LITTLETON — The several banners on the outfield wall celebrate the accomplishments of the Dakota Ridge softball team, encompassing everything from winning league titles, districts, regionals and even one state championship.
Conspicuous, however, is that the run of success halted in 2003.
While the Eagles have remained a solid team, the raw truth is they haven’t been in the mix of state contenders for quite some time.
But after Breanna Berens led a dramatic 4-3 comeback win against Class 5A Jefferson County League rival Green Mountain on Tuesday, it appears a rejuvenation is underway. The Eagles improved to 12-1 overall and moved to 2-1 in the rugged league in a game that featured a 30-minute lightning delay.
“We didn’t quit,” longtime coach Dave Atencio said after his Eagles wiped out a 3-0 deficit. “Their girl (Kristyn) Peters is one of the top four or five pitchers in the league, and we just battled.”
Berens starred in the comeback with a walkoff double in the bottom of the seventh to score Spencer Ferrin, who had led off the inning by getting plunked by a pitch. Berens, who struck out in her first two at-bats and had been in a mini-slump, also ripped a two-run double during the fifth inning to cut it to 3-2.
“I went 0-for-4 last game and had a couple strikeouts the game before, but now it’s all good,” Berens said. “I pretty much just made a little adjustment after talking to our batting coach.”
Green Mountain (7-5-1, 0-3) is a young team that appears right on the precipice of doing big things. The Rams got a 4-for-4 performance from leadoff hitter Megan Brown and appeared en route to a win with Peters (eight strikeouts) seemingly locked in.
“We got upset when they came back with the first two runs, then we just heaved over after that,” Brown said. “It’s not about having potential for down the road because we have potential right now. We can do it. It’s just that we aren’t.”
Dakota Ridge tied the score 3-3 in the sixth when BrookLynn York scored from third on a wild pitch. Reliever Katie Stead (4-0) then blanked the Rams in the top of the seventh to set up Berens’ winner.
“She came up big,” Atencio said. “She’s our co-captain, and that’s what seniors do.”
Green Mountain 001 200 0 — 3 7 1
Dakota Ridge 000 021 1 — 4 8 0
Green Mountain (ab-r-h-rbi) — Brown c 4-1- 4-0, Grout cf 3-0-0-1, Peters p 4-0-0-0, Kohlenberg rf 3-1-1-0, Pearce ss 3-0-0-0, Cudworth lf 3-1-0-0, Burgess 2b 2-0-0-1, Neal 3b 3-0-2-1, Ainsworth pr 0-0-0-0, Quinlan 1b 3-0-1-0. Totals 29-3-7-3.
Dakota Ridge — Wilhelm cf 3-0-0-0, Berens 1b 4-0-2-3, Chavez 3b 3-0-2-0, Mammenga c 3-0-1-0, Sharp ss 3-0-0-0, York lf 3-1-1-0, Vaage dh 3-1-2-0, Garcia pr 0-0-0-0, Maestas rf 2-1- 0-0, Ferrin 2b 1-1-0-0. Totals 25-4-8-3.
E — Pearce. LOB — GM 6, DR 5. 2B — Berens 2, York. 3B — Brown. SB — Brown, Kohlenberg. SAC — Wilhelm. SF — Grout. HBP — Burgess (by Arneach), Ferrin (by Peters).
Batteries — Peters and Brown; Arenach, Stead (5) and Memmenga. W — Stead (4-0). L — Peters (6-5). T — 2:23.
