October 20, 2016
The News-Press 29
SPORTS
LOCAL
Leaves, leagues may change, but results stay same
Douglas County’s Alley Kim attempts the tag at third base on Horizon’s Nonica Rivera. Douglas County lost to Horizon 7-5 but came back to beat them in a later game 15-5 to get the No. 2 slot in the 5A State qualifier on Oct. 15. Photo by Paul DiSalvo
Big inning propels Huskies Douglas County make state tournament after win over Horizon
STATE SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
By Jim Benton jbenton@colorado communitymedia.com Douglas County scored a game’s worth of runs in one inning to earn a spot in the Class 5A state tournament on Oct. 21-22 at Aurora Sports Park. The Huskies blew a 5-0 lead and gave up four runs in the top of the seventh inning during a 7-5 loss to Horizon in the Region 4 qualifying tournament opener at Metzler Park in Castle Rock. Douglas County whipped Prairie View, 7-2, and then played Horizon in a rematch with the second regional state tournament berth on the line. The Huskies sent 15 batters to the plate and scored 11 runs in the third inning to post a 15-5 win. Captain Jordan Acosta, a senior slap hitter, punched a basesloaded double to left centerfield
Pairings for Oct. 21 first-round games for area teams in the state high school softball tournaments at the Aurora Sports Park. Winners of first-round games will play a second game Oct. 21, with the semifinals and finals in the three classes held Oct. 22. Class 5A #1 Broomfield vs. #16 Cherry Creek, 10 a.m.; #8 Mountain Range vs. #9 Douglas County, 10 a.m.; #4 Loveland vs. #13 Ralston Valley, 10 a.m.; #6 Fort Collins vs. #11 Legend, 12:15 p.m.; #2 Cherokee Trail vs. #15
to drive in three runs during the third inning uprising. “It created energy in the dugout that you really can’t explain,” said Acosta. “With all the girls just being up and really attacking the ball, it creates a sense of really getting after it. It’s awesome to score 11 runs in a game but in an
Legacy, 12:15 p.m.; #7 Rock Canyon vs. #10 Grand Junction Central, 12:15 p.m. Class 4A #4 Wheat Ridge vs. #13 Pueblo Central, 10 a.m.; #5 Air Academy vs. #12 Elizabeth, 10 a.m.; #3 Valor Christian vs. #14 Thomas Jefferson, 12:15 p.m. Class 3A #4 Brush vs. #13 Faith Christian, 10 a.m.; #7 The Academy vs. #10 Weld Central, 12:15 p.m.
inning, it’s just unheard of.” In the three Region 4 games, Acosta went 6-for-13. Senior Ashlyn Dzialo was 7-for-9 with three runs batted in while freshman Taylor Griffin went 5-for-9 with six RBI in the trio of contests. Softball continues on Page 31
Fall is the time for change. Leaves on trees change color and fall off. And this past week, I’ve had to change the climatecontrol system in the car from air conditioning during the warmth of the afternoon to the heat in the evening to take off the chill. There has also been a change with the new league alignments in high school football. The idea was to dissolve leagues like the Centennial and 5A Jefferson County that seemed to always have some of the state’s best teams playing against each other week after week during the conference schedule. There was an occasional lopsided victory, which can’t be avoided no matter which teams are playing in which leagues. Those blowouts have not been eliminated in the new alignments. Jim Benton Hopefully, games will get OVERTIME more competitive, but the good teams will continue to be good no matter the alignment or the name of the league. In the seven new Class 5A leagues, the average margin of victory during the first week of conference play was 26.9 points with five games decided by more than 40 points. Games were a little closer in the second week of 5A conference play with a one-point decision, three four- point victories and a five-point margin, but those were offset by a 55-point blowout and three 40-plus-point lopsided games. The average margin of victory was 23.8 points in the second week of league games. Class 4A has also seen its share of routs. Take the Plains League for example. The average margin of victory in the first two weeks is 39.5. These new leagues will remain in 2017 for the second year of the cycle before the conferences will again be changed in the waterfall format that snakes schools into leagues based on two-year Ratings Performance Index rankings, which are generated by a computer. Sometimes change is good, but maybe more geographical reasoning needs to be included in the league realignments. Consider this: At the start of the football game between home standing Legend and Poudre from Fort Collins on Oct. 13, there were 51 people in the visitors’ bleachers at Echo Park Stadium in Parker. RPI standings If you don’t understand how the RPI standings in football are compiled, there is a formula but most of the time it’s easier just to look up the standings at chsaanow.com/rpi In the seven 5A and 4A leagues, the league champions automatically gain a spot in the 16team playoffs with the other teams being selected via RPI.
Benton continues on Page 47
why I love it and continue to play.
KEEPING SCORE WITH... HANNAH STANLEY Junior softball player hool ThunderRidge High Sc
Why do you participate in sports? I participate in sports mainly for my love of the game. However, the friendships and bonds I have made through the sport are a big factor in
Do you have any pre-competition superstitions or rituals? I always put my uniform on in the same order, and before an at-bat, I always put my left batting glove on first. What are your plans for after high school graduation? After I graduate high school, I hope to play softball in college and study medicine. “Keeping Score With…” is a Q&A with high school athletes in the south metro area. Email Colorado Community Media sports writer Jim Benton at jbenton @coloradocommunitymedia.com if you or someone you know would like to participate.
James Logan, cross country, senior, Arapahoe: He won the Continental League cross country championship with a time of 15 minutes, 52 seconds on Oct. 13 at DeKoevend Park in Centennial. Shae Henley, cross country, freshman, ThunderRidge: She was crowned the Continental League’s girls cross country champion on Oct. 12 at Green Lake Park in Denver with a winning time of 18:40.00. Robby Hill, tennis, senior, Cherry Creek: Hill wrapped up the Class 5A No. 2 singles title with a grueling 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 win over Denver East’s Charlie Franks on Oct. 15 at the Gates Tennis Center in Denver. Jack Kane, football, senior, Castle View:
Kane was in on 17 tackles, including one for a sack and two for losses in the Sabercats’ 28-27 overtime victory over Rocky Mountain on Oct. 14 William Willis, football, senior, Lutheran: Willis had another big passing game, going 24-of-35 for 311 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions’ 31-13 triumph over Evergreen. In the past two games, Willis has thrown for 559 yards. Colorado Community Media selects five athletes from high schools in the south metro area each week as “Standout Performers.” Preference is given to athletes making their debut on the list. To nominate an athlete, contact Jim Benton at jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia.com