The prep softball season is now in its back half, with 5A teams across the area knee-deep in league play and many squads with plenty at stake in terms of conference championships and postseason seeding.
And yet, even with so much consequential softball to play, one outcome is practically predetermined: Two particular conferences, the Front Range League and the Continental League, again boast a bevy of teams that are frontrunners to capture the state championship on October 22 at Aurora Sports Park.
The Front Range League not only claims the current top seed in Broomfield and the defending state champion in Mountain Range, it’s also the owner of 10 of the last dozen 5A crowns. And while the Continental League certainly doesn’t quite have that type of recent prestigious pedigree, the likes of No. 3 Legend, No. 6 ThunderRidge and No. 10 Douglas County are programs that have been ascending toward a title for some time now.
FRONT RANGE LEAGUE
No. 1 Broomfield (12-2, 7-0): Led by senior pitcher Taylor Gilmore (12-2, 0.95 ERA), senior Lindsey Malkin (.656, 21 RBI, 8 HR) and senior Matti Morales (.571, 14 RBI, 3 HR)… Key remaining games include vs. Loveland (Sept. 24), at Fort Collins (Sept. 27), at Legacy (Sept. 29), vs. Rocky Mountain (Oct. 1).
No. 2 Fossil Ridge (11-2, 5-2): Led by senior pitcher Megan Jamison (5-1, 3.69 ERA), freshman pitcher Landyn Bruce (4-0, 2.52 ERA, .548 at the dish), sophomore Kristen Reed (.656, 5 2B) and sophomore Mia Moddelmog (.500, 6 2B)… Key remaining games include vs. Legacy (Oct. 1), at Mountain Range (Oct. 4) and vs. Eaglecrest (Oct. 7).
No. 7 Legacy (10-3, 5-1): Led by sophomore pitcher Isabella Kelly (9-2, 3.57 ERA), junior Trisha Cook (.727, 19 RBI), sophomore Lauren Strathearn (.711, 7 2B) and senior Emily Taggart (.567, 10 RBI, 3 HR)… Key remaining games include vs. Rocky Mountain (Sept. 27), vs. Broomfield (Sept. 29), at Fossil Ridge (Oct. 1) and vs. Fort Collins (Oct. 4).
Other notables: Fort Collins (8-5, 5-1) made state last fall and is led by senior Karly Christensen as well as senior pitcher Ciana Curran (8-4, 2.62 ERA)… Rocky Mountain (11-3, 5-2) has beaten quality teams in Brighton, Fossil Ridge and Mountain Range and the Lobos can play with any team with senior Kelli Schueler (9-2, 3.25 ERA) in the circle… Senior pitcher Abby Lukes and Creighton University hoops commit Tatum Rembao (.600, 12 RBI) anchor a Loveland (8-5, 4-2) squad that was league runner-up in 2015… And don’t forget about Mountain Range (6-7, 3-3), as the Mustangs played a brutal non-league schedule and will be contenders if they can get ace and reigning 5A Player of the Year Hunter Huser healthy again from a wrist injury.
CONTINENTAL LEAGUE
No. 3 Legend (9-4-1, 3-2): Led by sophomore pitcher Zoey LeCompte (6-3, 2.09 ERA), senior pitcher Kailey Kumor (3-0, 4.05), senior Jesse Smith (.533, 17 RBI), senior Karlee Arnold (.477, 17 RBI) and sophomore Payton Lincavage (.439, 11 RBI)… Key remaining games include at ThunderRidge (Sept. 28), at Highlands Ranch (Oct. 3) and vs. Ponderosa (Oct. 5).
No. 6 ThunderRidge (10-4, 2-3): Led by senior pitcher Emily Morris (7-3, 1.13 ERA), sophomore Amanda Hedges (.515, 3 3B), junior Hannah Stanley (.500, 7 RBI) and junior Rachel Bean (.418, 4 HR)… Key remaining games include vs. Highlands Ranch (Sept. 26) and vs. Legend (Sept. 28).
No. 10 Douglas County (11-3, 5-0): Led by sophomore pitcher Savanna Reiners (6-0, 3.09 ERA), senior pitcher Hannah Storey (5-3, 3.94 ERA), sophomore Alley Kim (.521, 16 RBI), senior Jordan Acosta (.490, 2 3B), sophomore Abby Stallcup and junior Abbey Montoya (.444, 6 HR)… Key remaining games include at Rock Canyon (Sept. 26) and at Heritage (Oct. 5).
Other notables: Mountain Vista (9-5, 4-2) is led by free-swinging junior Rebecca Gonzales (.578, 11 RBI)… Highlands Ranch (6-7, 3-2) is rebounding nicely from last season’s 1-17 campaign, as first-year coach Joy Milkowski is at the helm of a program on the rise… Rock Canyon (6-7, 3-2) is paced by freshman Megan Seltzer (.667, 7 RBI) and senior Sloane Stewartson (.636, 16 RBI, 5 HR)… Castle View (9-3-1, 3-2) has a pair of dependable pitchers and quality wins over the likes of Cherry Creek and ThunderRidge.
