Softball season takes the spotlight for Colorado high school fall sports

But the show must go on. Despite a reduced number of games and a reduced postseason bracket, softball teams from across the state are gearing up for a big season. Defending champions are looking to retain their crowns, while those who fell short a year ago have every intention of getting their hands on a championship trophy in the next two months.

In each classification there are plenty of teams to watch as the season gets into full swing, and we've picked out a few teams worth highlighting early.

Class 5A
Columbine (Littleton) enters the season with hopes of defending its championship. The journey will have a different feel to it as regionals have been eliminated, and the state softball tournament has been condensed to just a single day. But the focus will remain the same for the Rebels. They have experienced players in Nevaeh Ogden and Emma Todd returning from last year's championship team. Todd batted .424 last year and blasted eight home runs, which leads all returning players.

The Rebels will see plenty of challengers from across the state, most of which will come from outside the Denver metro area. One of those teams is Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins). Like Columbine, the Sabercats lost some key senior players but the return of pitcher Nikki McGaffin (21-2, 2.82 ERA) should put them right back in the mix.

Perhaps one of the more intriguing teams in 5A is Smoky Hill (Aurora). The Buffaloes made the state tournament the past two years, only to lose in the first round both times. But heading into 2020, they return the bulk of their team and hope their experience will power them closer to a state title. Izzy Giroux and Amrajie Bass each batted better than .400 and hit a combined 15 home runs last year. Smoky Hill will also boast a formidable pitching staff as both Delaney Farnsworthh and Kenedy Sandoval earned their keep in the circle last year and should have even better seasons this year.

Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch) could embark on a little bit of a revenge tour this season. The Jaguars won the Continental League title last season but suffered a first-round upset against No. 16 Ralston Valley (Arvada) to start last year's state tournament. Although Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins) lost key senior talent, junior Hannah Bailey is primed to help the Lobos returns to the state semifinals.

Class 4A
Erie crept into the 4A bracket as the No. 14 seed last year and made an impressive run to the state title, capped with a 13-9 win over top-seeded Golden in the state title game. The challenge to repeat is going to be a tall one as the Tigers lost a lot of power from their lineup, including a staggering 45 home runs from graduated seniors. Emma Osbourne returns for her junior year after excelling in the batter's box a year ago. Her .450 average and 26 RBI will have to set the tone for the team early in the season.

Having lost just three seniors a year ago, Mead (Longmont) has high expectations for 2020. Senior Veronica Elsis and junior Claire Adams each batted better than .420 and drove in a combined 54 runs last year. The Mavs staff ace also returns for just her sophomore year. Joslynn Veltien amassed a 17-5 record with a 3.15 ERA. She struck out 135 hitters and walked just 42.

Just two years removed from a state title, Holy Family (Broomfield) is poised to make another run as the bulk of the team is back for 2020. In fact, the Tigers graduated just two seniors from last year's team. Jenna Pfenning figures to provide a lot of offense this season after hitting .467 and driving in 35 runs last season. Cassidy Chvatal will take the ball in the circle on a regular basis again and is coming off a fantastic junior season in which she went 15-2. That included a no-hitter in a Sept. 28 win over Roosevelt.

The South Central League has traditionally been a strong grouping of softball talent, but the look of the league champion may change a bit. As Pueblo West, Pueblo South and Pueblo County have battled for league championship honors in recent years, it's Pueblo Centennial that believes it can finish the season atop the standings. The Bulldogs return their entire roster from last season, and they looked more than comfortable in a 7-0 win over Vista Ridge to open the season. Yzavel Barela and Kieya Belmont each drove in three runs in that win and look ready to spark a state tournament run.

Class 3A
After seeing Strasburg dominate the 3A softball landscape the past few years, University (Greeley) broke through to claim its first state championship in program history. And for the most part, the Bulldogs did it with ease. They outscored their opponents 45-11 in state tournament games, the closest of which was an 8-4 win over Brush in the final. Delaney Wieneke was a big part of that offensive output as she hit .542 with 11 home runs and a team-leading 47 RBI. She is one of three returning players who hit better than .500, along with Andi Padilla and Kaden Wyatt.

After falling a game short of the state championship final, Sterling has all the makings of another deep playoff run. Staff ace Kiersten Bohler is back for her senior year. In addition to giving the Tigers a strong presence in the circle, she also brings back a solid bat as she hit .471 with four home runs last year. Junior Ashley Wecker should pick up an increased role this year after hitting .356 and driving in 28 runs last year.

Eaton has a major loss to deal with as Remington Ross departed the team after graduating this last spring. The Reds have consistently advanced into the later rounds of the 3A tournament in recent years and hope that Jennifer Jarnagin can carry the offensive load. Jarnagin led the team in home runs (seven) and RBI (52) last year. She'll get help from fellow senior Yaritza Puente, who hit .543 and drove in 47 runs of her own.

Perhaps of all the classes, 3A could provide the most parity as Limon, Basalt and Rocky Ford. among others, are all expecting big seasons in 2020.