AURORA - Five 5A softball teams – Chatfield, Eaglecrest, Erie, Fossil Ridge and ThunderRidge – secured spots in the 2023 Softball State Championships Round of 16 state tournament bracket by winning both games in Friday's Round of 32 play at various sites across the state. Movement was also made throughout the 4A Round of 32 bracket, while all 3A contests will be played tomorrow.
 
The excitement of the day came at the Class 5A Site 1 in Arvada, as No. 16 Eaglecrest scored a tie-breaking run in the top of the sixth and then held on to upset top-seeded Arvada West, 2-1, in the second round. With the two wins (Eaglecrest also defeated Heritage, 11-2, in the first round), Eaglecrest advances to the state bracket, while Arvada West will face the winner of No. 17 Heritage vs. No. 32 Regis Jesuit in the second-round consolation game. The winner of that consolation game will join Eaglecrest in the Round of 16 state bracket.
 
Third-seeded Chatfield advanced from Site 3 by defeating No. 30 Chaparral, 15-3, and then No. 19 Rocky Mountain, 15-0, at Chatfield High School. Chaparral and No. 14 Castle View – which lost to Rocky Mountain 5-0 in the first round – will face in the first-round consolation game tomorrow with the winner advancing to the second-round consolation game to face Rocky Mountain. The winner of the second consolation game will secure a spot in the Round of 16 state bracket.
 
No. 6 seed Erie and No. 11 Fossil Ridge both earned spots in the Round of 16 state bracket from Site 6 at Erie High School today. Erie swept No. 27 Lakewood, 5-0, and then defeated No. 11 Fossil Ridge, 7-2, to finish the day undefeated with two wins. Fossil Ridge claimed the second spot through the consolation bracket, as it used extra innings to knock off No. 22 Ponderosa.
 
No. 7 seed ThunderRidge became the first team out of Site 7 to advance to states as it defeated No. 26 Cherry Creek, 8-0, and No. 10 Cherokee Trail, 8-2, to remain undefeated on the day. Cherokee Trail will now await the winner of No. 23 Legacy vs. No. 26 Cherry Creek in the second-round consolation game, with the winner of that game advancing to the Round of 16.
 
In 4A, six teams won their first-round games today and will play tomorrow for a chance to secure a spot in the Round of 16 state bracket. No. 3 D’Evelyn will take on No. 14 Pomona, No. 4 Lutheran will play No. 13 Greeley West and No. 5 Discovery Canyon will host No. 12 Frederick. While the winners secure a spot in the state bracket, the losers will have a chance to claim the second spot through the consolation round.
 
No. 19 Cheyenne Mountain has advanced to the second-round consolation game at Site 3 and will await the result of the D’Evelyn/Pomona contest, while No. 29 Severance upset No. 20 Rifle at Site 4 to advance to the second-round consolation game. Severance will learn its opponent following the Lutheran/Greeley West contest. At site 5, No. 21 Air Academy will face the loser of the Discovery Canyon/Frederick for a chance to make the Round of 16. The winners of all second-round consolation games will secure a spot in the state bracket.
 
The 2023 Softball State Championships will be hosted at the Aurora Sports Park on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20-21. First round games are at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on Friday, with quarterfinals at 2:30 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 21, semifinals begin at 10 a.m. with the championship games at 1 p.m. (3A) and 1:30 p.m. (4A and 5A).