistant and brother-in-law Pat McKiernan. St. Clair’s father-in-law, Dan McKiernan, also is the head boys basketball coach at Doherty. . . . Nate Sassaman will not return as the head football coach at The Classical Academy. . . . Girls tennis regionals will be completed by Saturday, with qualifiers advancing to the state tournaments May 13-15. . . . Track and field and boys swimming will contest league championships this week. . . . Track and cross country standout Rachel Viger of Fort Collins has signed to compete at Colorado. . . . Fort Collins’ Nate McAuliffe will play basketball at Eastern Wyoming College.