Cherokee Trail isn’t the only Class 5A team in high gear at the appropriate time.
Cherry Creek, a longtime rival in the Centennial League, also is playing its best baseball of the season.
On Friday at Bishop Machebeuf, the Bruins opened the big-school Championship Series with a 5-3 decision over Continental’s ThunderRidge, then handled Centennial rival Grandview 6-1 to advance to Saturday’s biggest game, the 3 p.m. matchup against Cherokee Trail. That winner will assure itself of heading into the final weekend undefeated in the double-elimination format as well as a berth into the title game.
Against Grandview, the Bruins moved to 17-6 behind the pitching of Javis Steward, who went into the seventh inning and struck out 10 Wolves. At the plate, Tanner O’Tremba ripped a home run and had a two-run single.
Here’s Saturday schedule:
Mullen will face Dakota Ridge at 10 a.m. with the winner meeting Grandview at 12:30 p.m.
At All-City Field, it will be Ralston Valley against ThunderRidge with that winner meeting Rocky Mountain at 12:30 p.m. The Cherokee Trail-Cherry Creek game will be at All-City Field.
In 4A, the big meeting will be at 3 p.m. between Valor Christian and Pueblo West. Valor Christian beat Windsor 10-4 in its first game, then took down Mountain View 10-7. In the second game, Luke Bozarth led the way with four RBIs and Blake Donels added two. For Pueblo West, it slipped past Longmont 6-5, then beat Delta 7-1, when the Cyclones only permitted four hits.
Windsor and Air Academy will play at 10 a.m. at Frederick. The winner will meet Delta at 12:30 p.m. And at Coca-Cola All-Star Park, Erie will meet Longmont at 10 a.m. and the winner gets Mountain View at 12:30 p.m. The Valor Christian, Pueblo West game will be at All-Star Park.
In 3A, the most-interesting news came from Kent Denver, which beat perennial power Eaton 10-7 in an opener. Ultimately, Friday’s play became about Faith Christian and Manitou Springs, which will play the winners’ game at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Butch Butler Field in Greeley. Faith Christian opened with a 5-0 decision of Lamer, then ripped Kent Denver 15-5. Manitou Springs began with a 13-4 whipping of St. Mary’s before getting by University 10-9.
Saturday’s schedule:
Eaton and Lamar will play at 10 a.m. at Niwot with the winner to take on University at 12:30 p.m.
At Butch Butler Field, St. Mary’s and Valley have the early game, at 10 a.m., and Kent Denver awaits the winner.
In Pueblo, here are 2A scores:
Paonia 11, Sargent 1.
Limon 4, County Line 0.
Hotchkiss 7, Peyton 2.
Akron 12, Crowley County 5.
Limon 5, Hotchkiss 3.
Paonia 7, Akron 2.
Here are Saturday matchups at the Runyon Complex:
At 10 a.m., it’s Sedgwick County-Rye and Swink-Dayspring Christian. At 12:30 p.m., it’s Rocky Ford-Dawson School and Resurrection Christian-Haxtun.
Winners will advance to state, May 28.
Neil H. Devlin: ndevlin@denverpost.com or @neildevlin
