Ralston Valley Alexa Samuels is tied for the state lead in home runs. The Mustangs sophomore has clubbed six in just nine games, tied with Niwot's Brooklynn Delozier.
File photo by Carl Auer
Although it seems the softball season just started, some teams are already nearing the halfway point of their schedule. That means it's time to take inventory on what has transpired so far in regards to early-season surprises.
In Class 5A, look no further than
Mountain Range (Westminster). The Mustangs have exploded to an 8-0 start behind the hard hitting of junior
Riley Craig (.562 average, 17 RBI) and the pitching of sophomore
Hunter Huser, who has started 7-0 with a 1.64 ERA. The Mustangs, who climbed to No. 9 in the CHSAANow.com poll this past week, begin Front Range League play Tuesday against
Greeley West.
In 4A, three teams that weren't among the final four at state last season are rolling now. White-hot
Frederick has started 10-0 and has climbed to the No. 1 spot in the rankings, and
Mountain View (Loveland) and Valor Christian each have posted 8-0 marks. Frederick, which missed out on state last season, already has accumulated 37 extra-base hits, including 10 home runs. Mountain View (quarterfinals last season) and
Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) (first round) have team batting averages in the .450 range.
The 3A circuit already is down to only one unbeaten team. That in itself might be surprising, but not the team. Two-time defending champion
Strasburg, which went 24-0 last season, has started 4-0 and now has won 32 straight over parts of the past three seasons.
The finest single-game individual performance also belongs to a 3A player in
Leah Osborn of
Skyline (Longmont). She hit two grand slams and drove in 10 Saturday in a win against Lyons. The Falcons moved to 3A after three consecutive one-win seasons in 4A and have started 5-1.
With these hot starts in mind, let's take a look at 10 upcoming games to watch:
Erie (3-6) at Dakota Ridge (Littleton) (6-2), Saturday (Sept. 6)This cross-classification matchup is compelling in that Erie, the 4A runner-up last season, fell on hard times with a difficult early-season schedule. The preseason No. 1 will have another staunch test here in 5A's No. 3 Eagles, whose only losses have come to No. 2 Eaglecrest and Mountain Range.
Baillie Brooks is hitting .520 with three homers and 16 RBI for Dakota Ridge.
Legacy (Broomfield) (4-3) at Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins) (5-1), Sept. 9The Front Range League opener for both teams could go a long way in determining who eventually wins it. No. 4 Legacy still has ace
Haley Smith, the reigning 5A player of the year, in the fold. Fossil Ridge senior
Murphy McRoberts has started the season on fire, both at the plate and in the pitching circle.
Wheat Ridge (6-3) vs. Frederick (10-0), Sept. 9 at Brighton Youth Sports ComplexIt doesn't get much better than this with the top two teams in the 4A rankings. Frederick and surging outfielder
Paris Woods
will put its unbeaten start on the line against a defending-champion
Wheat Ridge squad that already has beaten reigning 5A champ Legacy.
Paris Woods, Frederick.
File photo by Derek Regensburger
Before Strasburg became the team to beat in 3A, it was all about Valley. The No. 2 Vikings and senior
Bridgette Hutton haven't fallen off much, though, and this test at No. 4 Eaton is one of the classification's marquee games of the month. Led by senior
Kayla Frink, Eaton is batting a ridiculous .552 so far this season.
Sterling (4-1) at Strasburg (4-0), Sept. 16If Strasburg's winning streak is still intact, you can bet No. 3 Sterling will be aiming to make a name for itself by taking it down. Tigers senior pitcher
Dallas Magnusson has been on point so far, but can she silence the mighty Indians and hitters such as
Jordan Roesch?
Castle View (Castle Rock) (2-1) at Legend (Parker) (6-2), Sept. 19Castle View pitcher
Savannah Heebner is looking for a stellar season, and one of her biggest tests might come in this one. No. 7 Legend is fresh off an 8-4 win against Eaglecrest and
Kylie Hager and the rest of the Titans will be aiming to make another big splash against the No. 10 SaberCats.
Broomfield (5-3) at Mountain Range (8-0), Sept. 23Broomfield and its stellar cast of sophomores have adjusted well to the move up to 5A, and the Eagles will be looking for a few keynote victories to establish themselves in the classification. Mountain Range, meanwhile, will be seeking to validate its hot start with a win against a formidable foe.
Brighton (2-0) at Ralston Valley (Arvada) (6-3), Sept. 24Brighton, which is playing in the Dave Sanders Memorial Tournament this weekend, hasn't dove headlong into its schedule yet, but the Bulldogs and pitcher
Melissa Rahrich are atop the 5A poll. They'll have a tough non-league test in this one against the No. 8 Mustangs and sophomore
Alexa Samuels, who already has clobbered six home runs in the first nine games.
Vista Ridge (Colorado Springs) (8-2) at Discovery Canyon (Colorado Springs) (7-1), Sept. 24Discovery Canyon and pitcher
McKenzie Surface are off to a sizzling start, with the No. 4 Thunder's lone loss to 5A Fossil Ridge. In a must-see 4A tilt, the Thunder will welcome No. 8 Vista Ridge to its home diamond. Wolves pitcher
Kellie Mrofcza is 8-1 with an 0.58 ERA.
La Junta (4-1) at Lamar (4-3), Sept. 25This one generally serves as a barometer to gauge the finest 3A squad in the southern reaches of the state. No. 5 La Junta just endured its first loss (to 5A Denver East) and Lamar's losses also are to upper-classification foes. The teams meet again in La Junta five days after this one.
