The following is a look at the marquee games this week in softball, volleyball and boys soccer in Classes 5A and 4A. (All rankings and records are current as of Monday.)
SOFTBALL
Class 5A Region 1, 10 a.m. Saturday, Aurora Sports Park: No. 1 Eaglecrest (18-1) battles No. 32 (11-8) in the opener, but as an unjust reward for a dominant campaign, senior slugger Kailey Wilson and the Raptors will likely advance to face the winner of No. 16 (11-8) and No. 17 (15-4) in the regional title. Cherokee Trail is the defending state champion and will come ready to play, while Mountain Vista, seasoned by an arduous Continental League slate, is led by senior Rebecca Gonzales.
Class 4A Region 3, 10 a.m. Saturday, Erie High School: No. 5 Erie (14-5) takes on No. 28 (13-5) in a potential trap game for the Tigers, while No. 12 (14-4) against No. 21 (9-10) is another intriguing matchup on the other half of the bracket. With tradition on its side, Erie is no doubt the favorite, but the play and leadership of George Washington sophomore shortstop Isabel Alire, Holy Family junior Erin Caviness and Wheat Ridge senior infielder Kate Anderson make this bracket balanced.
VOLLEYBALL
D’Evelyn (12-0) at (10-3), 6 p.m. Tuesday: The 4A Jeffco League foes meet with plenty at stake as first-year coach Amber Cook’s undefeated No. 9 Jaguars take on the No. 5 Eagles. D’Evelyn had only dropped three sets all season — a credit to the team’s ball control enabled by junior libero Lorena Payne and senior setter Natalie Haggard — but the Jaguars face their greatest test yet in junior outside hitters Courtney Lane, Lily Thomason and Valor Christian.
(11-3) at Denver East (7-5), 6:30 p.m. Thursday: In a crucial Denver Prep League showdown, coach Katie Ryan leads the Rebels on the road against coach Tarah Olmstead’s Angels. The team that takes control at the net early and often will come out on top in this one, and Denver South must hold off East’s offensive duo of senior hitters Sarah Williammee and Macy Cummings in order to avoid a repeat of last season’s match, won by the Angels in straight sets.
BOYS SOCCER
Denver East (11-1) at Far Northeast (9-1-2), 4 p.m. Tuesday: This Denver Prep League showdown pits powerhouse No. 2 Denver East against a rising Far Northeast team that’s posted signature wins over Northridge and Mountain Vista. Containing Angels senior striker Sam Carson (15 goals) is key for the Warriors, although coach Juan Vergara has plenty of firepower in his own right thanks to sophomore striker Alex Ortiz and senior midfielder Mario Macias.
(6-3-2) at (12-0), 6:30 p.m. Thursday: In a Pikes Peak rivalry match, the Indians seek to take a gigantic step toward defending their league title against the top-ranked Cadets. Cheyenne Mountain senior strikers Evan McConnell and Rodridgo Periera need to lead the charge against a tight Air Academy defense that features standout junior keeper Thomas Beatty, who has proven he has the skill and confidence to win close matches against top teams.
