The Grandview softball team lost quite a bit to graduation from last season’s Class 5A state tournament team, but has succeeded while it revamps.
The Wolves dropped the Centennial League showdown with rival Cherokee Trail Sept. 14 (see story, here), however coach Liz Carter against fields a team that looks like it can compete with any others on any given day. Grandview (11-5) graduated a great deal of offense, but Carter has been pleased at how new pieces have fit in with old ones remarkably well in the early going.
The few seniors Grandview does have are pivotal, however. Shortstop Sasha Kennedy is the ultimate tablesetter for the lineup, as she does nothing but put pressure on defenses. Kennedy leads the state, regardless of classification, with 25 stolen bases.
Senior Brooklyn Heil is a varsity veteran who leads the team with three home runs and 15 RBI, while a number of other players have blossomed to create an effective mix. In the circle, Grandview’s tandem of seniors Kamaya Soniea-Harris and Leah Graves is one of the best around when they are on.
“We talked about how it doesn’t really matter who the opponent is, we’re playing Grandview,” Carter said. “We find that when we lose, we’ve been the cause of the loss. When we’re on, we’re definitely among the best in the state. We just have to focus on what we can control and play Grandview ball.”
Eaglecrest had a marathon week of its own, as coach Yvette Hendrian’s team followed a five-game set at the Dave Sanders Tournament with its own run of four games in five days.
The Raptors finished that stretch at 3-1 with lopsided wins over Rock Canyon, ThunderRidge and Smoky Hill mixed around a loss to Grandview. Hendrian’s team — which gets its chance to play Cherokee Trail Sept. 24 — and sits 10-5.
Senior catcher Kaitlyn Hendrian is counted on for leadership behind the plate, but is also adding thump to a scrappy Eaglecrest lineup. A two-run home run Sept. 14 gave Hendrian six, which is tied for the third-most in 5A, while her 24 RBI is tied for sixth in the classification.
“We’re beating the teams we’re supposed to be and we’re beating them handily, but in the games that we’ve lost, we’re making mistakes,” Yvette Hendrian said. “The good news is that this team works well together and stays patient, probably better than some of the other teams I’ve had.”
Vista PEAK Prep has new leadership in John Waller, who took over for longtime coach Eddie Sanchez. Waller has guided the Bison to an 8-4 record and 5-1 mark in the City League, which has them in a three-way tie for first. Senior Nayely Duran and juniors Amara Herrera, Jaya Gray and Nia Mathis form the backbone of a team that has averaged 11 runs per game through its first 12 contests.
Dual threat sophomore Michaela Halton (.592 batting average with four home runs, plus 4-4 record on the mound) has helped coach Omar Garcia’s Overland team — which is playing without being a member of a conference — to a 4-4 mark in the early going.
Regis Jesuit graduated the key seniors that helped it make the 5A regional postseason in the return of the program a year ago and coach Tyler Robbins’ Raiders sit 3-6. Freshman catcher Elsa Pedersen has been a key addition as the team’s leader in batting average (.579), hits (11) and home runs (2), while sophomore Alex Tavlarides continues to build off a season of experience on the mound from a year ago.
Na Kim took the helm with Smoky Hill, which has a 2-11 mark in the early going. Junior Kiley Snyder and sophomore Nikiah Light have been strong offensively for the Buffaloes.
Aurora Central sits 2-9 — which includes a memorable 27-26 win over Jefferson Academy — and has two losses by a single run. Rangeview remains looking for its first win.
Gateway and Hinkley were expected to have programs, but did not due to low numbers.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
AURORA SOFTBALL TEAM RECORDS (Through games of Sept. 17)
Grandview 11-5 (2-1 Centennial League); Cherokee Trail 10-2 (2-0 Centennial League); Eaglecrest 10-5 (1-1 Centennial League); Vista PEAK Prep 8-4 (5-1 in City League); Overland 5-4; Regis Jesuit 3-6 (1-0 Continental League); Aurora Central 2-9 (0-2 in Colorado League); Smoky Hill 2-11 (0-1 Centennial League); Rangeview 0-14 (0-7 City League)
