The Class 5A baseball state tournament is down to four teams, with Arapahoe, Heritage, Mountain Vista and Mountain Range advancing to the final weekend of play at All-City Field. Here’s what you need to know about the programs left standing and important story lines:
Arapahoe-Heritage rivalry results
The longtime Littleton Public Schools rivals met Tuesday at All-City in the last game of the afternoon, with Heritage emerging as the tournament’s lone remaining undefeated team with a 7-4 victory over the rival Warriors. In the lightning-delayed rematch of the Eagles’ 4-2 win on March 23, Arapahoe jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one inning, but the Eagles struck right back with a five-run second. Junior Eric McKnight was solid in relief for Heritage, which also got a late insurance RBI from senior Riley Egloff.
Mountain Vista, Mountain Range advance
After coming into the state tournament as the top seed and with a perfect 21-0 record, Mountain Vista was blasted 8-1 by Arapahoe in the tournament opener Monday. But the Golden Eagles bounced back with a 2-1 win over defending champion Rocky Mountain thanks to a seventh-inning RBI double by John Zakhem, and then defeated Pine Creek 5-4 behind a complete game from sophomore Ben Cole. Meanwhile, Mountain Range blanked Rock Canyon 4-0 via senior Mike Polson’s complete game shutout, and then capitalized on three RBIs from senior Jacob Simmons to defeat Cherokee Trail 6-4.
Whose staff is up to the task?
For the four squads left, the chances of a state championship largely ride on the arms that got them here. For the Littleton teams, that means Arapahoe’s senior trio of Garrett DeClue, Tyler Banks and Drew Hayes, while Heritage boasts a bona fide ace in Egloff in addition to McKnight, junior Pete Chronowski and sophomore Lucas Quezada. Mountain Vista has a one-two punch in senior lefty Jack Liffrig and junior righty Sam Ireland, while Mountain Range is paced by the trio of Polson, senior Brayden Brooks and junior Matt Brocklander. Of the four teams remaining, only one has won a baseball title (Arapahoe, 1980).
Class 5A baseball semifinals
Saturday-Sunday
All-City Stadium
Saturday’s games: Heritage vs. Mountain Vista, 9 a.m.; Arapahoe vs. Mountain Range, noon
Sunday’s games: 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (if nec.)
Tickets: Box office / CHSAANow.com