The Denver Post Preps staff looks at Friday’s playoff action:
Class 4A baseball
Second-seeded Mountain View of Loveland won twice Friday at Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora to advance to today’s winners-bracket game in the Class 4A Championship Series.
The Mountain Lions (20-3) downed Northern League rival Silver Creek 6-0 in their opener, then squeezed by Jefferson County’s Wheat Ridge 3-2.
The Mountain Lions’ Ben Netzel scored on a fielder’s choice to decide their second game with one out in the final inning. Nick Miller picked up the pitching victory for Mountain View, which faces Cheyenne Mountain. Both are assured of playing on the final weekend in the double-elimination format.
Wheat Ridge (17-5) won its opener 3-0 over Roosevelt as Eric Shannon tossed a three-hitter and homered. The Farmers next get the Pueblo South-Widefield winner (today at 11 a.m.) at Cherokee Trail at 2:30 p.m.
Class 2A baseball
Front Range rolls
At Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Front Range Christian won handily twice in the Class 2A Regionals to qualify for the state tournament to be held in Pueblo.
Front Range Christian first routed Akron 11-3, then Holyoke 18-11.
Earlier, Holyoke slipped past Resurrection Christian 11-10.
Brian Fast ripped a grand slam in Front Range Christian’s decisive six-run third inning against Akron. David Valle added two hits. Mark Nyhoff went the distance for the victory and struck out five.
Girls soccer playoffs
Class 5A second round
Kaitlyn Bassett’s goal in the first half, assisted by Kelsi Laham, was all Chatfield needed in getting past Jefferson County League rival Green Mountain 1-0.
Fran Garzelloni and Maddie Hanssler each scored two goals as Ponderosa routed East 6-0. Hanssler added three asists.
Sarah Schweiss scored in overtime as Air Academy eliminated Grandview 1-0.
First-half goals by Caitlin Higgins and Annie Stuller lifted Fairview over Mountain Vista 2-0.
In overtime, Emily Miller’s goal, set up by Kaitlyn Bast, pushed Arapahoe past Dakota Ridge 1-0.
Cherry Creek (1-0 over Legacy), Heritage (3-0 over Highlands Ranch) and Pine Creek (4-1 over Poudre) also advanced.
Girls lacrosse playoffs
SMA pitches shutout
Ten goals in the first half paced St. Mary’s Academy to a 14-0 decision over visiting Grand Junction.
St. Mary’s Academy next gets three-time defending champion Cherry Creek. Ellen Hackstaff led the winners with three goals; four others had two apiece.
