AURORA | A look ahead at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports between April 20-26, 2017:
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
• The girls soccer slate for April 20 is full of key match ups (weather permitting), especially in the Centennial League teams. The two teams currently tied atop the standings — Grandview and Cherry Creek — clash at 6 p.m. at Stutler Bowl with the leader taking pole position with a couple of games remaining. Cherokee Trail pays a visit to Arapahoe at 7:30 p.m. at Littleton Public Schools Stadium in a contest of teams currently in the middle of the league pack, while Eaglecrest and Smoky Hill resume an always entertaining series at 5:30 p.m. at Legacy Stadium.
• Weather permitting, a quality slate of baseball is set for April 21 with a number of outstanding matchups featuring Aurora teams. Eaglecrest’s bid as a Centennial League contender reaches a key point when it pays a visit to Cherry Creek at 4:15 p.m., while Cherokee Trail looks to get on track with a 4:15 p.m. visit to Mullen. Grandview plays host to Overland at the same time, while Smoky Hill visits Arapahoe. In Continental League play, Regis Jesuit plays at Ponderosa at 4:15 p.m.
• The Greeley West Invitational girls tennis tournament is April 21-22 with several Aurora teams scheduled to be in the field. Grandview, Regis Jesuit and Smoky Hill are set to compete, though the tournament’s timeline is a little uncertain due to impending weather.
• Weather permitting, the Aurora Central, Eaglecrest, Gateway and Overland track teams compete in the George Washington Invite at All-City Stadium April 22, while Regis Jesuit is set to compete at Jeffco Stadium for a second straight week as part of the Dakota Ridge Invitational and Hinkley travels to the Platte Valley Bronco Stampede.
• The Stutler Bowl Twilight track meet is now set for April 24, as Grandview plays host to a 15-team multi-classification field in a meet that got rescheduled from April 21 due to weather. Field events are slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. and track events at 4 p.m. with a group of teams that is also expected to include Cherokee Trail and Smoky Hill.
• ThunderRidge visits Regis Jesuit at 7 p.m. April 24 in a girls lacrosse game that is key in the Continental League. Overland and Rangeview play home games and Eaglecrest visits Cherry Creek.
• The Cherokee Trail boys lacrosse team plays Dakota Ridge April 22 in a game set for 4 p.m. in the Peter Barton Stadium on the campus of the University of Denver. Following that contest on the same field is Regis Jesuit against Columbine at 5:30 p.m.
• Regis Jesuit plays host to Arapahoe at 4 p.m. April 25 in a boys swimming dual meet between some of the state’s top programs. Hinkley welcomes Fort Collins at 4:30 p.m. in another non-league dual meet.
• The Hammer traveling trophy is up for grabs April 26 as the Eaglecrest and Smoky Hill boys lacrosse teams face off at 7:30 p.m. at Legacy Stadium, where Cherry Creek and Grandview play at 5:30 p.m. Regis Jesuit is home to Kent Denver at 7:30 p.m.
