Smoky Hill gave Mullen a challenge in the first round of the Class 5A boys lacrosse state playoffs May 7, but saw another strong season end sooner than it would have liked.
The Buffaloes lost to the Mustangs by a goal in league play earlier in the season and were within a goal at halftime in the rematch, but managed just one goal in the final two periods of an 11-5 loss.
Senior Blake Spencer and junior Blake Foerster scored two goals apiece and Wes Purinton had the other tally for Smoky Hill, which finished the season 11-5.
• The Gateway baseball team earned its first 5A postseason berth since 1994 with a 12-0 win over Aurora Central on May 6. The Olys won a tiebreaker with Prairie View, which was routed by Northglenn.
• Junior reserve Brandon Handler singled in pinch runner Anthony Karmazyn in the bottom of the seventh inning to deliver the Eaglecrest baseball team a 2-1 walk-off win over Brighton on May 6 at Coors Field.
Senior Andrew Willard singled in the tying run ahead of Handler’s single, which made a winner of starter Braxton Lorenzini. The senior right-hander pitched seven innings for his first win of the season, outdueling Brighton left-hander Rodney Morales.
• On the brink of elimination for Class 5A postseason contention, the Rangeview baseball team won twice on May 4 to earn a spot in the upcoming district playoffs.
The Raiders had to have a win over Gateway in the morning to stay alive and got it with a 5-3 victory over their rivals.
Junior Colton Bennett tripled in two runs and scored in a three-run fifth inning that helped Rangeview rally to make a winner of starter Ryan Christian, who gave up six hits and three runs with eight strikeouts in seven innings.
The Raiders then beat Aurora Central in the second game to earn the third of four playoff seeds out of the East Metro Athletic Conference.
• The Regis Jesuit boys lacrosse team capped a brutal end of season schedule with a 9-6 win over rival Arapahoe on May 4 at Littleton Public School Stadium.
Junior Aaron Horvat and sophomore Chet Dunstan each tallied two goals and five other Raiders scored in a balanced effort. Goalie Brett Quartuccio made 10 saves.
• Junior Hank Hyde tossed seven innings of three-hit baseball to help Smoky Hill to a crucial 2-1 victory over Mullen May 4.
Jeff Gillis and Devin Huschka drove in runs for the Buffaloes, who followed up a clutch 12-9 win over Cherokee Trail the previous day to put themselves in a strong position for the postseason.
• The Regis Jesuit girls lacrosse team finished off the regular season with style with a 13-10 victory over top-ranked Cherry Creek on May 3 at Lou Kellogg Stadium.
Courtney Gielow scored three goals to lead the way for the 13-2 Raiders, who beat Kent Denver by two goals a few days earlier.
The Regis Jesuit program had never beaten either team before.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
