SPORTS

Eighth-inning run fi nishes Brighton’s baseball season

Bulldogs fall 1-0 to Chaparral in class 5A regional playo s

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

PARKER -- For the second straight season, Brighton High School’s baseball team made it to the championship game of the class 5A regional playoffs.

And for the second straight year, BHS came up short in its bid to enter the state 5A baseball tournament.

Brody Sprinkle’s eighth-inning single gave the Wolverines a 1-0 win over the Bulldogs on May 23 on Chaparral High School’s field. The loss ended Brighton’s season. The Bulldogs finished 18-7.

“I don’t know how many we left on, but it had to be double digits,” said BHS coach Justin Stringer. “We had to be able to find a hole or a gap, hit by pitch or something? Man. We made tons of plays. Brok (pitcher Brok Eddy) had control of the game.”

Eddy finished with an eighthitter and 10 strikeouts.

“We couldn’t find a hit early in the game that would have put us on top,” Stringer said.

Eddy wiggled his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning. That was Chaparral’s most serious threat until the game-winning rally in the eighth inning.

Brighton had 11 base runners, including nine who reached on walks.

Bryce Peterson, who was the winning pitcher in the opener (an 8-5 win over Loveland) had both of Brighton’s hits. Andrew Schmeh and Garrett Chadwick reached on walks in the second inning. Walks to Eddy, Drai Wagner and Schmeh loaded the bases in the sixth inning.

But BHS couldn’t get that key hit to drive anyone home.

“One or two (hits) looked like a million, the way Brok throws,” Stringer said. “If we can figure out how to scratch one across, the game is different. Brok is the best pitcher in the state, and someone opposing teams find it difficult to square up. I don’t think I’ve seen a better pitcher all year. I’m glad he plays for us.”

In the Loveland game, Peterson lasted into the seventh inning and struck out seven. Anthony Treto came on in relief to pick up the save. Eddy drove home five runs, including a basesclearing triple in the second inning.

“At the beginning of the game, my fastball out (outside) was working,” Peterson said. “They

to many people. They want to believe in were trying to go with that. So I tried to come back in on their hands, throw curve balls away when I was ahead in the counts. It depends on what kind of swings they are taking.

“This team, they were really focused on trying to hit the ball the other way,” he continued. “So when I saw that, I came back in on their hands. When I was ahead, I would go down with the curve ball or up with the fast ball.”

Brighton’s Brok Eddy o ers a check swing at this pitch during the Bulldogs’ win over Loveland High School in the regional playo s

May 23 in Parker. Loveland’s catcher is Carter Leben. PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH

Prairie View grad returns to college after Army stint

Ben Meraz to play football at Austin College in Texas

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Four years of service in the U.S. Army did little to tamp down former Prairie View High School quarterback Ben Meraz’s interest in playing college football.

Meraz, who graduated from PVHS in 2016, chose Austin College, an NCAA Division III school in Sherman, Texas, for his next stop. He called it “the best of all possible worlds” for academics, athletics and being able to work for his father’s construction business.

“It was close to home, they recruited me super hard and built a good relationship with me,” Meraz said. “And then academically, I felt like I could take advantage of a lot of good opportunities that wouldn’t be available elsewhere.”

He will be able to play football, too., as he did at Mesa State University before entering the Army. The Kangaroos won one game in nine tries a season ago. Six to seven schools showed an interest.

Meraz wants to study business fi nance, then pursue a master’s degree in construction management.

The ongoing pandemic didn’t play a part in his recruiting process. But joining the NCAA’s transfer portal, which allows students to place their names in an online data base to indicate a desire to change schools, did.

“I’d say things were different just because I obviously don’t have any recent fi lm of me playing football,” he said. “So, I’d send them videos of me doing workouts and drills to pair with my high-school stuff.

“Things were different as well because I talked to way more schools this time than when I did in high school,” Meraz explained. “I defi nitely had to ask a lot more questions about stuff like about living in the town, going to school there, types of questions I didn’t think about in high school.”

Meraz still has four years of eligibility.

“I’m pretty excited and nervous. It’s been a long time since I last played,” Meraz said.“But after a couple practices, I feel like I’ll be like a normal player again.

“I hope people can use situations like mine in that you can always chase a dream of yours,” he added. “Just because it doesn’t work out the fi rst time doesn’t mean it’ll never work out.”

Fishing derby at Barr Lake

The Brighton Optimist Club is sponsoring free fi shing for kids Saturday, June 4, from 8:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. In addition to free fi shing, there will be prizes, food, and drinks. Fishing poles and bait are provided if needed. It’s at Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Picadilly Road, Brighton.

Armory Performing Arts Center concerts

The city of Brighton announced its lineup for concerts at the Armory Performing Arts Center, 300 Strong St.

