SPORTS

Losing key players is no problem for Riverdale Ridge

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

THORNTON -- If anyone thought Riverdale Ridge’s softball team might lose a step this season, a second guess might be forthcoming.

The Ravens, who advanced to the state 4A quarterfi nals a year ago, lost pitcher Makenna Meyer, catcher Destiny Hackney and infi elder Nikki Waddle, among others, to graduation. Yet with a cast sprinkled with newcomers and some veterans, RRHS has a record of 14-3, entering play this week.

“It is very surprising,” said coach Ray Garza. “I don’t they’ve been replaced. We’ve got girls who have fi lled the shoes and have done some great things. The girls have bought into the girls we replaced them with. Wow. It’s been amazing to see.”

“It’s been a rollercoaster, for sure,” said Sydnee Fordham, whose four hits helped the Ravens to a 14-4 win over Niwot Sept. 16. “Our team is really young. We have a lot of freshmen on our team. They’ve stepped up and fi lled their roles. Our seniors have also taken on some large roles. Our starting shortstop, third baseman and centerfi elder are seniors.”

Fordham said there was a different sense of chemistry this year.

“There are a lot of younger girls,” she said. “It’s not like we are building from something we had. It was building from basically nothing. To fi ll those spots, we’ve created relationships.”

Fordham said the success was a surprise to her.

“I did not think we were going to be as good,” Fordham said. “Our freshman pitcher stepped up, and so did our upperclassmen.”

Fordham is a senior and feels like an extra coach on the fi eld.

“I lead by example. I’m a captain, but I’m not a vocal person,” she said. “I get my job done. It’s hard to take on the responsibility. I’ve done an OK job with that and fi lling my role. I have fun on and off the fi eld. On the fi eld, I’m more serious -- get the job done and be friends off the fi eld.”

Garza said some of the Ravens’ inexperience may have played a part in the three losses.

“We could easily be undefeated,” Garza said. “We have to keep fi ghting. My hat’s tipped to all their coaches during the summer. I have very little to do with this. I just try to keep the engine running.”

Five games remain on the Ravens’ schedule, including a contest with perennial softball power Frederick High School.

“I get the opportunity to build a team-unity piece,” Garza said. “I don’t take credit for any of these girls. I try to be the mold and the glue. We’re trying to fi nd that strong bond. We’re going to do what we can and continue this nice ride. Hopefully, we can fi nish strong.”

“It’s a fun team,” Fordham said. “This is the best team we’ve had.”

Sydnee Fordham of the Ravens waits for the throw from the outfi eld as Vista Peak’s Anastasia Molina gets to second base during the teams’ game in Aurora

Sept. 18. PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH

EMAC golf: Brighton’s Leydon, team take top spot

‘Dawgs also capture EMAC championship

STAFF REPORT

WESTMINSTER -- Brighton High School’s golf team picked up three wins at the second Eastern Metro Athletic Conference major (all-school) tournament Sept. 14 at Hyland Hills Golf Course.

BHS’ Kyle Leydon won the stroke-play portion of the tournament with a 3-under par 69. The Bulldogs captured the team tournament championship by 21 strokes over second-place Prairie View.

BHS also won the EMAC season title by 25 shots over the ThunderHawks. The results of this major and one in August at Aurora Hills Golf Course determined the league champion.

Leydon’s round included an eagle on the par-5, 517-yard 12th hole and three birdies, including the par-5, 557-yard 15th hole. Coby Puzio fi nished with a 79, and Caleb Rankin fi red an 87.

Prairie View’s medalist in the tournament was Payton Crawford, who fi red a 7-over 79. He birdied the par-3, 16th hole. Keagan Bond turned in an 80, and Cole Crawford fi nished with a 97.

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PACK LEADERS

Brighton’s Ryan Green (5181) and Austin Hill (5182) lead the pack at the end of the fi rst mile of the boys race at the Brighton Mercury Invitational Martinez Classic Sept. 16 in Brighton. Green fi nished third in a time of 18:10.6, while Hill turned in a time of

18:12.1, which put him in fourth place. PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH

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Eagle Ridge Academy Volleyball

Sterling downed Eagle Ridge 25-8, 25-13, 25-17 in Sterling Sept. 16. No stats were available for either team.

