Centennial



Favorite: Cherry Creek



Contenders: Grandview, Overland, Smoky Hill, Eaglecrest



Outlook: Cherry Creek is coming off an appearance in the semifinals and has several key cogs back, but the Bruins will be inexperienced on the mound. They are still the team to beat, but could receive a challenge from Grandview, guided by infielder Maddie Maestas, and Overland, whose pitcher, Lily May, recorded 151 strikeouts last season. Two nonfactors last season also could enter the mix in Smoky Hill and Eaglecrest. Smoky Hill went 5-15 last year but brings back a talented squad. Eaglecrest went 1-19 a year after capturing the state championship but is poised to rebound.



Key players: SS Breanna Backlund, Eaglecrest, Jr.; IF Lisa Johnson, Overland, Sr.; 3B Erin Keeth, Cherry Creek, Jr.; UT Katie Kerr, Grandview, Jr.; 3B Jayme Larson, Smoky Hill, Sr.; 2B Mallory LeBlanc, Grandview, Jr.; 2B Laura Leonard, Cherry Creek, So.; 2B Aubrey Mable, Eaglecrest, So.; 3B Maddie Maestas, Grandview, Sr.; 1B Lisa Marlier, Cherry Creek, Jr.; P Lily May, Overland, Sr.; P Kacey Morgan, Smoky Hill, Sr.; C Sami Springer, Cherry Creek, So.



Colorado Springs Metro



Favorite: Lewis-Palmer



Contenders: Pine Creek, Air Academy, Coronado, Rampart, Doherty



Outlook: Lewis-Palmer pitcher Kari Pervell makes the Rangers the favorite, but Pine Creek, coming off its first appearance in the state tournament, also will be in the mix. A number of squads who were in the middle of the pack last season, such as Coronado and Sand Creek, will attempt to finish in the top half of the league and take their chances in district play. Each finished with eight wins last season. Coronado will be coached by Rob Cheesman, who posted a 56-24 record with 3A Middle Park.



Key players: 2B Allie Benkert, Pine Creek, Sr.; SS Sasha Frye, Pine Creek, Sr.; SS Nikki Iacobbo, Coronado, Jr.; SS Brianna Johnson, Mitchell, Jr.; SS Ashley Miller, Sand Creek, Sr.; P Kari Pervell, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; P Chelsey Saipe, Mitchell, Sr.; P Molly Shields, Coronado, Sr.; 3B Melissa Yoder, Sand Creek, Sr.; P Cori Zornacki, Pine Creek, Sr.

Continental



Favorite: Highlands Ranch



Contenders: Mountain Vista, Chaparral, Ponderosa, Douglas County, ThunderRidge, Arapahoe



Outlook: Things would seem to be business as usual, as crosstown rivals Highlands Ranch and Mountain Vista are the co-favorites with Ponderosa, Chaparral and Douglas County in the mix. The league is loaded with top-flight talent, most notably Highlands Ranch center fielder-pitcher Melisa Ryba, a dynamic, left-handed leadoff hitter. Also expected to stand out are Mountain Vista pitcher Kelly Unkrich and Douglas County shortstop Lyssa Roberts. Also keep an eye on Arapahoe catcher Megan Janes, who hit .435 last season for the Warriors.



Key players: OF Cedar Balzek, Mountain Vista, Sr.; SS Suzanne Chang, Arapahoe, Sr.; P Kelly Fisher, Douglas County, Jr.; C Megan Janes, Arapahoe, Sr., OF Marina Long, Mountain Vista, So.; SS Lyssa Roberts, Douglas County, Sr.; OF Melisa Ryba, Highlands Ranch, Sr.; 2B Kamee Vessey, Highlands Ranch, Jr.;P Kelly Unkrich, Mountain Vista, Jr.; P Kaitlin York, Highlands Ranch, Sr.



Denver Prep



Favorite: Denver East



Contenders: Kennedy, George Washington, Denver West.



Outlook: The nine-team league contains four teams, of which Denver East has been the elite nearly every season for the past decade, the exception being when it was overthrown by Kennedy, that will contend for the title. That will remain the same this season as the Angels have the most solid, deepest program in the league and could be the team to beat for years to come. The Angels have made periodic appearances in the state tournament, including last season. The Angels went 7-1 in league play last year, with the closest 5A pursuer George Washington (6-2), but the Patriots lost a few of their top players to graduation. Denver West and Kennedy each posted .500 league marks.



