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.
I photographed the Colorado high school softball tournament for the 10th consecutive year. Congrats to Columbine who beat Douglas County in 5A and Lutheran who beat Holy Family in 4A. There were some great moments in the tournament. Horizon squandered a 8-0 lead in the top half of the 7th inning in its first round match-up with Arvada West only to win in in the 10th on a walk off homer. Lutheran’s Hailey Maestretti struck out 17 of the 26 batters she faced en route to a 3-0 shutout of Holy Family in the 4A final. Erie made it close in an upset bid over #1 seed Columbine only to go down to defeat 3-2. A close play at the plate was the difference as a runner was called out.
I had the opportunity to photograph the Affiliated team participating in the TSRA softball tournament this weekend at Aurora Sports Park. Each member of the teams is an active participant or a family member in a 12-Step Recovery program. Teams from the Rocky Mountain region and Southwest were participating in the tournament. What a fun and positive way to promote sobriety. I hope to be able to photograph future games in this tournament. It was a lot of fun and the players looked like they were truly enjoying themselves.
The Erie High School softball team got hot at the right time. Ranked as only a #14 seed entering the Colorado State High School softball tournament, Erie faced long odds to capture its 12th title. But after defeating defending champion Holy Family (#2 seed) and Golden (#1 seed), Erie earned every bit of its record 12th title. Using the long ball 4 times, Erie prevailed 13-9 in eight innings.
I photographed the 2018 CHSAA softball championships once again this year. This is the 5th consecutive year I have covered this event. This year’s games weren’t quote as dramatic as last year’s finals, but the games were still filled with exciting moments. Congratulations to Legend which repeated as 5A champs by defeating Cherokee Trail 8-4. Holy Family took home the 4A crown by defeating Mountain View 10-3.
I covered the CHSAA 5A softball playoffs for the fifth straight year. No shortage of high drama and emotion this year. Congratulations to Legend high school for winning the 2017 5A championship, the Titans’ first title of any kind. They defeated Fossil Ridge 8-3 in the final game to take home the trophy. The semifinals were particularly crazy as Fossil Ridge defeated #1 seed Eaglecrest, 20-16 and Legend took down perennial favorite Legacy, 10-6.
I photographed the Erie Softball Festival of Champions this past weekend. Â The tournament features many of the top softball teams from around the Denver metro area and even a few from Oklahoma. Â I some good games and some great hitting from a couple of teams. Â I can’t wait until the state softball finals in October!
I got the opportunity to photograph the Colorado high school softball tournament this weekend. Â The tournament featured a number of upsets and dramatic finishes. Â Grandview defeated Broomfield 3-2 in 10 innings and then advanced to the final to play the #1 seeded Fossil Ridge. Â Grandview scored 6 runs in the third inning to take the state title, 6-2. Â As always, the games highlighted the joy of sports.