In case you missed it, the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Board of Control overwhelmingly voted down a proposal last week that would have cut the number of regular-season high school games by 10 percent. For the second consecutive year, the CHSAA legislative body got it right.
In just about every sport in Colorado, the allowable number of games is too few and trails its counterparts nationally. Cutting back on the already-limited allowable contests would have further trimmed the opportunities for the state’s student-athletes. Honestly, when budgetary issues are resolved, the state’s governing body should introduce proposals to allow more games.
If some school districts believe that cutting the number of games will help fix their bottom line, so be it. The school districts already can do that, though, without CHSAA intervention. Some believed the proposal last week was introduced so that the CHSAA would be the heavy in such a decision, insulating those school districts, boards and superintendents from the storm of criticism that would be sure to follow. It will be interesting now to see how many, if any, school districts step forward to cut games without the CHSAA’s "blessing".
Lacrosse
Outside the box: Previously eighth-ranked Fort Collins dominated then No. 7 Monarch (Louisville) 16-4 behind six goals and three assists from sophomore Sean Arruabarrena. Teran Mahwhinney added three goals and and three assists, while Alex Creech also had three goals. Junior Ryan Laplante stopped 15 shots in goal. After a 1-1 first period, the Vipers eruped for seven unanswered goals in the second to take an 8-1 lead into intermission.
"It was a really good win for us, especially after two really tough losses," Fort Collins coach Carey Smith told the Fort Collins Coloradoan. "Monarch was 9-0 and ranked in the top five in the state going into the game, and we worked really hard going into the game and it was good to see the hard work starting to pay off."
After a 17-2 win against Glenwood Springs on April 17, the Steamboat Springs boys lacrosse team has won 20 consecutive Mountain League games. The Sailors also wrapped up their second league title in a row.
Top boys games this week (MaxPreps rankings): No. 2 Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) at No. 1 Arapahoe (Wednesday), No. 3 Colorado Academy (Denver) at No. 10 Air Academy (U.S. Air Force Academy) (Thursday), No. 9 Monarch at No. 7 Wheat Ridge (Saturday), Cherry Creek at No. 6 Kent Denver (Englewood) (Saturday).
Top girls games this week (MaxPreps rankings): No. 2 Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) at No. 9 Colorado Academy (Denver) (Monday), No. 1 Denver East at No. 10 Thompson Valley (Loveland) (Wednesday), Thompson Valley at Cherry Creek (Friday).
Baseball
Diamond notes: Dakota Ridge junior Preston Fugita hammered the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth inning to allow the Eagles to walk off with a 10-9 victory against Brighton on April 12. It was the second homer of the game for Fugita – he it another solo shot in the third and went 4 for 5 – and it helped Dakota Ridge (Littleton) rally from a 9-2 deficit. Overall, the Eagles hit six home runs in the game. Senior Nate Lotze also hit two.
Stefan Boyer, a sophomore catcher at Mullen (Denver), went 4 for 4 with two doubles, two homers and seven RBI in awin against Eaglecrest (Centennial). ... Ralston Valley junior Ben Yokley fired a five-inning no hitter in a 10-0 win against Thomas Jefferson on April 13, while Colorado Academy (Denver) sophomore Vince Pizzichini did the same against Ridgeview Academy (Watkins) in a 21-1 victory. Pizzichini fanned 14. ... Not to be outdone, Mountain Range senior Kaden Koch spun a perfect game in blanking Thornton 10-0 on April 15. Koch struck out 13. ... Broomfield’s Erik Lockwood also had quite the game in the Eagles’ 16-5 thumping of previously fourth-ranked Fort Morgan. Lockwood struck out 10 while pitching and also contributed three hits, which included a double and a homer, and drove in three runs. ... After tying the record for consecutive wins last week, Eaton set a new mark of 46 in a row with a 12-2 victory against Valley on April 15. The Reds have since extended the streak to 47 games.
Top games this week (MaxPreps rankings): Class 5A – No. 5 Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) at No. 8 Rampart (Colorado Springs) (Monday), No. 7 Regis Jesuit (Aurora) at 4A No. 8 Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch) (Monday). Class 4A – No. 4 Wheat Ridge at No. 6 D'Evelyn (Denver) (Wednesday). Class 3A – No. 9 Brush at No. 8 Weld Central (Keenesburg) (Tuesday), Weld Central at No. 10 Yuma (Thursday), Yuma at No. 6 University (Saturday).
Girls soccer
Top games this week (Denver Post rankings): Class 5A – No. 10 Columbine (Littleton) at 4A No. 4 Wheat Ridge (Monday), No. 4 Grandview (Aurora) at No. 2 Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) (Tuesday). Class 4A – No. 9 Broomfield at No. 6 Longmont (Friday). Class 3A - No. 2 Kent Denver (Englewood) at No. 10 Faith Christian (Arvada) (Tuesday), Kent Denver at No. 5 Peak to Peak (Lafayette) (Thursday), No. 8 Colorado Academy at Faith Christian (Saturday).
