2016 Colorado State Softball Preview

With help from a pair of four-year standouts, the Broomfield softball team has been at the doorstep the past few seasons. Now, it's go-time for Lindsey Malkin, Taylor Gilmore and the Eagles.

Since the two began starring for the Eagles as freshmen, Broomfield has advanced to the 4A semifinals, 5A semifinals, and then was the No. 3 seed in the 5A bracket last season. Eventual runner-up Pomona (Arvada) upset the Eagles in the first round.

But after each of those seasons, Malkin and Gilmore knew it wasn't their final chance. Now it is, and to this point in their senior seasons, each has been exceedingly dominant in guiding the Eagles to a 19-2 record and top seed in the big-school classification. The tournament will be played Friday and Saturday at Aurora Sports Park for all classifications.

State softball brackets

"I believe they have a quiet confidence about them this year," Broomfield coach Paula Seifried said. "They have been great and have kept their confidence in themselves and their teammates, no matter the situation. They know what they want and they are going after it."

Malkin is batting .620 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI and Gilmore is hitting .472 with seven homers and 25 knocked in. In the circle, Gilmore also has produced a 19-2 record, 1.13 ERA and 160 strikeouts, giving Broomfield perhaps the finest tandem in the state.

The Eagles are one of six Front Range League teams to crack the bracket, including defending champion Mountain Range (Westminster). The Mustangs (12-9) entered regionals as the No. 26 seed but escaped and  earned the No. 8 seed. That sets up a potential matchup with Broomfield in the second round.

Other FRL teams in the bracket include No. 4 Loveland, No. 6 Fort Collins, No. 12 Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins) and No. 15 Legacy (Broomfield). The latter won an unprecedented five straight titles from 2007-11.

Others to keep an eye on include No. 2 Cherokee Trail (Aurora) (18-3) and the hard-hitting Chloe Knapp and Meghan Medus, No. 3 Eaglecrest (Centennial) and talented sophomore Rachel Sabourin (nine homers), and No. 5 Dakota Ridge (Littleton) (13-8) with pitcher Caryle Levy. Melissa Gellerman of No. 10 Grand Junction Central is among the finest players in the tournament, having produced all season in the pitching circle and with the bat.

But when looking at the upper-echelon teams, Broomfield is the first that comes to mind.

"We are excited to get another shot against strong competition," Seifried said.

In Class 4A, Erie has been on a rampage. Despite losses to Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) in the semifinals the past two seasons, it is the Tigers (21-0) who have been atop the rankings most the season. Now, standout pitcher Rio Sanchez and company are atop the bracket.

"I think our entire team has had Valor on our mind since the loss last fall," Erie coach Harold Simmons said. "Rio always wants to compete and win against the best, and right now Valor is the best."

Valor Christian (20-1) enters as the No. 3 seed, one behind Mullen (Denver), which edged the Eagles 4-3 late in the regular season. Valor also had a scare in the regional title game, needing nine innings to shed pesky Pueblo Central 3-2. Many still consider Valor the favorite, however, considering the Eagles outscored foes 226-16 and Alexandria Kilponen (20-1, 0.46, 237 strikeouts) is still in the pitching circle.

This season's Erie squad, however, might be the most challenging opponent Valor could see over the past three seasons. In addition to Sanchez (20-0, 0.74 ERA, 211 K's), freshman Kat Sackett has blasted six home runs for the Tigers. While the group that formerly dominated 3A has always been solid since moving to 4A, the Tigers have raised the bar this season.

"Rio has worked hard in the offseason to make herself better and our offense has grown exponentially, which has allowed us to blow a few teams out," said Simmons, whose team boasts a 216-27 scoring ratio.

Mullen (15-3-1) and pitcher Allie Reynolds nabbed the No. 2 seed and Wheat Ridge, in the title mix on an annual basis, landed at No. 4. The Farmers (15-6) have gotten a standout season from Brandy Trengove, who has registered 19 extra-base hits and a .564 batting average. The senior also sports an 11-6 pitching record.

Air Academy (US Air Force Academy), with talented senior Payton Romines, checks in at No. 5. Frederick, a title-game participant two seasons ago, is the No. 6 seed. Falcon, which crashed the bracket as a No. 24 regional seed, landed at No. 8 and Mountain View (Loveland), a semifinalist last season, checks in at No. 10.

Upsets are more scarce in 3A, where Strasburg continues to play the role of favorite. The Indians are aiming for their fourth title in five seasons. While Dakota Stotyn has continued to clobber the ball, she has split pitching time with sophomore Alexis Rayburn (9-1, 1.10 ERA), giving the Indians (18-2) two high-level options.

Last season, Eaton played Strasburg to a 7-5 game in the championship, and the Reds are back in the mix as the No. 3 seed this season. Eaton coach Dale Hughes said his team has avoided focusing solely on a potential rematch with Strasburg.

"We try not to talk about future opponents, the exception being teams we might play on Friday," Hughes said. "If we are fortunate to play in the last game of the year again, we will be playing a very good team and our focus will be on ourselves playing the best game possible."

Eaton (16-4) has gotten another tremendous season from slugger Sieara Price, who is batting .458 with six homers and 32 RBI.

"Price has always been able to stay in the moment and not overthink a situation or let a bad at-bat carry over to the next at-bat," Hughes said.

Eaton will take on No. 14 Delta in the first round, a Panthers squad notable for the presence of Lily Lockhart. The senior has bashed 17 homers and driven in 62.

Other top-flight contenders include No. 2 Rocky Ford (19-1) with standout pitcher Selena Medina and top hitter Feliciti Jaramillo, and No. 4 Brush (15-5). Sydney Odle paces four Beetdiggers that have produced at least 20 RBI.

Lamar checks in at No. 5 and longtime power Valley (Gilcrest) at No. 6. La Junta, which interrupted Strasburg's reign in 2014, is the No. 11 seed.