Castle View is aiming to build on last season’s success. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
Memories haven’t faded for the Castle View softball team. The Sabercats made school history a year ago, reaching the Class 5A state semifinals for the first time before losing to Fossil Ridge 2-1.
This season Castle View will try to build on that success with a new coach Cory Williams and without graduated first-team all-state pitcher Savannah Heebner, who is now playing for the University of Houston.
“I’m hoping we can keep the (winning) tradition going,” said Williams, about the Sabercats who played in the state tourney the past two years. “We need to certainly find some adequate pitching and we have a pretty good nucleus of girls coming back from last year and we should be able to compete.”
Williams spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for Castle View for his niece Caley Mitchell. Mitchell is now the head coach at Cherokee Trail.
Castle View is ranked No. 8 in the preseason CHSAANow.com Class 5A poll.
Williams is unsure who is his primary pitcher will be, but he does have a candidate list of Kayla Gau, Anna Vairma, and Ashley Maroney.
“This is probably the one sport where pitching can win you games hands down,” Williams said. “We are excited about the season and the players we have and I’m looking forward to see what we can do.”
Castle View opens the season Sept. 3 at Cherry Creek.
Grandview, the defending state champion, was ranked No. 1 in the first preseason poll, followed by Fossil Ridge and Broomfield at No. 2 and No. 3. Williams also mentioned Brighton, preseason No. 5, as a darkhorse state title contender.
In Class 4A, Valor Christian was ranked No. 1 in the poll and returns sophomore pitcher Alexandria Kilponen, the reigning player of the year. Kilponen powered Valor to the state title a year ago, beating Frederick 7-4 in the finals. Frederick is ranked No. 2, followed by perennial power Erie.
The 3A poll is led by Strasburg in the preseason. Sterling is No. 2, while defending champion La Junta is No. 3.
Softball preview
- Preseason rankings
- Regular season begins: Aug. 21
- Regional tournaments: Oct. 17
- State tournaments: Oct. 23-24, Aurora Sports Park
Class 3A
- Defending state champion: La Junta
- Preseason No. 1 team: Strasburg
- Returning all-state players: Annie Davis, Sr., La Junta (1st); McKenna Gubanich, Jr., Faith Christian (1st); Annie Oakley, Sr., Strasburg (1st); Taylor Renaud, Sr., Eaton (1st); Jordan Roesch, Sr., Strasburg (1st); Alexis Rutz, Sr., Sterling (1st); Dakota Stotyn, So., Strasburg (1st)
Class 4A
- Defending state champion: Valor Christian
- Preseason No. 1 team: Valor Christian
- Returning all-state players: Alicia Hernandez, Jr., Frederick (1st); Alexandria Kilponen, So., Valor Christian (1st, Player of the Year); Bailey Kleespies, Sr., Niwot (1st); Gabby Loya, Jr., Wheat Ridge (1st); Rio Sanchez, Jr., Erie (1st); Ann Marie Torres, Sr., Wheat Ridge (1st); Taylor Armitage, Sr., Berthoud (2nd); Brooklynn Delozier, Sr., Niwot (1st); Chayanna Gallardo, Jr., Pueblo East (2nd); Hailey Hinson, Sr., Windsor (2nd); Allie Mason, Sr., Thompson Valley (2nd); Mae Mitchell, Sr., Frederick (2nd); Megan Moss, Sr., Pueblo West (2nd); Ashley Thomas, Sr., Pueblo West (2nd); Paris Woods, Jr., Frederick (2nd)
Class 5A
- Defending state champion: Grandview
- Preseason No. 1 team: Grandview
- Returning all-state players: Courtney Browne, Sr., Grandview (1st); Hunter Huser, Jr., Mountain Range (1st); Melissa Rahrich, Sr., Brighton (1st); Gracie Cordova, Jr., Pomona (2nd); Riley Craig, Sr., Mountain Range (2nd); Clara Larson, Sr., Douglas County (2nd); Lindsey Malkin, Jr., Broomfield (2nd); Valerie Ortega, Sr., Mountain Range (2nd); Alexa Romero, Sr., Eaglecrest (2nd); Alexa Samuels, Jr., Ralston Valley (2nd); Megan Sanburn, Sr., Dakota Ridge (2nd); Sloan Stewartson, Jr., Rock Canyon (2nd); Emily Taggart, Jr., Legacy (2nd); Alexandra Velazquez, Jr., Grandview (2nd)