Key players: No DPL coaches submitted requested information sheets and attempts to reach them were unsuccessful.



Front Range



Favorite: Rocky Mountain



Contenders: Legacy, Monarch, Fort Collins, Northglenn



Outlook: Though a good portion of Rocky Mountain’s state-championship roster from last season now is playing in college, the Lobos still are highy regarded. Outfielder Aubree Maul will get her turn on the mound and will benefit from the presence of experienced catcher Kaitlyn Lanteri. The most-watched player in the league, though, will be Legacy pitcher Shelby Babcock, who took the Lightning to the state tournament last year as a freshman. In a league that is becoming deeper each season, several other squads, such as Fort Collins and Monarch, could make a strong push to end in the upper half of the standings. Fort Collins is characteristically strong, but the Lambkins will be in more of a start-over mode than they have been in quite some time.



Key players: P Shelby Babcock, Legacy, So.; OF Samantha Brauch, Rocky Mountain, Sr.; P Amy Christopher, Monarch Jr.; C Anna Dunn, Monarch, So.; P Nicola Jones, Monarch, Jr.; C Kaitlyn Lanteri, Rocky Mountain, Sr.; SS Becca Lindqusit, Poudre, Sr.; SS Breana Mathews, Legacy, Sr.; P Aubree Maul, Rocky Mountain, Jr.; P Rebecca Salisbury, Poudre, Sr.



Jefferson County



Favorite: Wheat Ridge



Contenders: Columbine, Dakota Ridge, Bear Creek, Arvada West, Pomona



Outlook: The finest top-to-bottom league in the state again should be at its finest with a large crop of legitimate contenders. At the top of that list, again, is Wheat Ridge, which has appeared in four of the past five championship games. The Farmers return, among others, All-Colorado sisters Alyssa and Giana Zimmerman. Dakota Ridge could again rise to the top, particularly after midseason when Golden transfer Jessica O’Connor becomes eligible to pitch. Pomona, which has advanced as least as far as the semifinals the past three seasons, is retooling but returns junior pitcher Jordyn Randolph. The league’s finest player could be Columbine pitcher Kelsey O’Brien, a strikeout machine who has the Rebels thinking big.



Key players: 2B Kelsey Alsdorf, Columbine, Sr.; IF Sara Archuleta, Chatfield, Sr.; C Stacy Ball, Dakota Ridge, Sr.; OF Randi Clark, Dakota Ridge, Sr.; IF Theresa Clark, Lakewood, Jr.; C Taryn Duncan, Columbine, Sr.; C Alyssa Hickey, Wheat Ridge, Sr.; Of Macy Jones, Pomona, Jr.; OF Mikey Kenney, Arvada West, Jr.; C Halie Malone, Pomona, Jr.; P Kelsey O’Brien, Columbine, So.; P Jessica O’Connor, Dakota Ridge, Sr.; SS Tori Purcel, Wheat Ridge, Sr.; P Jordyn Randolph, Pomona, Jr.; OF Kate Strobel, Bear Creek, Sr.; P Mallorie Sulaski, Bear Creek, Jr.; 3B Alyssa Zimmerman, Wheat Ridge, So.; P Giana Zimmerman, Wheat Ridge, Sr.

Skyline



Favorite: Brighton



Contenders: Adams City



Outlook: This is a 10-team league, but all but two of the teams are 4A squads. Only Brighton and Adams City are 5A, and of the two, Brighton is the clear-cut favorite. Not only are the Bulldogs one of the premier teams in the league, all included, but figures to have an excellent chance of returning to the state tournament. Pitcher Dani Chaplin enters her third season as the ace and speedy all-state center fielder Jacy Jeffress also returns.



Key players: P Dani Chaplin, Brighton, Sr.; OF Jayci Jeffress, Brighton, Sr., IF Dee Trujillo, Brighton, Sr.



Southwestern



Favorite: Grand Junction



Contenders: Fruita, Grand Junction Central



Outlook: The six-team league features five 4A teams, of which Grand Junction is a pronounced favorite. The Tigers went 18-2 overall last season and made a clean sweep of league play, winning all 10 games. While they must replace a few power spots in the lineup, the Tigers still appear to be the team to beat.



Key players: IF Daniele Williams, Grand Junction, Sr.; P Deoyn Williams, Grand Junction, Sr.