Intense final weekend on tap on the Colorado baseball diamond

Philosophies differ when considering how to approach the final weekend of the baseball season as the only team in the state tournament without a loss.

What's universally agreed upon is it's an enviable place to be.

Cherokee Trail (Aurora) holds that designation in Class 5A after going 3-0 on the opening weekend of the double-elimination tourney, giving the Cougars a sizable mathematical advantage over Centennial League foes Mullen (Denver), and Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village), as well as Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins), each of which will be eliminated with a single loss.

In the past, some teams in Cherokee Trail's position have treated Friday's game – against Mullen at All City Field, in the Cougars' case – almost as a throwaway in which Nos. 3 and 4 starters toe the mound. Even with a loss, an appearance in the title game is imminent, and your best arms are saved. Others treat it just as vitally as any other tournament game, knowing a win means they'll have to be beaten twice on Saturday.

"Yes, we are treating Friday as a must win," Cherokee Trail coach Allan Dyer said. "With that being said, we have confidence in all three of our guys and feel we have multiple options there. It's important for us to keep our foot on the pedal."

Colorado state baseball brackets

Cherokee Trail (20-4) has the advantage of having three solid starters – all lefties – in Conner Nantkes, Jerome Bohannon and Keven MacKintosh. They also have a riveting offense that has produced 98 extra-base hits. Plus, the Cougars have the intangible advantage of being a red-hot team, having won 12 straight. Dyer said his squad had that type of potential all along but took awhile to get into a rhythm after a disjointed schedule to start the season.

"Losing our valuable spring trip due to the blizzard set us back as far as working and evaluating our players," he said. "When everyone had seven games under their belt we had one or two. Just felt like we were playing catch-up. But this is a great group of players that have a tremendous team chemistry."

Traditional powers will clash Friday in 5A's other game, an elimination contest featuring Cherry Creek and Rocky Mountain. Each enters 17-7 and boasts imposing lineups, the Bruins led by Tanner O'Tremba and the Lobos by Jadon Uhrich.

In 4A, Pueblo West holds the designation of the favorite after rocketing through the opening weekend unscathed. The Cyclones (20-4), who boast a staff ERA of 2.25 behind ace Rocco Arguto, will get back to action Friday against Windsor at All-Star Park in Lakewood. The Wizards (20-4) rallied to win two after losing their opener.

The gutsiest team in the 4A tourney to this point, though, has to be Erie. The Tigers (16-8) endured a one-run loss to Delta in their opener and faced uphill odds. First they came back to outlast area-rival Longmont in a thoroughly wild 20-16 contest. But the Tigers weren't too spent to immediately turn around and eliminate top overall seed Mountain View (Loveland) 6-5, a win that allowed the Tigers to play on.

"I am really proud of this team's toughness both physically and mentally," Erie coach Harold Simmons said. "Their willingness to do whatever it takes to win is second to no one. They are simply great teammates who are completely bought into our program."

Erie will face Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) (20-4) in an elimination game Friday, a rematch of a 13-3 Valor win in the regular season. But Erie, which will probably turn to pitcher Ruben Portillo, has proven its resiliency. Valor, meanwhile, had reeled off 14 straight wins before falling to Pueblo West on Saturday.

The 3A bracket has been thrown into disarray after heavy favorite Eaton was dispatched in two games. Instead, it's Faith Christian (Arvada) that's in the driver's seat after an unblemished opening weekend. After three convincing wins, the Eagles (19-5) and multifaceted standout Austin Stone will take on University (Greeley) (19-5), the lone remaining squad from the vaunted Patriot League. The Bulldogs have gotten a solid season from outfielder Jake Spence.

Manitou Springs and Kent Denver (Englewood) will meet in an elimination game, with Kent Denver holding the distinction of pulling off an 8-over-1 seed upset against Eaton in the opening round. Will McKissick has drilled eight of the Sun Devils' 10 home runs this season and has driven in a team-best 37. Manitou Springs counters with a balanced lineup led by Davyn Adamscheck.

In 2A, which features a straight-up bracket, the semifinals and championship will be played Saturday at Hobbs Field in Pueblo. The expected matchup of Western Slope powers was altered a bit when No. 13 Limon upset No. 3 Hotchkiss. That means it will be the Badgers (18-4) who take on top-seeded Paonia (22-1) in one semifinal. Sophomore Kayden Seriani has been a beast at the plate and on the mound for the Eagles.

In the other semifinal, No. 11 Dawson School (Lafayette) will square off against No. 2 Sedgwick County (Julesburg) at Andenuccio Field. Dawson (16-4) has won 15 of its past 16, but will face a surging Sedgwick County squad that has won 17 straight behind standout athletes such as Tyler Woodhams.

The 1A crown was decided last week with Holly topping Fleming 5-0 in the championship game at All-Star Park on May 19. Ricardo Juarez threw a complete-game shutout for the Wildcats, striking out six.