Soccer

A Sept. 14 match between Eagle Ridge and The Academy was called off.

Brighton HS Cross country

Ryan Green of Brighton fi nished third at the Brighton Mercury Invitational at Riverdale Regional Park Sept. 16. He turned in a time of 18:10.5.

Austin Hill was fourth in a time of 18:12.1. Carter Ferrera 914th, 19:29.1), Abraham Bujanos (19th, 20:28.3) and Andrew Sanchez (22nd, 20:39.1) rounded out the top fi ve fi nishers for the Bulldiogs.

BHS won the boys team title by eight points over Rangeview High School.

Claire Engelhardt took second in the girls race at the Mercury meet. her time was 19:41. Danielle Nikolai was fourth in a time of 20:32.2. Megan Derby (fi fth, 21:09.6), Amanda Nikolai (sixth, 21:59.1) and Nylah Nevarez (11th, 22:45.5) rounded out the point-producers for BHS.

BHS easily won the girls division title. Rangeview fi nished second, 39 points behind the Bulldogs. points behind the Bulldogs.

Football

Brighton beat Greeley Central 4116 Sept. 17 in Greeley. No stats were available for either team. available for either team.

Volleyball

Brighton beat Fairview 25-23, 25-11, 25-23 in Boulder Sept. 14. Bo French had 10 kills for the Bulldogs, French had 10 kills for the Bulldogs, while Andi Jackson had eight. Evwhile Andi Jackson had eight. Evelyn Udezue chipped in with seven. elyn Udezue chipped in with seven. Hailey Wright had three aces. No Hailey Wright had three aces. No stats were available for the Knights. stats were available for the Knights.

BHS made it two wins in a row over Front Range League teams by beating Rocky Mountain 25-20, 2514, 19-25, 25-17 in Brighton Sept. 16. Paige Friehauf had seven kills for the Lobos. No stats were available for the Bulldogs.

Soccer

Brighton’s fi rst-half goal stood up as the Bulldogs blanked Longmont 1-0 in Brighton Sept. 14. No stats were available.

Softball

Brighton beat Adams City 18-2 in Commerce City Sept. 14. Brylyn Haddick had three hits and three RBIs for BHS. Kasey Dean had three hits and drove in two runs.Dean and Jordyn Martinez combined on a onehitter.

Brianna Alvarado drove in the Eagles’ runs. Maria Saenz had Adams City’s base hit.

BHS scored 12 runs in the fourth inning and went on to a 17-0 win at Westminster Sept. 16. The state’s mercy rule ended the contest after the fourth inning.

Gabby Rodriguez had two hits and four RBIs. Alison Martinez had three hits and as many RBIs. Jordyn Martinez had a base hit and drove in two runs. Dean struck out eight in three innings of pitching.

Kita Luyando Frazier and Jaiden Pierce had the Wolves’ base hits.

Riverdale Ridge High School Golf

FORT MORGAN -- Riverdale Ridge took fi rst place in the team standings at the Sept. 16 Fort Morgan Invitational at Quail Dunes Sept. 16. Will Balliet fi red a 1-under to win the stroke-play portion of the meet.

Aiden Sweeney was third after his 2-over 74. Bradley Weinmaster ended his round with a 77.

Cross country

Johanna Pataluna of Riverdale Ridge placed 17th in the girls division of the St. Vrain Cross Country Invitational at Lyons High School Sept. 17. Her time was 23:09.4.

Savannah Momens was 18th in a time 23:11.5), while Cayley Hansen fi nished 40th in a time of 24:46.9. Natalie Popken took 105th in a time of 27:30.3.

On the boys side, Deven Nolasco was 46th with his time of 18:12.8. Others in the top fi ve were Aric Hunsaker (49th, 18:14.7), Devon Martinez (101st, 19.29.0), Camron Gallardo (125th, 19:53.8) and Derek Marraudino (22:05.3, good for 135th place).

Volleyball

Riverdale Ridge beat Severance 2518, 25-16, 26-24 in Thornton Sept. 14.

Mahala Lampshire had nine kills to pace the Ravens. Tiana Fisher was next with four. Addison goff served up a pair of aces. Peightan Swanson led the Silver Knights with four kills.

Niwot beat the Ravens 25-16, 25-12, 25-15 in Thornton Sept. 16. Fisher had fi ve kills for the Ravens. Mahala Lampshire had three. Morgan Daugherty led the Cougars with seven kills.

