AURORA | A look back at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports from Aug. 17-23, 2017:
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
Davis Bryant has come out of the chute swinging.
The Eaglecrest senior boys golf standout had to wait nearly two weeks to get into Colorado play as the Centennial League was one of the last leagues to begin play, but he showed no ill effects from the break.
Coming off an outstanding summer, Bryant carded a 3-under-par 67 at Meadow Hills Golf Course on Aug. 17, giving him a boost in his quest to win a third straight individual Centennial League championship. His performance was good enough for a three-shot win in the tournament and he followed that up a few days later with another 67 — this time a 5-under-par — on Aug. 21 to win the Cherry Creek Invitational at Buffalo Run G.C.
Regis Jesuit sent two teams to the Cherry Creek Invitational and both finished in the top five in the 25-team field. Junior Walker Fuller shot a 1-under 71 for the fifth-place Regis Jesuit Red team, while Jake Pendergast and Riley Thomison shot matching 72s to lead the Regis Jesuit White Team to third.
Meanwhile, Regis Jesuit also competed in the third Continental League tournament of the season and finished third, with senior Cal McCoy’s 2-over 74 good enough for third. The Raiders retained a sizeable team lead and McCoy is still in the top spot individually.
• The Eaglecrest softball team pounded out 21 hits on its way to a 14-4 win over Douglas County in an anticipated season opener Aug. 22. The Raptors got six strong innings on the mound from senior Braelyn Crenshaw, who scattered five hits and allowed one unearned run. Seven players recorded multiple hits in the game, with senior Brandee Morris leading the way with three and junior Shayelyn Allen knocked in a team-high four runs for Eaglecrest.
• The Overland softball team collected just four base hits, but rolled past Aurora Central 18-1 on Aug. 22 in the season opener for both Aurora teams. The Trailblazers benefitted from 14 walks issued by two Trojans pitchers, while senior Aubre McKay and sophomore Tiana Wittke drove in two runs apiece. Junior Bailey Garrison drove in Birungi Balijage for Aurora Central in the first inning with the only hit the Trojans collected off Overland starting pitcher Gracey Martinez.
• The Rangeview softball team evened its record at 1-1 with a 15-5 victory over the Far Northeast Warriors Aug. 22. Jessica Lohman drove in three runs, while Jordan Clanton (3-for-3) and Katiana Williams knocked in two runs apiece for the Raiders, who rebounded from a 14-8 loss to Denver East in a tight season opener Aug. 18.
• Aurora prep sports scoreboard for Tuesday, Aug. 22, here
• Aurora prep sports scoreboard for Monday, Aug. 21, here
• On Aug. 18, Regis Jesuit announced the hiring of Kathryn Ames as its new girls head lacrosse coach for the 2018 season. Following a strong run under Billy Corbett, the program turned to Ames, who led Cherry Creek to a 17-2 record and a berth in the state championship game in 2016.
• Aurora prep sports scoreboard for Saturday, Aug. 18, here
• Vista PEAK finished third in the first EMAC major boys golf tournament Aug. 17 at Aurora Hills G.C., as the Bison held off Rangeview by eight strokes for top honors among city teams behind Prairie View and Brighton. Rangeview senior Levi Robinson posted the best individual round for Aurora with an 11-over-par 83 that put him sixth overall, while Vista PEAK’s Quezdon Ivey and Gateway’s Garrison Milton tied for 10th with matching 86s. The final league standings will be determined by the results of two major tournaments added together.
• Davis Bryant won the first Centennial League boys golf tournament Aug. 17 at Meadow Hills G.C., but Cherokee Trail led Aurora teams with a fourth-place finish in the standings. Senior Jack Stephenson carded a 3-over-par 73 to lead the Cougars, who also got a 78 from sophomore Beam Boonta. Senior Charlie Hall shot a 79 to help Grandview to fifth place and junior Christopher Kennedy shot a 78 for sixth-place Smoky Hill.
• Aurora prep sports scoreboard for Thursday, Aug. 17, here