Jeffco softball teams run out of steam at 5A state tourney
AURORA — Jeffco will have to wait another year to end the drought of not bringing home the Class 5A state softball title in more than a decade.
Dakota Ridge and Ralston Valley, the lone Jeffco representatives in the two-day state tournament that started Friday at Aurora Sports Park, were eliminated with first-round losses in the morning games.
While either Pomona, Dakota Ridge, Ralston Valley, Bear Creek or Wheat Ridge has been in eight of the last dozen 5A state title games, Jeffco hasn’t won the biggest-school classification softball championship since Wheat Ridge won back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003.
“I think what you are seeing is a geographic shift,” Dakota Ridge coach Marvin Van Lingen after the Eagles’ season ended with a 5-3 loss to Fossil Ridge in the opening round of the state tournament Friday morning. “You see the northern area is growing.”
The Sabercats from Fort Collins rallied with two runs in the top of the seventh inning to score the upset against No. 5 seeded Dakota Ridge (13-9 record).
“We preached to the girls during the week that it was going to be the little things,” Van Lingen said. “It was the little things that (Fossil Ridge) did right and we did wrong that made the difference in this game.”
Dakota Ridge got off to a rough 2-7 start to the season, but was able to get on a roll to eventually place second in the 5A Jeffco League. The Eagles won their regional tournament last weekend with victories over Poudre and Legend.
“We had a really good run,” Van Lingen said. “I think a lot of people counted us out at the beginning of the season and we put together a spectacular second half of the season. We couldn’t have asked for anything more at regionals.”
Ralston Valley had a similar start to its campaign. The Mustangs (13-9) endured a six-game losing streak before starting conference play.
“We started out horribly, that is putting it nicely probably,” Ralston Valley coach Wendy Davies said after a 10-1 loss to Loveland in the opening round of the state tournament ended the Mustangs’ season. “They came together as a team and worked really hard. Going into league (play) it wasn’t a good season, but then we beat Arvada West and that set the tone for the rest of the season.”
The back-to-back 5A Jeffco League champs couldn’t get things going against No. 4 Loveland.
“Loveland is a good team, but I thought we would give them a little bit more of a run for their money,” Davies said.
Ralston Valley’s lone run was a solo home run by sophomore Sydney Stewart. It was the lone offensive highlight for the Mustangs.
“We were feeling good, but I think it came down to the fact that we didn’t hit the ball and Fossil Ridge did from the start,” Ralston Valley four-year starting catcher Alexa Samuels said.
Samuels, who will continue her softball career at Colorado Mesa University next year, was proud of how Ralston Valley fought its way to the state tournament field this season.
“I definitely didn’t think we would go this far my senior year,” Samuels said. “It’s cool to at least be here my senior year. There are only 16 5A teams down here. I’m excited to see how things end up.”
