3A Softball: Eaton Survives to Win Third-Straight State Championship

AURORA – It wasn’t Eaton’s best game of the 2024 season on Saturday, but it was enough to get the job done.

The No. 1 Reds beat No. 3 University 8-6 in the 3A state title game to win their third straight championship. They didn’t win via mercy rule and University nearly mounted a heroic comeback, but ultimately, Eaton’s effort was enough to claim victory.

“Through a lot of effort and practice, it’s been really special to do the things that we’ve done,” Eaton coach Chad Shaw said. “It’s madness, the tradition we’ve built.”

It was all Eaton early on. The Reds hit two home runs and drove in five runs before University got its first out, giving Eaton an early 5-1 lead.

Eaton scored one more run in the second inning, and it appeared that the Reds would be able to pull away and maybe win via mercy rule.

But the Bulldogs didn’t let that happen.

University slowly cut into Eaton’s lead, making it a 7-5 game in the sixth inning. The Bulldogs put together multiple timely hits to drive in runs.

But pitcher Johanna Galvan ensured that the game never spiraled totally in the wrong direction. The sophomore never allowed more than two runs in an inning, forcing University into two inning-ending double plays.

“Coach has a saying called O.L.O.O, which stands for ‘outliving our opponents,’” Galvan said. “If we do that every game, it turns out to be something that nobody else can beat us with.”

Shaw added, “We’ve been trying to make sure that we get outs and don’t do too much. The message has been to keep it simple, make the routine out and trust in our defense.”

Galvan and the Reds got into trouble again in the seventh inning, allowing University to put runners on second and third – with the batter at the plate being the go-ahead run – with no outs.

But Galvan allowed just one of them to score, securing Eaton’s two-run win. She finished the game with five strikeouts and pitched all seven innings.

This matchup was far more competitive than when University and Eaton played in the regular season, when the Reds won 22-9.

“They’re just a hard team,” Galvan said. “They’re a great opponent and played really well today.”

University (21-8) beat Montezuma-Cortez, Rocky Ford and Strasburg en route to the state title game. The Bulldogs were on an eight-game winning streak before Saturday’s loss.

Eaton (26-3) has won four of the last five 3A state championships. The Reds had never previously won a softball state title before their first championship in 2020.

Shaw, who has coached at Eaton for 19 years, believes the Reds will continue to be a juggernaut for many years to come.

“Girls that are 11 or 12 see what we’re doing and want a piece of it,” Shaw said. “That’s what keeps it going. It’s really special.”