Class 3A Softball State Tournament Preview & History
By: Tayler Rocha
We look at all 16 teams that made it to the State Tournament. We look back at regionals and also look at their past history since 2018. Congrats to all teams that made it to State and Good Luck in the chase for the State Championship.
1 Eaton Vs 16 Meeker
In regional play last week, Eaton defeated both of their opponents Jefferson Academy 21-0 and La Junta 10-0 to win their region. Top players for the Reds in the Jefferson Academy game where Emma Anderson with 3 runs, Stephanie Bingley and Sadie Ross with 3 hits each, Stephanie Bingley with a 6 RBI, Emma Anderson with 2 stolen bases, and Julia Meagher with a 0.00 ERA. In the game against La Junta, top players were Emma Anderson and Sadie Ross with 2 runs, Julia Meagher, Stephanie Bingley and Sadie Ross with 2 hits, Sadie Ross with a 3 RBI, Zoe Hamiliton and Stephanie Bingley each with a stolen base and Sadie Ross with a 0.00 ERA.
The Eaton Reds are the current defender of the state title, winning it in the 2022 season and the 2020 season. They Lost in the Semifinals to University in 2021, went 2-1 in 2019 and 4-1 in the 2018 post season. They will be looking to be repeat champions this year and are on track to do so.
Meeker went 1-1 last week in regionals and beat Brush 7-5 but lost to Strasburg 11-1. Top players for the Cowboys against Brush were Miah Wren with 2 runs and 2 hits, Ryann Mergelman with 2 hits and a 2 RBI, Miah Wren with 2 stolen bases and Addie Knowles with a 1.00 ERA. For their game against Strasburg, top players are Addie Knowles with 1 run, Miah Wren, Addie Knowles, and Autumn Stallings with 1 hit each, and Addie Knowles with a 2.10 ERA.
This is Meeker’s second state tournament appearance since 2018, going 0-1 in the 2022 post-season, 1-2 in the 2021 post-season, and losing in the quarter finals in the 2018 season. They will be looking for the upset against Eaton.
8 Sierra Vs 9 Sterling
Sierra went 2-0 last week in regional play and defeated Weld Central 13-3 and Delta 10-4. Stat leaders for the Sierra Vs Weld Central game are Marisa Ryes with 4 runs and 3 hits and a 4 RBI, Maritza Enriquez with 3 hits and 4 stolen bases, and Marisa Reyes with a 2.33 ERA. In the game against Delta, top players were Marisa Reyes, Talim Ortega, Maritza Reyes and Samantha Venengas with 2 runs, Talim Ortega with 3 hits, Julissa Montez and Maritza Enriquez with a 2 RBI, Samantha Venengas with 2 stolen bases, and Marisa Reyes with a 1.0 ERA.
In post-season play since 2018, Sierra made their first regional appearance where they went 0-1 in the 2022 and 2021 seasons. They will be looking to continue the success of this season in the state tournament.
Sterling went 1-1 last week in regionals and beat Peak to Peak 13-3 and Wiley 8-7. Top performers from the game against Peak to Peak are Haley Emmerson with 3 runs, Addison Steele with 4 hits and a 6 RBI, Audrey Reeves, Haley Emmerson and Ellie Soper with 1 stolen base, and Tatym Dempcy with a 4.85 ERA. Against Wiley, top players were Audrey Reeves, Haley Emmerson and Ellie Soper with 2 runs, Ellie Soper with 3 hits, Makenzie Beck with a 3 RBI, Haley Emmerson with 1 stolen base, and Tatym Dempcy with a 3.50 ERA.
In previous years, Sterling lost in the quarter finals in 2022, the semifinals in 2021 and 2020, quarter finals in 2019, and in the first round of the state tournament in 2018.
4 Lyons Vs 13 La Junta
Lyons so far in the post-season are 2-0 having beat The Classical Academy 13-3 and Lamar 6-4. Top players for the Lions Vs TCA were Gretta Wynja, Autumn Johnsey, Ava Vasquez and Ceci Chiaravalle with 2 runs, Autumn Johnsey with 3 hits, Ceci Chiaravalle and Anna Santesteban with a 3 RBI, Elle Magaldi and Gretta Wynja with 1 stolen base and Ceci Chiaravalle with a 1.40 ERA. Against Lamar, top players were Elle Magaldi with 2 runs and 2 hits, Maysa Ganzel with 2 hits, and both with a 2 RBI, and Ceci Chiaravalle with 1 stolen base and a 3.00 ERA.