Softball

Riverdale Ridge picked up a pair of wins this week.

One was against Vista Peak by a score of 20-2 in three innings. All 22 runs came in the third inning.

Aubree Davis, who was the winning pitcher, had two hits and three RBIs.Emma Hodnet added two hits and two RBIs. Neila Lucero had a base hit and drove in two runs. So did Sienna Mullin. Davis strsuck out seven in her complete-game effort.

Sydnee Fordham had four hits to lead the Ravens to a 14-4, four-inning win against Niwot Sept. 16 in Thornton. Those four hits produced three RBIs.

Hodnet had two hits and drove in three runs. Davis added a base hit and a pair of RBIs. Anjolina Cordova had two hits and drove in a pair of runs.

Football

Niwot tripped up Riverdale Ridge 34-20 in Niwot Sept. 17. Ravens’ quarterback Nate Bishop was 12for-20 for 210 yards and two scores to Rj Holliday. Elijah Lofton threw one pass that went to Holliday for a touchdown as well. Issac Bonner carried the ball eight times for 58 yards.

Prairie View High School Soccer

Riverdale Ridge and Prairie View fi nished their non-conference match Sept. 14 in a scoreless tie in double overtime. No stats were available for either team.

PVHS won its fi rst game of the season, a 2-0 decision over Roosevelt in Brighton Sept. 16. No stats were available.

Cross country

Prairie View’s Caleb Price took fi fth place in the boys division of the Brighton Mercury Classic at Riverdale Regional Park. He fi nished in a time of 18:12.6.

Kevin Martinez was sixth in a time of 18:26. Gavin Walker (20:45.5, 25th place), Martin Delgado-Mevarez (28th, 21:01.9) and Ryan Lacrue (45th, 22:37.1) rounded out PVHS’ top fi ve.

PVHS was fi fth in the team standings.

McKinsey Poulson was 10th in the girls race after posting a time of 22:33.9. Isabella Lopez (20th, 24:34.6), Kayla Martinez (31st, 26:43.9), Addison Osborne (50th, 30:10.9) and Riley Hawthorne (66th, 37:08.7) were the rest of the top-fi ve fi nishers for the ThunderHawks.

PVHS was sixth in the team standings.

SPORTS BRIEFS

Casino bus fundraiser

A casino bus trip/fundraiser for the Riverdale Ridge football team is set for 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5.

The bus leaves from East 128th Avenue and Quebec Street at 6 p.m. and returns at midnight.

The cost is $25 per person, round trip. It includes 50 points, a $15 food coupon and $10 in free slot play.

Tweet questions to @VoorheesWayne.

Shooting for a Season

Brighton High School’s girls basketball team’s next fundraiser is Shooting for a Season, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16.

It takes place at 13600 Lanewood St., Brighton.

The $75 fee gets a round of sporting clays (100 targets) and lunch.

Email accjfrench@gmail.com.

Golf

The Eastern Metro Athletic Conference all-conference golf teams

were squared away after the second of the two all-conference school tournaments last week. set for 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5. Kyle Leydon and Coby Puzio made the fi rst team. Caleb Rankin was a second-team choice, and Cannon Headley and Trevor Valenzuela were honorable-mention picks.

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TRIVIA

1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE:

What is the full name of the famous Barbie doll? 2. MOVIE: Which movie features a family home on Cherry Tree Lane? 3. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital city of Bermuda? 4. AWARDS: For what achievement is the Folio Prize awarded? 5. MUSIC: What was the only U.S. Top 40 song that guitarist/ singer Jimi Hendrix had? 6. ANATOMY: What connects muscles to bones? 7. TELEVISION: What is the name of the van in the animated series “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?”? 8. MEASUREMENTS: What does a candela measure? 9. FOOD & DRINK: Which spirit is sometimes described as the “green fairy”? 10. LITERATURE: Owen Meany is a character invented by which author?

Answers

1. Barbara Millicent Roberts 2. “Mary Poppins” 3. Hamilton 4. Literature written in English and published in the United Kingdom 5. “All Along the Watchtower” 6. Tendons 7. The Mystery Machine 8. Luminous intensity 9. Absinthe 10. John Irving

(c) 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.