College signings: A list of athletes around the state signing letters of intent
Air Academy: Landon Brunk, Colorado-Colorado Springs (soccer); Brunner Hill, Western State (wrestling); Elizabeth Jewell, Newman (volleyball); Katherine McBride, Pacific (swimming); Alexis Slider, Florida State College (softball); Sarah Tanous, Metro State (soccer); John Tosches, Regis (baseball).
Boulder: Jessica Jortberg, Denver (skiing)
Broomfield: Courtney Derus, Pittsburgh (softball); Taylor Frederking, Fort Lewis (volleyball); Jordon Gutierrez, Arizona State (wrestling); Jerry Huff, Adams State (wrestling); Kimmie Kreeger, MidAmerica Nazarene (volleyball); Megan McCain, BYU-Hawaii (soccer); Jordan Sisson, St. Leo (volleyball); Josh Van Tine, Northern Colorado (wrestling).
Cheyenne Mountain: Kendra Burch, Regis (lacrosse); Nick Frachiseur, Nebraska Wesleyan (football); Matt Lashlee, Indian Hills (baseball); Bert Nicke, Nebraska Wesleyan (football); Geoff Pippus, British Columbia (basketball); Natasha Ray, Yavapai Junior College (volleyball); Vivian Snider, Dartmouth (volleyball).
Colorado Springs School: DeLovell Earls, Air Force (basketball).
Fountain-Fort Carson: Roger Castellano, Adams State (soccer); Quinton Lawson, Chadron State (football); Jamarius Mathis, Adams State (track); Christian Meyer, Midland Lutheran (soccer); Adam Nasif, Colorado-Colorado Springs (track); Joey Schoenberger, Mesa State (wrestling).
Fruita Monument: TJ Pollock, Glendale Community College (baseball).
Holy Family: Josh Tinnon, Northern Colorado (baseball); Cody Simmering, Colorado School of Mines (baseball); Rachel Boothe, Mesa State (softball).
Lewis-Palmer: Dan Barringer, Air Force (wrestling); Heather Dettrey, Lamar Community College (softball); Aidan Reid, Boise State (tennis).
Liberty: Patrick Green, Puget Sound (football); Wes McKenzie, Otero Junior College (basketball).
Longmont: Matt Martien, St. John`s (Minn.) (baseball).
Mesa Ridge: Brandi Collins, Regis (basketball); Sarah Curby, Colorado-Colorado Springs (basketball); Leanndra Gilbert, Mesa State (basketball).
Monarch: Whitney Dougherty, St. Bonaventure (swimming); Alex Evans, Colorado State-Pueblo (basketball); Kaleigh Humphrey, Eckerd (volleyball).
Mountain Vista: Emily Anderson, North Carolina State (gymnastics); Randi Applehans, Augustana (softball); Brian Caggiano, Wyoming (football); Lindsey Ebel, Air Force (gymnastics), Marina Long, Utah Valley University (softball); Nic Morabito, Regis (soccer); Katherine Simmons, Alderson Broaddus (volleyball); Stephanie Simmons, Coppin State (volleyball); Ali Stajduhar, Nebraska Wesleyan (basketball).
Nederland: Kat Robinson, Colorado State (cross country/track).
Niwot: Kali Haas, Holy Cross (softball).
Pine Creek: Olivia Bartole, Trinidad State Junior College (softball); Allie Hoskins, Seattle University (volleyball); Ian McGill, Doane College (baseball); Derek Skrdlant, Colorado School of Mines (baseball); Libby Westfall, Air Force (track).
Rampart: Nikki Amos, Metro State (tennis); Sara Benson, Colorado State (track); Chelsea Brew, Metro State (softball); Jason Burbach, Air Force (cross country); Katie Londo, Chadron State (softball); Jenna Kinzer, Fort Lewis (volleyball); Tyler Nieves, Biola (track); Eric Rickard, Adams State (soccer); Samantha Talmich, Metro State (softball).
Shining Mountain: Andrew Flint, Whitworth College (soccer); Chris Bremner, Beloit College (basketball).
Widefield: Gabi Smith, Fort Lewis (volleyball).
ETC.
Centennial (Pueblo) has hired Paul Arriaga as its new volleyball coach. Arriaga last coached at Dolores Huerta, and he takes over for Randy Kindschuh. Pueblo Centennial also is searching for coaches for softball and girls basketball to replace Nathan Sisneros, who led both of those teams last season. ... Heritage’s Kristen Kempton won her second top golf tournament in the past week when she took top honors at the Mustang Invitational on April 12. Kempton, who carded a 71 in that event, a week earlier won the Heritage Invitational.
Nominations for the Fred Steinmark High School Athlete of the Year Award are due by May 1. The Steinmark Award recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and citizenship. For information go to the Colorado High School Coaches Association’s Web site or e-mail Scott Stocker at sidelines1971@gmail.com.
Craig Woodall has been selected as the new athletic director at Poudre. ... La Junta High School prinicipal Bud Ozzello has been selected as the new assistant commissioner for the Colorado High School Activities Association. He will join the CHSAA on July 1.
Gerry Valerio is the former high school sports editor of the Rocky Mountain News and has covered preps for more than 20 years. Send news and notes to gerry.valerio@gmail.com. Also, follow Valerio on Twitter for Colorado high school sports updates.
