BASEBALL
League races look tight
The considerable depth of the Class 5A Centennial League is making for an interesting race toward district pairings. Good news: Six teams are fighting for — and have legitimate shots at — the postseason. Bad news: Only four of the league’s eight teams will advance.
Battles continue today at 4:15 p.m., when Smoky Hill will be at Grandview (Greg Bird and his eight home runs) and Cherokee Trail plays at Mullen.
Green Mountain plays at Wheat Ridge at 4 p.m. Friday. That game is important to the entire classification, not just to 4A Jefferson County.
Saturday at 10 a.m., Ralston Valley plays Pomona in a game that looms large for 5A Jeffco.
Saturday is the final day of the regular season for Class 2A and Class 1A. Rye, ranked No. 1 in 2A, ran the table to finish 19-0 and atop the Santa Fe League, which includes No. 2 Las Animas.
GIRLS GOLF
Forey field offers Golden opportunity
Girls golfers seem to have more appealing invitationals in the spring than boys golfers do in the fall.
One of the must-play stops is the 17th annual Ashley Forey Invitational, to be played Monday at Rolling Hills Country Club in Golden.
Tee shots in the usually loaded tournament will start at 11 a.m.
TRACK AND FIELD
Liberty Bell meet still star attraction
Weather permitting, we are closing in on final qualifying meets.
An interesting round of Friday- Saturday gatherings will be headed in the Denver area by the power- packed Liberty Bell Invitational at Littleton Public Schools Stadium.
High-profile meets are also being hosted by Adams State in Alamosa, Garry Berry Stadium in Colorado Springs, Cortez, Fossil Ridge in Fort Collins, Greeley, Moffat County, Montrose, St. Mary’s in Colorado Springs, Springfield, Strasburg, University, West Grand and Wray.
GIRLS SOCCER
Steel City showdown
Bragging rights on the pitch in Pueblo have long been with coach Jeff Sterling’s Pueblo Centennial Bulldogs, but the South Colts have been able to hold them this season.
Fueled by Chelsey Cortese’s 22 goals and 10 assists, the Colts are 9-0 in the South Central League and 11-0 overall. South won the teams’ first meeting 2-1. They will meet again Saturday at 1 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
End of season near
What could be the most exciting state tournament of the spring season kicks off next week.
Newly No. 1-ranked Arapahoe squared off with newly No. 2 Regis Jesuit on Wednesday. The Raiders play Friday at No. 7 Mullen. There’s also a dandy in Fort Collins on Friday when the host Vipers, ranked No. 6, welcome No. 4 Kent Denver.
Neil H. Devlin and Jon E. Yunt, The Denver Post