In past seasons, Lyons went 1-2 in the 2022 and 2019 post-seasons, and 0-1 in 2021 and 2020. They will be looking to improve on these runs during this years’ state tournament.
The Tigers are currently 1-1 on the post-season, beating Forge Christian 10-9 and losing to Eaton 10-0. Against Forge Christian, top players were Isadora Marmolejo with 3 runs, Yliani Garcia with 4 hits, Isabelle Aragon with a 3 RBI, Lexi Sanchez with 3 stolen bases, and Hunter Wallace with a 4.0 ERA.
Previously, La Junta has gone 1-2 in the 2022 post-season, 2-1 in 2021, 1-1 in 2020, 1-2 in 2019 and 2018.
5 The Academy Vs 12 Rocky Ford
The Wildcats are currently 2-0 in the postseason and beat Valley 15-0 and Fort Lupton 9-2 in regional play last week. Against Valley, top players for The Academy were Mackenzie Pearson and Isabella Bruntz with 3 runs and 3 hits, Victoria Pearson with 3 hits, Victoria and Isabella with a 3 RBI, and Isabella with a 0.00 ERA. In their game against Fort Lupton, leaders were Vicotria Pearson and Isabella Bruntz with 2 runs, Natalie Ramirez and Victoria Pearson with 3 hits and a 2 RBI each, Victoria with 1 stolen base and a 2.0 ERA.
In previous postseasons, The Academy went 2-1 in 2022, 1-2 in 2021, 2019, and 2018. This season, the Wildcats will be looking to make it to the quarter-finals and beyond.
Rocky Ford comes into the state tournament 1-1 having beat Resurrection Christian 10-4 but losing to Thomas Jefferson 8-5. Against Resurrection Christian, stat leaders were Ashlyn Berg, Jayden Johnson and Leticia Garcia with 2 runs, Ashlyn and Leticia with 2 hits, and Leticia with a 5 RBI. Deja Warman, Jayden Johnson and Lexi Baca all had 1 stolen base, and Leticia had a .290 ERA. Against Thomas Jefferson, top players were Brilye Lovato, Deja Warman, Jayden Johnson, Leticia Garcia, and Mollie Weimer with 1 run, Ashlyn Berg with 2 hits and a 2 RBI, and Ashlyn, Deja and Kamil Lovato with 1 stolen base.
Previously, the Meloneers have gone 0-1 in the 2022 postseason, 1-2 in 2021, 2-1 in 2020, 1-2 in 2019, and went 2-2 in 2018, losing in the quarterfinals.
3 University Vs 14 Lamar
University are 2-0 in the postseason, defeating Arvada 13-1 and Alamosa 11-1. Top player in the game against Arvada were Natalie Galindo with 3 runs, Kenzie Wyatt with 2 hits, Sydney Goetzel with a 3 RBI. Sydney with 1 stolen base and Kenzie with a 1.75 ERA,. Against Alamosa, top players were Natalie Galindo with 3 runs, 3 hits and 1 stolen base, Sydney Goetzel with 3 hits and a 4 RBI, and Jasi Cole with a 1.40 ERA.
University has been the state runner-up in the 2022 and 2021 seasons, lost in the Semifinals in 2020, were the state title winners in 2019 and lost in the quarterfinals in 2018.
Lamar beat Gunnison 15-3 and lost to Lyons 6-4 last week in regionals. Top players in the first game against Gunnison were Khloe Fernandez with 4 runs, Delorin Bellomy with 4 hits and Chloe Weber with a 4 RBI. Annabelle Morales had 2 stolen bases, and Delorin had a 5.25 ERA. In the next game, stat leaders were Delorin Bellomy and Chloe Weber with 2 runs, Delorin with 3 hits, and Chloe with a 2 RBI. Alexus Campbell had 1 stolen base and Mariah Sigala had a 3.50 ERA.
