Fort Collins, one of Colorado’s oldest and most significant schools over more than eight decades of the state’s storied scholastic annals, turned in one of the upsets of the recent era.
On Saturday, the Lambkins shocked top-seeded Cherry Creek 11-7 in the championship game of Class 5A District 1 at the Bruins’ home site in Greenwood Village to advance to next weekend’s 5A championship series, a double-elimination format.
The Front Range League’s Fort Collins, the No. 16 seed that improved to 12-9, led 7-0 and 9-1 in managing to hold on – the Bruins scored six times over the final six innings before succumbing.
David Otterman went the distance for the victory.
Cherry Creek, the preseason favorite that sat atop the 5A poll all season, ended 19-2.
Elsewhere, big schools added other first-time entrants in the double-elimination field in Columbine, Mountain Vista and Chaparral.
Of note, Columbine’s Evan Anundsen struck out 19 batters over two games, victories against ThunderRidge (6-4) and Northglenn (3-2). Anundsen came on in relief in the first victory, then threw a complete game with 14 strikeouts in the title game.
Districts postponed were at Grand Junction, which will be played today, and Doherty, which will decide matters Monday.
First-round matchups in the first round of the double-elimination series will be Fort Collins vs. Columbine; Mountain Vista against the winner of today’s district at defending state champion Grand Junction; Monarch against Chaparral; and Grandview, the second seed, against the winner of Monday’s district at Doherty in Colorado Springs.
In 4A, Cañon City, the No. 24 seed, was a surprise winner in Loveland at Mountain View. The Tigers downed Golden 10-0 in their opener, then outlasted the host Mountain Lions 4-3.
At Pueblo’s Runyon Complex, Broomfield outlasted the host South Colts 11-5 to win District 3. Cherokee Trail held serve and won twice at home in Aurora to take District 4, while Northridge won District 5 in Greeley.
At Moffat County, Silver Creek stunned the host Bulldogs 7-5 in 10 innings before losing 8-7 in eight innings at the hands of D’Evelyn.
Concerning the Patriot League, Eaton won two close ones, 5-3 over Brush in the semifinals and 5-4 against University in the title game.
Earlier, University knocked off Roosevelt 11-9 in the semifinals, before the Rough Riders rallied to win the third-place game, 3-0 over Brush.
La Junta earned the 3A Tri-Peaks League title with a 9-6 decision of Manitou Springs. In the semifinals, the Mustangs edged St. Mary’s 4-3, the same score by which they outlasted Ellicott in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
Lamar had no trouble in downing St. Mary’s 10-0 in the third-place game.
Olathe won the Western Slope League championship with an 11-1 whipping of Roaring Fork.
It’s the same score in which Basalt beat Gunnison in the third-place game.
In 2A, Wray scored a key 7-6 victory over Akron for the Northeast district championship and earn a good seed for next weekend’s regionals.
Limon headed the Central District’s qualifiers, Custer County was tops in the South and Paonia won in the West.
Pairings, sites and dates are to be confirmed today.
