In the past, the words "Rocky Ford" and "softball powerhouse" seldom would have been used together.

OK, so it's a bit early for that, but those terms no longer are as disproportionate as they used to be.

The Meloneers have advanced to the state tournament in each of the past two seasons. After missing a trip to the semifinals last season, they seem to have the talent to make a third consecutive appearance at state.

"The outlook is very positive," said coach Mark Lowther, whose arrival at Rocky Ford in 2004 coincided with the burst toward elite status. "We've lost a lot from last year, but there are enough pieces still in place."

Among those pieces are senior catcher Dara Dillon, third baseman Mary Lucero and Lowther's daughter, Amber, who will inherit the job of starting pitcher.

Amber Lowther threw about 20 innings last season, recording an 0.79 ERA, but primarily was a shortstop. She compiled team bests of 28 RBI and a .440 batting average while contributing three home runs. But it will not only be her offensive statistics that matter this season.

"I'm excited to see how far we can go," Lowther said. "The biggest challenge for me pitching will be keeping my head and being patient. There are times I just want to blow up."

Lowther accompanied the latter portion of that comment with a laugh but insisted that keeping her nerves in check will be the key to her success.

One form of inspiration will be Limon's Kelsey Dutton, who was in the same position last year - taking over the ace role as a sophomore. Dutton went 21-2, showing no signs of jitters.

"If she could do it, then why not me?" Lowther asked.

Dillon's senior leadership behind the plate figures to help, as do her hitting talents (.427 average). The Meloneers will receive the bulk of their power from Lucero, who mashed six home runs last year and finished with 24 RBI. Also returning is infielder Rebecca Apodaca, who hit .351.

At state last season, Rocky Ford trailed Faith Christian 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning in the quarterfinals but came roaring back to tie it.

The Meloneers nearly won it on a blast by Lucero, but the ball bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double. That forced the winning run to stop at third base, although it might have scored had the ball stayed in the park.

The Meloneers lost 8-4 in eight innings.

"That's when the girls realized we were for real," Mark Lowther said. "We felt last year like we could play with anyone up there."

NOTEBOOK

• After Holy Family won its first state title in October, the chief task during the offseason was to determine who was going to take the place of All-Colorado pitcher Sara Baumberger.

It turns out the Tigers are replacing her with an all-stater, and an in-house one, at that.

There is one caveat, though. Megan McGinnis earned her all-state honor as an outfielder last season.

She will try to make the transformation from center fielder to ace for the Tigers, who again figure to vie for the state crown. The Tigers return three of their four infielders, most notably second baseman Lara Mathewson, a junior who has accomplished more in her first two seasons than most softball players do in a career. And third baseman Mary Petersen and first baseman Alyssa Johnson also return.

The Tigers will have to patch a few holes but figure to do so quickly. Freshman Beth Petersen is said to be making a strong case for the starting shortstop job.

"We'll be a little inexperienced," Holy Family coach Glen Ramos said. "But our returning players know they are defending state champions and they are ready to take on that role."

• After putting together six state championships, Erie's bid for a seventh successive title was thwarted with a 6-0 loss to Holy Family last season.

Despite the loss, Erie kept an impressive streak intact. Since 3A was formed as a classification in 1998, the Tigers have appeared in all nine state championship games and have won seven. The Tigers' only other title-game loss was to La Junta in 1999, 2-1 in eight innings.

Many say to pencil in Erie again. Coach Bob Bledsoe, who has compiled a 249-50 career record, returns a strong offense and fielding alignment, but questions remain at pitcher. Senior Brittany Baker is plenty talented and spots well but is short on varsity experience.

If this season goes as every previous one has for the Tigers, Baker figures to be a household name by the end of the season.

• If Limon pitcher Kelsey Dutton keeps up this pace, she might go down in state annals as one of the finest ever.

Dutton compiled a 21-2 record last season as a sophomore and carries a career 34-3 mark into this season, which figures to be another good one.

As if Dutton's pitching numbers last season weren't gaudy enough, she also had a .416 batting average and stole 18 bases.

• While much of the focus in the Metro League will be on Holy Family and Faith Christian, a player to watch is Denver Lutheran catcher Malinee Powell.

Largely under the radar last season, Powell quietly put together one of the finest seasons in the state. As a sophomore, Powell batted .468, slugged two home runs and drove in 24 runs for a Lights squad that finished 11-9.

Back to Top