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The week that was: A wrap-up of CCSD Athletics for the week of May 29

5A State Baseball: Cherokee Trail takes second at state

The Cherokee Trail High School baseball team had an amazing postseason run but fell short in the championship round. The 25th-seeded Cougars’ Cinderella season ended with a 4-0 loss to No. 15 and State Champion Valor Christian last Saturday at All-Star Park in Lakewood.

Head Coach Jon Digiorgio’s charges opened the tournament with a huge 5-4 win over top-seeded and defending state champion Broomfield on May 26 at All-Star Park. Poor weather moved CT’s next ballgame to Saturday morning, where they took their first loss in the double-elimination tournament to No. 5 Rock Canyon. The final score was 7-2. Then it was on to All-City Stadium where a lightning delay couldn’t deter the Cougars as they took down No. 6 Chaparral, 9-4, earning CT a Final Four spot on June 2.

On Friday, CT took on No. 3 Regis Jesuit, and great 2-hit pitching by sophomore Carter Wilcox and a solo home run by senior Charlie Boyd added up to a huge 1-0 win. which eliminated the Raiders.

The day’s second contest was a rematch with Rock Canyon. Things couldn’t have been more different. The Cougars prevailed in a 10-9 slugfest, which took 8 innings to decide. Senior Tommy Munch singled in the tying run with two outs in the seventh to make it 9-9. CT held the Jaguars in the home-half, and then junior Johnny Robledo tripled to the wall in the extra frame, driving in the winning run for the victory, and qualifying the Cougars for championship play on Saturday.

The task was considerable for Cherokee Trail on June 3, as they had to beat No. 15 Valor Christian twice to gain a championship. The Eagles gained a 4-0 lead by the 4^th inning. Cherokee Trail stranded runners and couldn’t come up with any key hits, which led to a 4-0 final, ending the Cougars’ season at 18-13.

Congratulations to the Cougars on a great season!

5A Girls State Golf: Smoky Hill freshman places second at state

Smoky Hill golfer Sophia Stiwich made quite a debut at the 2023 Girls State Golf Championships last Tuesday and Wednesday at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker. The Buffs freshman had a two-day total of 143 for the tournament, tying her with Valor Christian sophomore Brenna Higgins. A playoff ensued, and Stiwich hit two drives out of bounds, then conceded the match to Higgins.

Stiwich had a blistering 5-under-par 67 on day 1 and shot a 77 on day 2.

Cherry Creek sophomore Caitlyn Chin finished 4^th with a two-day total of 148. Cherokee Trail sophomore Kaleigh Babineaux took 8^th overall, coming into the clubhouse at 155. Cougar senior Chunya Boonta finished 11^th with a 159. Eaglecrest senior Savanna Becker shot a two-day total of 165, good for 19^th place.

CTHS girls golf team In team standings – in which the top three team members' scores are totaled – Valor Christian was the State Champion, followed by Castle View and Rock Canyon. The Cougar foursome of Babineaux, Boonta, sophomore Haylee Clark and senior Sofia Johancen-Walt took 4^th with a two-day total 498. Cherry Creek’s team of Chin, juniors Kate Cowser and Cecelia Murray, and freshman Tatum Platt, came in 5^th with a 498. Grandview (juniors Carolyn Ryan and Kate Anderson, seniors Courtney Ladymon and Allie Arritola) was 10^th with 542.