ALAMOSA — It was far from home, Danielle Peper said, but “cool” as to how it concluded.
The former Mountain Vista first baseman singled in the go-ahead run Wednesday as the South softball team used a six-run sixth inning to power a come-from-behind 7-4 victory over the North at Adams State College’s new artificial turf field.
It opened the 55th annual All-State Games, sponsored by the Colorado High School Coaches Association. This is Alamosa’s first year hosting the games, which will feature boys and girls basketball, football, wrestling and volleyball Saturday.
“It was an exciting way to end” her prep career, Peper said, “and a lot of fun.”
The games most recently had been contested in Greeley at the University of Northern Colorado. That followed assorted sites, including in Denver and Aurora.
Adams State, which has invested millions of dollars to improve its sports facilities in recent years, made the lowest bid for the games and secured a multiyear contract.
The only immediate concern: Will fans make the trip to the San Luis Valley? Attendance was relatively light at the softball game — approximately 100 fans, which isn’t unusual — and many players were playing on artificial turf for the first time.
“It was a lot of fun and a chance to coach some (NCAA) D-I players,” said Rock Canyon coach Debbie Kortbawi, who was in charge of the South team. “But I still haven’t made a decision (about) the turf.”
It proved to be faster than normal, but as North player Mariah Bledsoe of Erie said, “it’s something that we’ll have to get used to in college.”
Her father, Erie coach Bob Bledsoe, was in charge of the North team. He understood concerns about switching sites, but endorsed the move and remains convinced the games should be spread across Colorado on a rotation basis.
Originally, the elder Bledsoe said, everybody was informed that the games would be in Greeley, “so it caused some confusion,” but “I think Grand Junction should host some state championships occasionally.”
“Ninety percent of the teams are from the Denver side,” he said, “and I think it should be held a little more north more often than not, but now we know how the Pueblo girls feel and there are other issues. I just hope political and financial issues don’t always rule it for the kids.”
Shae Rodriguez of Legacy hit two doubles for the South team. Buggs Torrez (Legacy) and Mackenzie Miller (Conifer) hit triples. Jessica Romine of Central (G.J.) also tripled. Brennan Wilkie (Wheat Ridge) had two hits, including a double, and scored twice.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
All-State Games
At Alamosa
SATURDAY
WRESTLING
10 a.m.: Adams State’s Plachy Hall, main gymnasium
VOLLEYBALL
Preliminary matches
10 a.m.: Ortega Middle School
Third-place match
11:45 a.m.: Ortega Middle School
Championship match
11:45 a.m.: ASC’s Plachy Hall, main gym
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Preliminary games
Beginning at 10:30 a.m.: Alamosa High School
Third-place game
2 p.m.: Alamosa High School
Championship game
2 p.m.: ASC’s Plachy Hall, main gymnasium
BOYS BASKETBALL
Preliminary games
Beginning at 12:30 p.m.: Alamosa High School
Third-place game
3:45 p.m.: Alamosa High School
Championship game
3:45 p.m.: ASC’s Plachy Hall, main gymnasium
FOOTBALL
5 p.m.: ASC’s Rex Field
