ARVADA | With the Class 5A state tournament in their backyard, three Aurora teams earned invitations for the party.
Eaglecrest and Grandview both posted come-from-behind wins on Sunday in regional tournaments resumed after postponements, joining Cherokee Trail in the group of 16 teams set to play for the 5A state championship Oct. 19-20 at the Aurora Sports Park.
Rain washed out the conclusions of several of the regional tournaments on Saturday and pushed the seeding back to Monday for the Colorado High School Activities Association. Three Aurora teams will be placed in the field after all three came through the backdoor to claim the second state berths out of their respective regionals.
At the Youth Memorial Sports Complex in Arvada, sophomore pinch-hitter Jordyn Wiatrak’s two-run single and senior Taylor Kigerl-Hill’s subsequent three-run double helped Eaglecrest put up five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Raptors rallied past Brighton for a 5-1 victory.
The Bulldogs — who made last season’s 5A state championship game — played top-notch defense for the first five-plus innings behind starter Melissa Rohrich, who homered off Eaglecrest freshman Sarah Bushman to lead off the fourth inning for a 1-0 lead. Rohrich’s homer came immediately following an inning in which three Raptors were thrown out at home plate.
Eaglecrest had a runner caught off second base in the next inning and saw Brighton turn a double play in the fifth inning, but finally broke through in the sixth.
Alexa Romero started the rally by drawing a walk, which was followed by singles by Michenzie Pace and pinch-hitter Brooke Morris to load the bases. Eaglecrest coach Yvette Hendrian went to her bench for Wiatrak to pinch hit for sophomore Lauren Buckley and she delivered a two-run single to left field on the first pitch from Rohrich.
Rayle Glover then drew a walk and the bases were cleared when Kigerl-Hill pounded a ball that found the gap and went to the fence in the
Bushman walked two Brighton batters in the top of the seventh inning — the first free passes she issued in the game — but retired the next three hitters. The freshman right-hander finished with strikeouts and allowed five hits in seven innings of work.
Earlier in the day, the Raptors resumed a game with Arvada West that was halted due to rain on Saturday and finished on the short end of a 7-4 decision that forced the game with Brighton.
Grandview earned its fourth trip to the state tournament in five years with a 5-4 victory in eight innings over Horizon at Columbine High School.
The Wolves faced a 4-1 deficit through four innings against the Hawks, but tied it with three runs in the fifth inning and pushed across a single run in the top of the eighth that held up for their second one-run win over Horizon in the tournament.
Senior Shy Calicchia doubled twice and drove in a pair of run, while Kelsey Biaggi added two hits. Freshman Courtney Browne allowed six hits over eight innings for the victory.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
CLASS 5A SOFTBALL REGIONALS
REGION 3
Sunday at Youth Memorial Complex, Arvada
Arvada West 7, Eaglecrest 4 (Arvada West qualifies for state tournament)
Brighton 5, Fort Collins 3
Eaglecrest 5, Brighton 1 (Eaglecrest qualifiers for state tournament)
REGION 5
Sunday at Columbine High School, Littleton
Grandview 5, Horizon 4 (8) (Grandview qualifies for state tournament)
