AURORA | A look back at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports between April 6-12, 2017:
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
Even with some of its top performers competing elsewhere, the Hinkley girls track team had enough to win the Robert F. Caviness Invitational for the seventh straight season.
Freshman Diondra Wilborn secured three of the Thunderbirds’ five victories on the day, as they were 6.5 points better than runner-up Jefferson Academy in the 61st annual event.
On top of that, Hinkley senior Mariah Greenwell was named winner of the annual Caviness Memorial Scholarship.
• National Signing Day ceremonies at Eaglecrest, Grandview, Overland, Rangeview and Smoky Hill on April 12 allowed a large group of Aurora prep athletes — many of them in spring sports — to sign National Letters of Intent to compete at the collegiate level. A list of signees/honorees from Aurora schools, here.
• Juniors Ty Coen and Elijah Warren combined for three victories, but it wasn’t quite enough for the Regis Jesuit boys swim team in a spirited 166-149 dual meet loss at Cherry Creek April 11. Coen captured the 100 yard butterfly and the 100 backstroke, Warren took the 100 breaststroke and sophomore Will Goodwin topped the field in the 200 individual medley for the Raiders, who got swept in the relay events, including a touch-out in the 200 medley.
• Regis Jesuit ace Caleb Sloan struck out 11 batters over 6 2/3 innings to help the homestanding Raiders to a 4-3 Continental League-opening baseball win April 10. The TCU signee allowed two runs and six hits and Michael Baer escaped a late jam to close out the win. Regis Jesuit won despite getting just three hits and Geno Macias and Orlando Trujillo drove in runs.
• The Cherokee Trail boys and girls track teams both won championships at the Legend Track Clash, as each scored 111 points April 8 at EchoPark Stadium. The Cougars were head and shoulders above the field on both sides, winning the girls crown by 30 points and boys by 20. Taylor Watson won twice for Cherokee Trail on the girls side and Rylan Wallace took two events for the boys.
• Hinkley junior Angel Heredia posted a meet record-setting performance in the 300 meter hurdles April 8 to headline some outstanding performances for Aurora athletes at the prestigious Mullen Invitational. Heredia clocked a time of 38.14 seconds in the event for one of the most impressive wins for city athletes at the meet loaded with elite competition.
• Freshman Reece Atteberry delivered an RBI single to deliver a 10-9 win in nine innings for the Eaglecrest baseball team April 8 against visiting Pomona. In his lone at-bat, Atteberry delivered the decisive blow in a game with 26 total hits. Andrew Danko earned the win with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and Garrett Tisdall, Tyler Mills and Zach Sulyma homered as the Raptors continued an undefeated start.
• The Grandview baseball team blanked visiting Highlands Ranch 10-0 April 8 in a game that saw junior pitcher Luke LaFlam surrender just two hits over four innings, the defense behind him also had a highlight with a triple play. The Wolves got three hits from Jackson Vanzee, two RBI from Carson Mandrell and a triple and two runs scored from Garrett Gipson in the victory.
• The Cherokee Trail girls soccer team started strong in Centennial League play with a 3-1 victory over Smoky Hill April 7 at Stutler Bowl. Senior Rebekah Burton’s goal on a penalty kick broke open a tie game and juniors Delaney McLelland and Lainy Hawkins also tallied for the Cougars. Stormi Garcia scored the Buffaloes’ goal.
• Freshman Nyanna Pepper scored twice for the Rangeview girls soccer team, which got goals from five different players in a 6-1 EMAC win over Hinkley April 7. Tayler Ohu, Mary Perez Aguire, Riley Surratt and Iris Xoy also scored for the Raiders, who became the only team thus far to keep Thunderbirds’ star Teaggan Ilela from recording a goal or an assist. Junior Ruby Portillo had Hinkley’s lone goal.
• The Grandview girls tennis team posted its first-ever win over Arapahoe in a dual match with a 5-2 Centennial League road victory April 5. In just their second dual of the season, the Wolves got wins from the three of their four doubles teams, plus Nos. 1 & 3 singles players Haley Artis and Amanda Olsen-Dufour in the win.
