Golden wins 4A Jeffco League softball title
GOLDEN — It took two days and two different locations, but the Class 4A Jeffco League softball title was finally decided Tuesday.
Golden — No. 10 in this week’s 4A CHSAANow.com rankings — defeated Conifer 6-2 to claim the Demons’ first softball conference title since back-to-back league championships in 2018 and 2019.
“The world doubted us. They doubted all of us,” said Golden coach Steph Martinez, who took over the Demons’ softball program after a 4A state runner-up finish in 2019. “I knew it was going to be a couple of struggling years, but wow did it turnaround. It’s just so awesome to watch them win because so many people doubted us.”
The Demons went 6-10 and 12-14 in Martinez’s first two season at the helm. This year’s seniors were with Golden’s softball program that won league and then narrowly lost the 4A title game in extra innings to Erie back in 2019.
“We’ve gone through a lot as a team together and we’ve grown a lot together,” Golden senior pitcher Mia Rauzi said. “It means at lot for me and the other seniors. To win league again really means something for me and the team.”
Evergreen (11-12, 6-2 in 4A Jeffco) was also in the mix for the conference title, but a 12-4 home loss to D’Evelyn on Monday knocked the Cougars out of the league championship race.
The Lobos and Demons both knew it would be a winner-take-all situation when their league finale resumed on Tuesday after getting suspended. Golden senior Sofia Valenti was the offensive hero with 5 RBIs in the victory.
Valenti’s 3-run bases clearing single in the bottom of the sixth inning opened up a 6-2 lead for the Demons (15-7, 7-1).
“I tell her (Coach Martinez) I’m always better when there are runners on,” Valenti said of her huge 5 RBI game.
Conifer and Golden played the first four innings Monday at Colorado School of Mines softball field. Lightning and rain moved in after four innings was completed with Golden holding onto a 3-2 lead. The game was suspended and picked back up Tuesday at Golden High School.
The Lobos took a 2-0 lead Monday with a 2-run double by sophomore Eleanor Sikora in the top of the third inning. The Demons answered with a 3-run bottom of the third. Valenti tied things up 2-2 with a 2-run single. Junior Lyla Wilde gave Golden the lead with an RBI single.
Ranzi picked up the victory on the mound for Golden. She didn’t give up a hit in the final three innings, allowing just one baserunner on a walk in the fifth inning.
“Like I said at the beginning of the year we are going to ride her (Ranzi) as far as she can take us,” Martinez said. “We aren’t done yet.”
Golden closes out its regular season Wednesday with a home game against Valor Christian — No. 6 in the Class 5A CHSAANow.com rankings.
“It’s amazing. We’ve been working for it all year,” Valenti said about winning the league title. “We’ve wanted this since after our freshman year. We’ve had a lot to conquer with our new coach. We all came together this year. It’s surreal.”
Golden dropped one league game to Evergreen on Sept. 19, but the Demons have responded with six straight wins.
“After we lost to Evergreen we were so defeated,” Valenti said. “But after that every practice, every game, every team dinner we knew we had something to fight for. We deserved this because we’ve worked so hard. We got it.”
Conifer (13-8, 6-2) heads to Aurora on Wednesday for a non-league game against Rangeview. The Lobos were No. 20 in the RPI rankings and will have no problem making the 32-team field for regional playoffs that will be held next weekend.