Last season, Lamar lost in the Semifinals, lost in the Quarter Finals in 2021, Lost in the first round of the state tournament in 2019, and went 1-1 in 2018.
6 Thomas Jefferson Vs 11 Fort Lupton
Thomas Jefferson are 2-0 so far this postseason, having beat Wray/Yuma 12-0 and Rocky Ford 8-5. Stat leaders for these games are Sophia Sandoval with 3 runs and 3 hits, Ally Brady 3 RBI, Mikayla Macias with 2 stolen bases, and Eva Sanchez with a 0.00 ERA against Wray/Yuma.
Last season, Thomas Jefferson lost to Eaton in the Semifinals and lost in the first round of the state tournament in 2018.
Fort Lupton beat Montezuma-Cortez 9 to 6 and lost to The Academy 9 to 2 last week in Regionals. Fort Lupton has not put in stats for Regionals.
Last season, Fort Lupton qualified for the state tournament going 0-1, in 2021 they lost in the Quarterfinals, 2020 they lost in the first round, 2019 they lost in the first round, and in 2018 they lost in the first round.
2 Strasburg Vs 15 Alamosa
Strasburg are 2-0 so far this postseason, having beat Cedaredge 16-4 and Meeker 11-1. Against Cedaredge, Madi Olsen had 3 runs and 2 hits, Graecyn Graf, Addi Kent, Aubrie Archuleta, and Acerie Eymann had 2 hits, Aubrie, Kailey Rushman and Anna Vetter all had a 2 RBI, Anna had 2 stolen bases and a 5.25 ERA. Against Meeker, Madi, Addi, and Aubrie had 2 runs, Addi had 3 hits, Anna had a stolen base, and Kailey Rushman and a 0.00 ERA.
Last season, Strasburg lost to Thomas Jefferson in the Quarterfinals, in 2021 Strasburg lost in the first round, in 2020 they lost in the Quarterfinals, in 2019 they lost in the Semifinals to University, and in 2018 Strasburg won the Class 3A State Title.
Alamosa went 1-1 at regionals to qualify for the State Tournament. Alamosa beat Wellington 7 to 6 in 8 innings then lost to University 11-1. Against Wellington, The Mean Mooses’ top players were Laxany Heredia with 2 runs, Kacey Hillis with 4 hits and a 2 RBI, and Shaya Martin and Gaby Castillo also with a 2 RBI, Alicia Rios had 2 stolen bases and Olivia Castillo had a 3.50 ERA. Against University, Laxany Heredia had 1 run and 1 RBI, and Gaby Castillo had 1 hit.
Last season, Alamosa reached Regionals but did not qualify, in 2021 Alamosa reached Regionals again but did not qualify. This is Alamosa first trip to the State Tournament.
7 Wiley Vs 10 Delta
Wiley is 2-0 so far in postseason play, beating Limon 12-6 and Sterling 8-7. Against Limon, Lexi Shotton, Kara Wilson, Savanna Brown, and Bethany Summers with 2 runs, Bailey Sierra had 3 hits, Lexi Shotton with 3 stolen bases, and Bethany Summers with a 4.00 ERA. Against Sterling, stat leaders were Maddie Wertz, Bailey Sierra, and Bethany Summers with 2 runs, Dixie Bitner and Bethany with 2 hits, and Bethany with a 3 RBI, 1 stolen base and 5.00 ERA.
Last year, Wiley was knocked out early in the postseason, going 0-1, 0-1 in 2021 and 2020 when the team started.
Delta is 1-1 so far this postseason with a win against Holyoke 11-1, and a loss to Sierra 10-4. Against Holyoke, stat leaders were Mya Abeyta, Jazlyn Naranjo, and Julez Sandoval with 2 runs, Olivia Hines, Velma Baily, Jazlyn Naranjo, Jolee Robinson and Julez Sandoval with 2 hits, and Mya and Julez with a 2 RBI. Olivia and Velma both had a stolen base and Tatem Miller had a 1.17 ERA. Against Sierra, Velma Baily had 2 runs, and 2 hits and a RBI of 1, Jolee Robinson also had a RBI of 1, and Velma and Tatem had 1 stolen base each.
Last season, Delta went 0-2 in the postseason, 0-1 in 2021, 2019, and 3-1 in 2018.
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