The Colorado High School Activities Association released the brackets Wednesday for the 32-team state baseball playoffs in Class 5A, 4A and 3A. District play begins Saturday at host sites, and the winners of each district will advance to the double-elimination state tournament.
In Class 5A, Rampart (18-1) was awarded the top seed. Most state followers expected either two-time defending state champion Rocky Mountain or perennial power Cherry Creek to get the nod, with Cherry Creek given the slight edge because of its non-league win Tuesday against the Lobos.
The Rams, champions of the Colorado Springs Metro League, emerged, though, despite not playing a non-league game against a Colorado team. Their lone loss came in league play against Pine Creek, which is seeded 19th.
Rampart is led by junior standout Robert Forrest, who is batting .435 with five home runs and 31 RBI. He also is among the state leaders on the mound, fashioning a 7-0 mark and 2.21 ERA.
Rounding out the top four seeds were No. 2 Cherry Creek, Rocky Mountain (third) and fourth-seeded Mountain View. The tournament’s top eight seeds play host to districts.
Rocky Mountain, which will host District 7, could be involved in perhaps the top matchup of the coming weekend. If the Lobos and 14th-seeded Chatfield win their first-round games, they will meet with a state berth at issue. The Chargers were state semifinalists last season and could have ace left-hander Taylor Rogers, a University of Kentucky-signee, ready to face Rocky Mountain. Chatfield opens with Pine Creek.
Broomfield (18-1) grabbed the top spot in Class 4A. The Eagles, winners of 18 in a row, won the highly competitive Northern League title with a win Tuesday against Mountain View, which is the second seed. Jefferson County League champion Wheat Ridge is seeded third, while Cheyenne Mountain opens postseason play as the fourth seed.
Of note in Class 4A, Valor Christian and Woodland Park will meet in a play-in game Thursday, with the winner earning a spot in the bracket as the 26th seed.
As usually is the case, Eaton is the team to beat in 3A. The Reds, who sport a perfect 18-0 mark, will be after their second consecutive title and ninth since 1994. Also garnering top-four seeds were No. 2 Holy Family (17-1), whose only loss came to Eaton, Middle Park (third) and fourth-seeded Manitou Springs.
District Baseball Schedule
One team advances to the state tournament from each district
CLASS 5A
District 1, at Rampart
[No. 1 seed] Rampart (18-1) vs. [32] Monarch (8-11), 10 a.m.
[16] Grand Junction (15-3) vs. [17] Ralston Valley (14-5), 10 a.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 2, at Regis Jesuit
[8] Regis Jesuit (15-3) vs. [25] Legacy (11-7), 10 a.m.
[9] Cherokee Trail (15-4) vs. [24] Brighton (13-6), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 3, at Mountain Vista
[4] Mountain Vista (15-4) vs. Westminster (11-8), 10 a.m.
[13] Dakota Ridge (10-7) vs. [20] George Washington (14-5), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 4, at Green Mountain
[5] Green Mountain (16-3) vs. [28] Denver East (15-4), 10 a.m.
[12] Doherty (14-5) vs. [21] Smoky Hill (11-8), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 5, at Cherry Creek
[2] Cherry Creek (15-4) vs. [31] Fountain-Fort Carson (10-9), 10 a.m.
[15] Durango (13-6) vs. [18] ThunderRidge (13-6), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 6, at Grandview
[7] Grandview (13-6) vs. [26] Highlands Ranch (10-9), 10 a.m.
[10] Fairview (15-4) vs. [23] Arvada West (11-8), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 7, at Rocky Mountain
[3] Rocky Mountain (15-4) vs. [30] Ponderosa (12-7), 10 a.m.
[14] Chatfield (13-5) vs. [19] Pine Creek (13-4), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 8, at Fort Collins
[6] Fort Collins (16-3) vs. [27] Air Academy (11-8), 10 a.m.
[11] Heritage (12-7) vs. [22] Boulder (11-8), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
CLASS 4A
District 1, at Broomfield
[No. 1 seed] Broomfield (18-1) vs. [32] Prairie View (5-11), 10 a.m.
[16] Fort Lupton (11-5) vs. [17] Montrose (11-8), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 2, at Golden
[8] Golden (12-7) vs. [25] Widefield (12-7), 10 a.m.
[9] Niwot (14-5) vs. [24] Castle View (9-10), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 3, at Cheyenne Mountain
[4] Cheyenne Mountain (17-2) vs. [29] Pueblo West (8-11), 10 a.m.
[13] Rock Canyon (11-8) vs. [20] Pueblo County (10-8), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 4, at Runyon Complex, Pueblo
[5] Pueblo South (15-4) vs. [28] Thomas Jefferson (8-9), 11 a.m.
[12] Skyline (12-7) vs. [21] Palisade (10-7), 11 a.m.
Championship, 1:30 p.m.
District 5, at Mountain View
[2] Mountain View (17-2) vs. [31] Alameda (10-8), 10 a.m.
[15] Lewis-Palmer (11-7) vs. [18] Eagle Valley (14-5), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 6, at Silver Creek
[7] Silver Creek (14-5) vs. [26] Valor Christian/Woodland Park , 10 a.m. – *Valor Christian/Woodland Park will play for this spot April 30
[10] Evergreen (14-5) vs. [23] Greeley West (10-9), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 7, at Wheat Ridge
[3] Wheat Ridge (14-4) vs. [30] Glenwood Springs (11-8), 10 a.m.
[14] Pueblo East (14-5) vs. [19] Longmont (11-8), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 8, at Delta
[6] Delta (16-3) vs. [27] D’Evelyn (8-9), 10 a.m.
[11] Kennedy (13-5) vs. [22] Roosevelt (10-8), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
CLASS 3A
District 1, at Eaton
[No. 1 seed] Eaton (18-0) vs. [32] Denver Christian (8-10), 10 a.m.
[16] Trinidad (13-3) vs. [17] Machebeuf (11-8), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 2, at Gunnison
[8] Gunnison (14-5) vs. [25] St. Mary’s (12-6), 10 a.m.
[9] Monte Vista (13-6) vs. [24] Hotchkiss (14-5), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 3, at Manitou Springs
[4] Manitou Springs (14-3) vs. [29] Jefferson (12-6), 10 a.m.
[13] Olathe (13-5) vs. [20] Florence (11-6), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 4, at Brush
[5] Brush (14-5) vs. [28] Bennett (10-8), 10 a.m.
[12] Faith Christian (15-4) vs. Yuma (13-4), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 5, at Holy Family
[2] Holy Family (17-1) vs. [31] Colorado Springs Christian (8-9), 10 a.m.
[15] Bayfield (13-6) vs. [18] Cedaredge (15-4), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 6, at Lamar
[7] Lamar (13-6) vs. [26] University (10-9), 10 a.m.
[10] Erie (13-4) vs. [23] The Academy (12-7), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 7, at Middle Park
[3] Middle Park (17-1) vs. [30] Weld Central (9-10), 10 a.m.
[14] Kent Denver (12-7) vs. [19] Peyton (11-6), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
District 8, at Denver Lutheran
[6] Denver Lutheran (15-3) vs. [27] Aspen (11-8), 10 a.m.
[11] Valley (14-5) vs. [22] Jefferson Academy (12-5), 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
