AURORA | Eaglecrest may eventually bring about a changing of the guard in Class 5A softball in the future, but the young Raptors nearly did it Friday.
The young 9th-seeded Raptors knocked off No. 8 Douglas County 9-4 in the opening round Friday at the Aurora Sports Park, then built an early four-run lead against top-seeded Legacy, winner of the past five 5A state championships, in the afternoon quarterfinals.
The Lightning finally got to Eaglecrest freshman pitcher Sarah Bushman with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, however, plating three runs on four straight base hits to erase a two-run deficit and win 5-4 to advance to Saturday’s semifinals. Legacy takes on No. 4 Loveland — a 6-2 winner over Grandview — at 10 a.m.
Coach Yvette Hendrian guided her Eaglecrest team to a 19-5 record in her first season since coming over from Rangeview.
The Raptors pounded out 10 hits in their opening victory against Douglas County — include a grand slam for junior Raylor Glover — and kept the offensive momentum going against Legacy.
A four-run first inning against Lightning starter Haley Smith included consecutive base hits by Glover, Taylor Kigerl-Hill, Mikayla Faulkner and Tayler Mashburn.
Eaglecrest’s offense went cold from there, however, and Legacy began to chip away with single runs in the third and sixth innings off Bushman before the walkoff rally.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
5A QUARTERFINALS
Legacy 5, Eaglecrest 4
Score by innings (r-h-e):
Eaglecrest 400 000 0 — 4 12 0
Legacy 001 001 3 — 5 10 0
5A FIRST ROUND
Eaglecrest 9, Douglas County 4
Score by innings (r-h-e):
Eaglecrest 201 510 0 — 9 10 0
Douglas Co. 000 022 0 — 4 10 0
