GOLDEN — Not even temperatures in the 40s could cool off a red-hot Golden softball squad Saturday morning.
The Demons, ranked No. 7 in the CHSAANow.com Class 4A softball poll, blasted four home runs over the fences in their 17-1 regular-season finale victory against D’Evelyn.
“It really sets the tone for postseason play,” Golden senior Jade Gomez said after the win completed a 10-0 record in 4A Jeffco and put a nice bow on the Demons’ first softball conference title since 1995. “It gives us the chance to start high when we got out there.”
Golden junior Makenzie Middleton, right, gets a high-five from coach Chad Herbers as she rounds the bases after Middleton’s walk-off, 2-run home run Saturday against D’Evelyn. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Before Golden (17-6 record) turned it attention to the postseason that begins next week, the Demons wanted to keep it rolling with a 14th straight win. Junior Makenzie Middleton closed out the game against D’Evelyn (11-12, 7-3) in style with a 2-run blast that Golden coach Chad Herbers said was the longest home run he has ever seen hit on the Demons’ home field.
“Nobody has ever cleared all three of those fences,” Hebers said.
Middleton’s second home run of the game — ninth of the season — cleared all three fences that separate the softball field from Fossil Trace Golf Club located beyond center field.
“You can’t hope for it,” Middleton said of her first multiple home run game of the season. “You have to just it happen.”
Along with Middleton’s two home runs, Gomez and Katherine Dunson also went deep. Gomez had a 2-run home run in the bottom of the first inning that followed up Middleton’s 3-run blast. Golden had a 5-0 before D’Evelyn could get an out.
“It felt like a crucial moment,” Gomez said about her first home run of the season. “I felt the pressure on me, but with the energy of the team combined with the confidence of the coaches it all went together like a puzzle. It all fit together.”
Dunson’s towering 3-run home run came in Golden’s 10-run bottom of the fourth inning. The Demons were able to induce the 15-run mercy rule after four innings following Middleton’s walk-off home run in the fourth.
Golden senior Elena Goodspeed, right, slides into home plate during the Demons’ 10-run fourth inning that closed out a 17-1 victory Saturday morning. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“They are on fire up-and-down the line-up. They are having fun. They are setting the table for each other,” Herbers said. “This is a special group. They have really taken ahold of the idea — get them on, get them over and get them in.”
Golden senior pitcher Cassidy Paulson scattered four hits over four innings. D’Evelyn’s lone run came off an RBI single by sophomore Eve Dalla in the third inning. The Jaguars had a couple of other scoring chances, but Golden was able to turn a pair of double-plays.
Makayla Middleton caught a line-drive and doubled off a Jaguar runner at first base in the second inning. Makenzie Middleton made a diving catch in centerfield and doubled off another Jaguar runner at second base in the third inning.
“It takes two sides. You have to do both,” Makenzie Middleton said of Golden’s hitting and defense. “We work on both a lot.”
Golden will surely host one of the eight 4A regional tournaments next Saturday, Oct. 13. The regional seedings will be released Monday, Oct. 8. D’Evelyn is also playoff bound getting an automatic bid after finishing runner-up to Golden in the conference.
“I’m excited for our team. Hopefully we can make some noise,” D’Evelyn coach Dan Porreco said about regionals. “We are going to let this one hurt all the way through next Saturday.”
D’Evelyn junior catcher Peyton Balbin is able to hang onto the ball during a collision at home plate with Golden junior Makayla Middleton during the second inning Saturday at Golden High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)