Softball: State Champions to be Determined Today
Photo: CHSAA file photo
AURORA – The semifinal matchups for the Softball State Championships have been set. All semifinal games will begin at 10 a.m. with the championship games to follow.
The 3A championship game will begin at 1 p.m., with the 4A and 5A championship games starting at 1:30 p.m. All games will be played at Aurora Sports Park.
?Important Reminder: Aurora Sports Park has specific rules that include: no glass bottles and no pets are allowed. The ASP Food Vendors will be available throughout the tournament.
All tickets to the state championships are digital and can be purchased through GoFan.
5A Semifinals (5A Bracket)
No. 1 Cherokee Trail vs. No. 5 Legend
No. 2 Broomfield vs. No. 6 Riverdale Ridge
4A Semifinals (4A Bracket)
No. 1 Lutheran vs. No. 5 Holy Family
No. 2 Windsor vs. No. 3 Pueblo County
3A Semifinals (3A Bracket)
No. 1 Eaton vs. No. 5 Southeast Colorado
No. 2 Strasburg vs. No. 3 University
In 5A, there will not be a repeat winner this year as No. 10 Grandview knocked off No. 7 Chatfield, the defending champions, 10-1, in the first round. Grandview saw its hot streak come up just short as No. 2 Broomfield used a 5-4 victory to advance to the semifinals, where it will face No. 6 Riverdale Ridge.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 1 Cherokee Trail will face No. 5 Legend. Cherokee Trail advanced by defeating No. 16 Vista Ridge, 16-3, in the first round and No. 8 Fruita Monument, 12-2, in the quarterfinals. Legend moved forward by defeating No. 12 Greeley West, 11-5, and No. 13 Chaparral, 12-1.
Cherokee Trail will be looking to make its fourth appearance in the championship game and first since 2020. The Cougars will be looking for their second state title in school history and first since 2016. Cherokee Trail also advanced to the title game in 2018.
Broomfield, the runners-up in 2004 and 2016, will be looking to make a third championship game appearance and secure its first-ever state title in softball.
Riverdale Ridge, last year’s runners-up, would also be looking for its first-ever state title in softball.
Legend is the most recent champion among the semifinalists, with its most recent state title coming in 2021. The Titans also won in 2017 and 2018 after making its debut in the championship game in 2013.
In 4A, the first semifinal will feature the three-time defending champions, No. 1 Lutheran, and No. 5 Holy Family. Lutheran advanced by defeating No. 16 Mead, 14-7, and then knocked off No. 9 Pueblo Central, 11-1, in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Holy Family earned an 8-3 win over No. 12 Niwot in the first round and a 12-2 victory over No. 13 Conifer in the quarterfinals.
In the other semifinal, No. 2 Windsor will face No. 3 Pueblo County. Windsor knocked off Northridge, 13-0, and then No. 10 Palmer Ridge, 7-1, to advance, while Pueblo County beat No. 14 Cheyenne Mountain, 8-5, before defeating No. 11 Golden, 10-0.
Lutheran is looking to secure a fifth-straight title game appearance as it looks to win its fourth-straight title.
Windsor is looking to make its third championship game appearance in program history, and first since 2011. The Wizards won their first title game appearance in 2006, marking the only state title in softball for the school.
Pueblo County is looking for its third title game appearance and first since winning the state title in 1995. The Hornets made back-to-back appearances in 1994 and 1995.
Holy Family is looking for a ninth championship game appearance. The owners of four state titles, the Tigers are looking to get back to the championship game after missing 2023 and are looking for their first state title since winning back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021.
In 3A, top-seeded Eaton, the two-time defending champion, gave up just one run enroute to the semifinals. The Reds opened the Round of 16 with an 11-1 win over No. 16 Brush before downing No. 8 Lyons, 10-0, in the quarterfinals. Eaton will meet No. 5 Southeast Colorado in tomorrow’s semifinal round as the Angels used a pair of upset victories over No. 12 The Classical Academy, 9-5, and No. 4 Lamar, 13-7, to advance.
In the other semifinal, No. 2 Strasburg will face No. 3 University. Strasburg advanced by defeating No. 15 La Junta, 11-5, and No. 10 The Academy, 8-7, while University used a 13-3 win over No. 14 Montezuma-Cortez in the first round to move on and then knocked out No. 6 Rocky Ford, 16-2 in the quarterfinals.
Eaton has won the last three state titles and will be looking for its sixth state title game appearance, as it finished runner up in 2015 and 2018.
Strasburg made it to the championship game in seven-straight years, from 2012-18, winning five of those titles. The Indians will be looking to make their first appearance in the championship game since winning back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018.
University is looking for a fourth championship game appearance, a second softball state title and first state championship since 2019.
Southeast Colorado is looking for its first-ever appearance in the title game.
