Expectation sky high for No. 1 Columbine softball

AURORA — It is only early September, but the No. 1-ranked Class 5A softball team in the state has already set its top priority this season.

“The girls are all on the same page. We call it climbing the mountain,” Columbine coach Jim Santaniello said after the Rebels improved to 10-0 on the season Friday morning with a 3-1 victory over Mountain Vista. “Anything besides a state championship is going to be a letdown for this team. That is a tough goal, but we believe we can do it.”

Columbine won the 5A state title back in 2019, its first state softball title ever. The Rebels were one win away last year before Legend defeated Columbine 8-0 in the state championship game at Aurora Sports Park.

The Rebels returned to Aurora Sports Park on Friday for Day 2 of the annual Dave Sanders Memorial Softball Tournament. Columbine freshman Nina Vargas gave all the offense the Rebels needed to escape with a victory against Mountain Vista.

Vargas belted a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning to tie things up 1-1. She then delivered again in the top of the seventh inning with a 2-run blast to propel Columbine to a 3-1 come-from-behind victory.

“It was just something that I naturally like to swing at,” Vargas said of taking a pair of low pitches over the fence against Mountain Vista to knock in all three runs for the Rebels.

Vargas is one of two freshmen that got starts for the Rebels. While Vargas got the start and third base, freshman Livi Keiter got the start at shortstop and is hitting near .500 on the season. Keiter is the niece of Kami Keiter, who helped Arvada West to back-to-back state titles a few decades ago.

“We have been excited about this freshman class,” Santaniello said. “We’ve seen them in camps. We forget that they are freshmen because they play at the varsity level already. They are going to have their growing pains and make mistakes, but they are ahead of the curve right now.”

While the talented youth is something Columbine is counting on this season, the Rebels are still going to lean on senior Araya Ogden on the mound. Junior Liz Phillips got the start against Mountain Vista and give up just one run on seven hits through 3 and 1/3 innings.

Ogden relieved Phillips in the middle of the fourth inning. After walking the first batter Ogden faced she preceded to retire the next 11 batters she saw to pick up the victory.

“Two years ago I definitely wasn’t a dominant pitcher. I wasn’t even ready, but Korbe (Otis) was hurt so I got thrown in there,” Ogden said. “My mentality has always been to be the best that I can be. Do what I can.”

Ogden was thrown into the fire as a sophomore the year after Columbine won the state title and the Rebels’ ace Korbe Otis didn’t play her senior season due to injury. The Rebels went 8-8 during the COVID season, but had a big bounce back last year going 25-4 that included an 18-game winning steak and state runner-up.

“She (Ogden) just gets better and better. She is an elite pitcher,” Santaniello said. “We do need to rely on some other pitchers and Liz did a great job today.”

Ogden had a 21-3 record last year with a 2.25 ERA. Her ERA after the win against the Golden Eagles is 0.52.

“I’m ready for that mindset of being in stressful situations,” said Ogden, who begins here third year as the Rebels’ No. 1 pitcher.

Columbine finishes off the tournament Saturday with a pair of games before heading into 5A Jeffco League play next week. The Rebels host Arvada West on Wednesday, Sept. 14.

“There is a lot of pressure with us chasing another state title again,” Vargas said. “There is a big target on our backs and everyone is coming for us, but we all have a lot of hunger. We all want it.”