June 18: Blues Blast with headliner and blues guitarist Coco Montoya at 8:45 p.m. This is part of the ninth version of Blues Blast. Other acts include T Marie and Bayou Juiu (Cajun, country, swamp pop band) from 6 to 7 p.m., and Swamp Molly, a blues-infused rock band, from 7:20 to 8:20 p.m. Tickets are on sale at www.brightonarmory. org. Admission prices are $25 for general admission and $35 for VIP ticklets.

June 25: Noise Pollution, an AC/ DC tribute band, at 8 p.m.

Aug. 13: Project Foreigner, a Foreigner tribute band, and Those Crazy Nights, a Journey tribute band, at 7 p.m.

Sept. 9: “Forever Flanel Night” — Rooster, an Alice in Chains tribute, plus TEN, Colorado’s Pearl Jam tribute band, and Bleach D, a Nirvana tribute band, at 7 p.m.

Sept. 30: FACE vocal band, an allvocal band, at 7 p.m.

Oct. 1: Mr. Majestyk’s 8-TRack Revival, a ‘70s rock and pop band, 7 p.m.

Oct. 29: Yesterday, The Beatles Tribute, at 7 p.m.

Nov. 18: The Long Run, performs its annual “Alter Eagles” set at 8 p.m.

Nov. 19: The Long Run, Colorado’s tribute to the Eagles, at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available at brightonarmory.org. Contact Gary Montoya, events and downtown initiative manager, at gmontoya@ brightonco.gov.

Full moon bike rides

The city of Brighton’s Full Moon Bike rides return this summer with a new addition — an advanced rider group and a recreational rider group for each ride. The two groups start at different times.

According to a city news release, advanced riders are “strong and fearless bicyclists or enthused and confi dent bicyclists.” Recreational riders “are confi dent in their safety or people who would enjoy bicycling if they felt safer doing it.”

The meeting area is the south side of Brighton City Hall, 500 S. Fourth Ave.

The schedule looks like this:

Tuesday, June 14: Strawbery Moon and Super Moon. Sign up between 5 and 5:30 p.m., and the event starts at 6 p.m. Advanced riders begin at 6:15 p.m., and recreational riders start 10 minutes later.

Wednesday, July 13: Buck Moon. Sign up between 5:30 and 6 p.m., and the event starts at 6 p.m. Advanced riders start at 6:15 p.m., and recreational riders begin 10 minutes later.

Thursday, Aug. 11: Sturgeon Moon. Sign up from 5:30 to 6 p.m., and the event starts at 6 p.m. Advanced riders start at 6:15 p.m., and recreational riders begin 10 minutes later.

Saturday, Sept. 10: Harvest Moon. Sign-up from 5:30 to 6 p.m., and the event starts at 6 p.m. Advanced riders begin at 6:15 p.m., and recreational riders start 10 minutes later.

Bike riders have to sign a waiver before their fi rst ride. It’s good for all Bike Brighton rides and events through Dec. 31.

Call Mark Heidt, assistant director of parks and recreation and bike program coordinator, at 303655-2170 or email mehidt@brightonco.gov.

‘Brighton Through the Decades’

The Brighton Historic Preservation Commission will host a “Brighton Through the Decades” dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at The Armory Performing Arts Center, 300 Strong St.

It’s a chance to explore Brighton’s history, learn about the Brighton City Museum and learn about the commission’s efforts to preserve the city’s historic buildings.

Tickets are $40 per person. Dress is according to favorite decade.

Call Sara Dawson, preservation commission chairperson, at 720-6345194, or email sara@descentdetetive.com.

Flix and Kicks

The city of Brighton’s annual Flix and Kicks series of summer concerts returns this summer at Carmichael Park, 650 E. Southern St.

The lineup includes:

Thursday, June 16: The movie “Encanto” at dusk

Thursday, June 23: A concert by the Country Music Project, 7 p.m.

Thursday, June 30: The movie “Back to the Future,” at dusk

Monday, July 4: A concert by Sisters of Rock, 7 p.m. (part of the city’s Fourth of July celebration)

Thursday, July 14: The movie “Godzilla vs. Kong,” at dusk

Thursday, July 21: A concert featuring Ronnie Raygun and the Big Eighties, 6 p.m. (in conjunction with the city’s annual barbecue);

Thursday, July 28: The movie “Spiderman: No Way Home” at dusk;

Thursday, Aug. 4: A concert with Chicano Heat, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 11: The movie “Dog” at dusk; and

Thursday, Aug. 18: A concert with Titonic, 7 p.m.

Admission is free. Seating is fi rstcome, fi rst-served.

Young Entrepreneur Program

The city of Brighton’s Growing Grads program will host the Spotlight on Young Entreoreneurs Program from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 22.

The program includes a panel of entrepreneurs in the morning, followed by workshops on how to start a business — ideation, communication, expenses, etc.. Youngsters who complete the boot camp are eligible to sell their goods or services at the City of Brighton barbecue July 21 at Carmichael Park.

Contact Tawyna Russell, manager of youth services, at 303-655-2123 or email trussell@brightonco.gov.