Aurora – If there is one thing the Erie Tigers softball team knows about, it’s “the zone.”
And that is exactly where the six-time defending Class 3A state champions resided on the first day of the regional and state tournament.
Erie made quick work of its first two opponents, beating St. Mary’s 13-3 in six innings in the first round before handling Strasburg 12-1 in five innings in the quarterfinals Friday at the Aurora Sports Complex.
“We’ve all been focusing on ‘the zone.’ Before games, each and every one of us will get in the zone that we’ve made for ourselves. Once we get in that zone, nothing defeats us but ourselves,” Erie infielder Ashlie Ortega said.
Ortega drilled a two-run triple in the fifth inning to put Erie up by the 10 runs needed to call a game early.
While the Tigers might have had it easy, at least on the scoreboard, there were a number of nail-biters with action in all three classifications spread over 36 games and 12 fields. The semifinal and championship games for 5A, 4A and 3A will be played today, weather permitting, with the title games slated for 1 p.m. If the predicted snowstorm arrives, all unfinished business will be worked out Sunday.
In 5A, Rocky Mountain pitcher Cory Berliner made a statement with a five-inning perfect game against East. The Lobos then topped Lakewood 5-2 with Berliner throwing, and they will advance to the semifinals for the second year in a row.
“I think we are pumped up and everyone is really coming together knowing that we want to do better than last year,” Berliner said. “You can’t take anything for granted, and you can’t get complacent.”
Cherry Creek and Pomona, last season’s state runner-up, weren’t complacent but barely survived the first day.
The Bruins topped Pine Creek 3-1 in the first round and then survived Arvada West’s seventh inning rally attempt. Pomona eked out a 2-1 victory over a loaded Mountain Vista squad after beating Brighton 4-2 in the early game.
Top-seeded Wheat Ridge, meanwhile, had no such trouble. The Farmers won their games by a combined score of 19-5, including an easy 12-5 victory over talented Highlands Ranch.
In 4A, Windsor advanced to the semifinals for the first time in program history, but the Wizards needed extra innings. Windsor edged Pueblo Central 4-3 in eight innings behind Mallory Duran and pitcher Alex Neely, and then the Wizards cruised through the quarterfinals with a 9-1 victory over Widefield.
“Now we need to refocus. Everyone on the team knows how to play the game, so we just need to come out and play our way,” Neely said. “The first game was a little iffy. I think the nerves got to us, but we pulled through.”
The Conifer Lobos toppled two of the classification’s favorites to win it all, first Cherokee Trail and then Mullen. Nicole Russell went 4-for-4 at the plate against Cherokee Trail, and Rebecca Motte and Kelsey Walton tore up the opposing pitchers, as well.
Berthoud, 4A’s No. 1 seed, shut out Montrose 6-0 before rolling over Liberty 12-1 in five innings in the quarterfinals. Kassie Haubert was nearly impossible to hit, and Jasmine Cervantes and Alisa Heronema continued their season-long dominance in the batter’s box.
Ralston Valley was impressive, too, beating Rifle 14-2 and Northridge 11-1 in five innings.
Everyone is aiming for Erie in 3A, and the three survivors – Holy Family, Faith Christian and Limon – will have its work cut out if the Tigers’ state title streak is going to end. It doesn’t help that Erie is feeling a little slighted.
“After we graduated some top players, people started to doubt us. That’s what fires us up the most, the doubts,” Ortega said.
Faith Christian was stretched to extra innings in its games. The Eagles topped La Junta 3-2 in 11 innings, the longest game of the day, and then put up four runs in the eighth to beat Rocky Ford 8-4.
Limon, seeded second, blew away Brush 10-1 behind a 3-for-3 performance from Ashley Campbell before taking out Burlington 3-0.
