D’Evelyn senior Cameryn Porter slides safely into second base while the ball skips past Wheat Ridge sophomores Ann Marie Torres, left, and Christina Nelson. The Farmers rallied with four runs in the final two innings to pull off a 4-2 victory Monday to claim their sixth straight Class 4A Jeffco League title. (Dennis Pleuss)
It was anything but easy for Wheat Ridge softball to claim its sixth straight Class 4A Jeffco League title Monday afternoon.
The top-ranked 4A team in the CHSAANow.com poll needed to rally against conference rival and No. 7-ranked D’Evelyn (12-6, 6-1 in league) in the final two innings. Eventually, Wheat Ridge (16-1, 6-0) pulled out a 4-2 victory to clinch another league title.
“It was a great game and we expected that,” D’Evelyn coach Dan Porreco said. “Obviously, we wanted to be on top. A few things just didn’t go our way.”
The Farmers faced a 2-0 deficit on the Jaguars’ home field going to the top of the sixth inning.
Wheat Ridge junior Jessica Salbato racked up her 13th victory on the hill for the Farmers. (Dennis Pleuss)
D’Evelyn senior Beth Wilson scored on an RBI single by senior Cameryn Porter in third inning to give the Jaguars a 1-0 lead. It was the first run Wheat Ridge had given up in league play this season. The Farmers had outscored conference opponents 63-0 heading into the showdown with D’Evelyn, who had outscored its league foes 80-11.
D’Evelyn extended the lead to 2-0 on an RBI single by senior Allison Heitsman in the bottom of the fifth inning that scored junior Erica Tilden.
Down to its final six outs and down two runs, Wheat Ridge coach Marty Stricklett gave some simple advice to his squad.
“I told them it was time to relax,” said Stricklett, who coached the Farmers to 4A state titles in 2008, 2010 and 2011. “We were too nervous and pressing. We were trying to do things we aren’t trained to do.”
Sophomore Christina Nelson took the advice and pounded a double off the wall to lead off the top of the sixth inning. Nelson scored on an RBI single by junior Grace White to get the Farmers on the board. White would later score on an RBI single by junior Erin Dalton to tie the game at 2.
“I always know my team is there to back me up 100 percent,” Wheat Ridge junior pitcher Jessica Salbato said. “I knew our offense would come through in the end.”
Sophomore Ann Marie Torres drove a rise ball that was at eye level by D’Evelyn junior pitcher Nicole Masters with one out in the top of the seventh.
“I just had to do my job and get a hit,” Torres said. “Thankfully it was a triple.”
D’Evelyn junior Nicole Masters had a strong outing for the Jaguars against 4A’s top-ranked Wheat Ridge. Masters had eight strikeouts in the loss. (Dennis Pleuss)
Torres scored on an error when a fly ball to left field by junior Analece Apodaca was dropped. Salbato helped out her own cause driving home Apodaca for the final run of the game.
Salbato picked up her 13th victory on the mound this season. She struck out six and retired D’Evelyn in order in the final two innings. Masters was solid for the Jaguars striking out eight while holding the Farmers’ bats in check until the final two innings.
“(Masters) kept us off balance,” Stricklett said. “She did a great job.”
Wheat Ridge will close out its regular season at home against Alameda at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, before a non-league game against Ralston Valley at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3.
D’Evelyn has a non-league tilt at home against Denver East at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, before preparing for the regional/state qualifying tournaments scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12.
Wheat Ridge sophomore Ann Marie Torres watches the flight of the ball Monday during the Farmers’ 4-2 victory against D’Evelyn. Torres had a key triple in the seventh inning and scored the eventual game-winning run. (Dennis Pleuss)