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Ranch hopes at state end early
  
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By Benn Farrell
Highlands Ranch may have won the Region 5 championship but having similar success at state wasn’t as easy.
The Falcons qualified for the Class 5A state high school softball championship Oct. 23 at Aurora Sports Complex in Aurora as the tournament’s No. 8 seed with a 13-8 overall record. They faced No. 9 Arvada West in the first round and lost to the Panthers 14-3 in five innings, ending the Falcons’ softball season.
Ranch had played Arvada West earlier in the season and knew the Wildcats had a tough batting lineup.
“We knew they had a powerful lineup. They just keep the pressure on you with extra-base hits throughout the game,” Falcons coach Jeff Markle said. “Two or three big innings, two or three big swings, and they can put some distance on the board. We knew we had our work cut out for us, but we were a hot team coming in.”
Ranch had a lot of momentum going into the state dance, having a two-week period where it had to win five games in a row to even qualify for district playoffs action. What’s more, to get past districts, the Falcons found a way to win a nine-inning stretch against the tournament’s No. 3 seed to get to state. Markle said the team’s never-give-up attitude has defined the season.
“Started the season 1-6,” the coach said. “They found a way to minimize damage and put themselves on top.”
Vista is looked at a solid group coming back for another go next year. With only four seniors this year, including Ashley Evans, Alyssa Rico, Rachel Pluemer and Danielle Williams, Markle started five sophomores and a junior; however, some spots on the field will be heavily missed next season.
“We have a big hole to fill at first base and a big hole to fill at right field, but other than that, I think if we can keep the momentum we built this year, we might have a fighting chance,” Markles said. “The league is going to get pretty tough next year. We’re going to add Castle View and Legend, so it’s going to get tougher, but I think we’ll be up for the challenge.”
Highlands Ranch finished the season with a 13-9 overall record and third place in the Continental League.
The Falcons qualified for the Class 5A state high school softball championship Oct. 23 at Aurora Sports Complex in Aurora as the tournament’s No. 8 seed with a 13-8 overall record. They faced No. 9 Arvada West in the first round and lost to the Panthers 14-3 in five innings, ending the Falcons’ softball season.
Ranch had played Arvada West earlier in the season and knew the Wildcats had a tough batting lineup.
“We knew they had a powerful lineup. They just keep the pressure on you with extra-base hits throughout the game,” Falcons coach Jeff Markle said. “Two or three big innings, two or three big swings, and they can put some distance on the board. We knew we had our work cut out for us, but we were a hot team coming in.”
Ranch had a lot of momentum going into the state dance, having a two-week period where it had to win five games in a row to even qualify for district playoffs action. What’s more, to get past districts, the Falcons found a way to win a nine-inning stretch against the tournament’s No. 3 seed to get to state. Markle said the team’s never-give-up attitude has defined the season.
“Started the season 1-6,” the coach said. “They found a way to minimize damage and put themselves on top.”
Vista is looked at a solid group coming back for another go next year. With only four seniors this year, including Ashley Evans, Alyssa Rico, Rachel Pluemer and Danielle Williams, Markle started five sophomores and a junior; however, some spots on the field will be heavily missed next season.
“We have a big hole to fill at first base and a big hole to fill at right field, but other than that, I think if we can keep the momentum we built this year, we might have a fighting chance,” Markles said. “The league is going to get pretty tough next year. We’re going to add Castle View and Legend, so it’s going to get tougher, but I think we’ll be up for the challenge.”
Highlands Ranch finished the season with a 13-9 overall record and third place in the Continental League.
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