I photographed the 4A football playoff game between Riverdale Ridge and Monarch last weekend. I witnessed my first high school overtime game. The rules are related to college rule but the ball is placed at the opponent’s 10-yard line. Monarch stopped Riverdale at 1 to seal the victory, 14-7. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen as much action in such a low-scoring game. Monarch’s defense line had a field day recording 4 sacks and 2 strip fumbles in the second half to make like miserable for the Riverdale quarterbacks.
It was going to be long shot that #14 seed Riverdale Ridge could pull the upset against #3 Broomfield in the girl’s basketball Sweet 16 round. But it helps when you have the best player in the state in Brihanna Crittendon. The 6’3″ junior muscled her way through double teams all night to give the Ravens a thrilling 44-41 victory. Riverdale raced out to an early lead behind Crittendon to take an 8 point lead into halftime. The lead grew to as many as 15 in the 3rd quarter but that’ when Broomfield began to chip away. The Eagles would tie the game at 41 with just over a minute left. But after a free throw by Crittendon put the Eagles up one, 42-41, Broomfield committed a couple of costly turnovers including throwing a pass out of bounds after corralling a defensive rebound. Broomfield missed a tying three with a couple of ticks left and the celebration was on.
The 2024 Colorado 5A softball finals were quite thrilling this year. Riverdale Ridge and Cherokee Trail both staged comebacks in the semifinals to set up their matchup in the final game. Riverdale hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to take down previously unbeaten Broomfield while Cherokee Trail hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to shock Legend. Riverdale made sure there was no drama in the final, jumping out to an 8-1 lead. They held on to grab an 8-4 victory over Cherokee Trail.
The Cherokee Trail centerfielder robs a Riverdale player of a home run as she goes over the fence to grab it in the 5A softball final.
Cherokee Trail bench cheers on its team against Riverdale in the 5A softball final.
A Riverdale player cheers on her team after hitting a double in the 5A championship softball game.
A Reversal player celebrates hitting a home run in the 5A championship softball game.
Two Reversal players celebrate a good play in the outfield in the 5A softball final.
Two Riverdale players hug after a big play in the field against Cherokee Trail in the finals.
A Riverdale player gets a hit in the softball final against Cherokee Trail.
The Cherokee Trail catcher celebrates after tagging out a Riverdale runner at the plate in the softball final.
The Riverdale 3rd baseman tries to snare a pop up in the softball championship final.
A Riverdale player gets a hit in the softball final against Cherokee Trail.
The Riverdale 2nd baseman turns a double play against Cherokee Trail in the softball final.
The 5A championship softball trophy.
The Riverdale Ridge softball team celebrates its victory in the 5A final.
Cherokee Trail players celebrate a run in the softball semifinals.
A Cherokee Trail player slides home ahead of the tag for the game’s first run against Legend in the softball semifinals.
A Cherokee Trail player gets a hit in the softball semifinal game against Legend.
A Legend softball player celebrates home run against Cherokee Trail in the semifinals.
The Legend softball team celebrates a home run against Cherokee Trail in the semifinals.
The Legend pitcher throws a pitch in the semifinal game against Cherokee Trail.
A Legend softball player rounds the bases after s a home run against Cherokee Trail in the semifinals.
The Legend softball team celebrates a home run against Cherokee Trail in the semifinals.
A Broomfield softball player gets a hit on the semifinal game against Riverdale.
The Riverdale catcher tries to snag a pop up in the championship final against Cherokee Trail.
A Riverdale player gets a hit against Broomfield in the semifinal game.
The Riverdale catcher celebrates her grand slam to give the Ravens the late lead in the softball semifinal game against Broomfield.
The Riverdale catcher celebrates her grand slam to give the Ravens the late lead in the softball semifinal game against Broomfield.
The Riverdale catcher celebrates her grand slam to give the Ravens the late lead in the softball semifinal game against Broomfield.
A Riverdale player does a dance at 2nd base after getting a big hit in the semifinal game against Broomfield.
The Riverdale catcher hits a grand slam to give the Ravens the late lead in the softball semifinal game against Broomfield.
Riverdale softball players celebrate their win in the softball semifinal game against Broomfield.
The Cherokee Trail catcher celebrates hitting a 3-run home run to give her team the win over Legend in the 5A softball semifinals.
The Cherokee Trail team celebrates a 3-run home run to give the team the win over Legend in the 5A softball semifinals.
Two Valor players celebrate a homer late in the Round of 16 game against Chaparral.
A Chaparral player celebrates a run late in the 8th inning against Valor. in the softball Round of 16.
A Valor pitcher throws a warmup pitch in the Round of 16 game against Chaparral..
A Valor softball player celebrates a home run in the Round of 16 game.
Two Valor softball players celebrate a home run in the Round of 16 game.
A Chaparral softball player tags out a Valor runner at the plate in the Round of 16 game against Valor.
A Chaparral softball player celebrates a run in the Round of 16 game against Valor.
A Chaparral softball player celebrates the go ahead run in the Round of 16 game against Valor.
An Arapahoe softball player celebrates her hoe run against Columbine in the Round of 16 matchup.
A Columbine softball player celebrates her homer against Araphoe in a Round of 16 game.
The Rock Canyon left fielder dives to make a catch against Broomfield in the Round of 16 .
A Broomfield player celebrates a double against Rock Canyon that put the Eagles up for good in the Round of 16 matchup.
A Broomfield softball player slides in safely at 3rd in a Round of 16 game against Rock Canyon.
The Rock Canyon softball pitcher throws a pitch against Broomfield in the Round of 16.
A Riverdale softball player slides in safely before the tag against Columbine in the quarterfinals.
Cherokee Trail celebrates a homer in the quarterfinals.
The Riverdale catcher tags out the Columbine baserunner in the quarterfinals.
The Columbine 3rd baseman fields a bunt.
A Riverdale player does a dance at 2nd after knocking in a run against Columbine in the quarterfinals.
A Reversal player hits a homer against Columbine in the quarterfinals.
A Reversal player celebrates hitting a homer against Columbine in the quarterfinals.
A Legend player beats the throw at 2nd in a Round of 16 game against Greeley West.
A Legend player celebrates her double in a Round of 16 game against Greeley West.
A Grand Junction Central player =gets a hit against Fruita in the Round of 16.
A Grand Junction Central player does a dance in an inning break against Fruita in a Round of 16 game.
A Grand Junction Central player hits a homer against Fruita in the Round of 16.
A Grand Junction Central player celebrates a homer against Fruita in the Round of 16.
Congratulations to the Riverdale Ridge girls and Resurrection Christian boys basketball teams for winning the CHSAA 4A 2024 high school basketball state titles.
