Class 5A/4A/3A Granite Peaks

Teams: Broomfield, Erie, Fairview, Frederick, Holy Family, Horizon, Legacy, Longmont, Mead, Monarch, Niwot, Silver Creek and Skyline.

Broomfield Eagles

Coach: Kale Gilmore

Last year’s result: 21-5 and made the Class 5A playoffs.

Testing 1-2-3: Junior INF Kiley Wheaton hit .667 with 44 RBIs and 24 extra-base hits, including nine home runs.

The tea: Juniors Wheaton and Ireland Heer have put up some of the best numbers in the state over their first two years with the program. Last year, Heer drove in 38 runs and won 15 games in the circle, touting a 2.89 ERA and 107 strikeouts across 92 innings. The Eagles were young last year and still managed to reach the 5A postseason. This fall, they are eligible to return players accounting for 247 of their 258 RBIs. That includes other juniors Avery Gines (3B), Jenna Kapelke (OF), Lauren Martinez (C) and P Delaney Meehan.

Erie Tigers

Coach: Tobin EchoHawk

Last year’s result: 23-6 and finished runner-up in 5A.

Testing 1-2-3: With a lot of players graduating from their 2023 second-place finish, junior SS Sydnie Snook is the Tigers’ top returning hitter. She batted .407 with 18 RBIs and four home runs a year ago.

The tea: EchoHawk’s team will look much different from a year ago, namely because of the graduation of slugger Addie Osborne and two ace pitchers, Gracie Sackett and Matix Hull. They should have an exciting outfield led by seniors Erin Young and Lyric DeLozier. They also bring back 1B Lizzie Owens, who had 12 RBIs in 17 plate appearances in 2023.

Fairview Knights

Coach: David Castillo

Last year’s result: 9-14.

Testing 1-2-3: Out of the seven states that play softball in the fall, Julia Savage led the way in slugging percentage in 2023 at 1.694. She also had the nation’s best on-base percentage (.818) and its fourth-best batting average (.755).

The tea: The Knights have a new coach in Castillo, who is the school’s baseball coach. They have Savage, who is among the state’s best hitters. And they have a pretty strong core behind them. Sophomore Brooklyn Dangott batted .451 with 18 RBIs in her first season in high school. Others to watch include juniors Kate McCall and Olivia Soto, and sophomores Campbell Owens and Payton Cowin.

Frederick Golden Eagles

Coach: Roger Dufour

Last year’s result: 21-8 and made the 4A semifinals for a second straight season.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior Payton Torres threw 125 innings last year, finishing with an 18-8 record and a 3.53 ERA. She hit .405 and drove in 29 runs.

The tea: Frederick brings back a strong core, including Torres and SS Avery Salisbury. Salisbury hit .424 last season with 32 RBIs. Others to watch include senior 2B Lani Davis, who hit .376 with 22 runs driven in. They have a strong junior class that includes P/OF Elayna Fisher, 1B Brealea Stendel, C Izzy Horne and C Seferina Hopkins.

Holy Family Tigers

Coach: Moriah Nguyen

Last year’s result: 26-2 and made the 4A semifinals.

Testing 1-2-3: Isabella Arroyo is having one of the best high school careers in recent memory. In her first three years, she went 43-3 in the circle with an ERA well under 1.50. Batting around .500, she drove in 68 runs and had 12 home runs.

The tea: Forgive us if you’ve heard this before — the Tigers are loaded on the diamond. Trying to follow the school’s baseball championship in the spring, they bring back 2023 all-state first-teamer Arroyo, who began the season with six hits in her first eight at-bats and two wins in the circle. Junior Jaelyn Sandoval returns after she hit .468 with 31 RBIs last season. As does senior Makaila Moosbrugger, who had a slugging percentage of .756 and drove in 25 runs. Others to watch include seniors Danielle Duran (SS) and Mari Nanez (OF).

Legacy Lightning

Coach: Kenny Strachan

Last year’s result: 13-13.

Testing 1-2-3: The Lightning have a new coach this season, per the school. Strachan was an assistant coach with the program before taking over this fall.

The tea: OF/P Prisca Smolens returns after she was named an all-state honorable mention as a junior, hitting .532. She is joined by sophomore P Kady Cosyns, who threw 29 innings as a freshman and was the team’s opening day starter.

Longmont Trojans

Coach: Adam Hoffman

Last year’s result: 11-12 record.

Testing 1-2-3: Hoffman expects sophomore Alex McGregor to have a standout season in the batter’s box and on the base paths.

The tea: Despite losing several of last year’s starters, Hoffman believes that he returns a strong core that can help the Trojans make a push into the playoffs. Some familiar faces include seniors Avery Wolfsberger and Kaitlyn Murphey, and junior Sydnee Conway.

Mead Mavericks

Coach: Amanda Macaluso

Last year’s result: 12-13 record.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior SS/UTIL Adisyn Rademacher led the Mavericks in hits (47), runs (45) and stolen bases (17) last year.

The tea: The Mavericks boast a nice mix of experience and youth, and will look to their strong senior class to lead the way. Rademacher will join a starting cast that includes junior SS/2B Halie Gippe, freshman RHP/UTL Abbie Hausotter and senior 3B Nikki Ward.

Monarch Coyotes

Coach: Jason Reese

Last year’s result: 6-17

Testing 1-2-3: Junior P/1B Caroline Katzin led the Coyotes with 107 strikeouts last year.

The tea: The Coyotes will rely on a more balanced pitching staff this year and will look to use their speed against their opponents. Katzin will lead a crew that includes sophomore C/3B Kate Church, senior OF/C Teagan Lear, senior 1B/SS Ithaca Kremer.

Niwot Cougars

Coach: Bobby Matthews

Last year’s result: Lost in the first round of the 4A state tournament; 18-8-1 record.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior P Kianna Butler returns to the circle after leading the Cougars’ former league in strikeouts (165).

The tea: Excitement abounds within the Cougar program with 43 girls showing out for tryouts. Matthews believes that, with Butler’s guidance, this younger team — including sophomore SS May Herrera, freshmen P/UTL Mandy Roth and UTL Payton Stokes — can be one of the top teams in 4A.

Silver Creek Raptors

Coach: McKenzie Shaffer

Last year’s result: 9-14 record.

Testing 1-2-3: Junior RF/P Abby LaCrosse batted a .382 last season while knocking in 13 runs.

The tea: Shaffer, a first-year coach, believes her “scrappy” and potential-ridden team can fight its way to the playoffs with help from seniors CF Charlotte Etcheverry and 3B Jadin Ruth, sophomore OF Josie Etcheverry and freshman P Rylyn Fordham.

Skyline Falcons

Coach: Angel Sanchez

Last year’s result: 1-22 record.

Testing 1-2-3: The Falcons welcome a new coach to help them turn the tides from last season.

The tea: C/P/SS Mayra Salomon returns as the lone senior for a Skyline team that only houses 10 players. The majority of the team is comprised of freshmen and sophomores.

5A/4A Rocky Mountain

Teams: Boulder, Brighton, Mountain Range, Northglenn, Prairie View, Riverdale Ridge and Westminster.

Boulder Panthers

Coach: Courney Geib

Last year’s result: 14-11.

Testing 1-2-3: Sophia Pereira and Ellie Jones led the team in power, combining for 17 home runs a year ago. Pereira, who went deep 11 times, batted .642 and won a team-best nine games in the circle. Jones hit .533.

The tea: The Panthers have moved into a tougher conference but have a strong core that returns. Pereira and Jones are stellar, with Jones already having seven RBIs in her first three games this season. Sophomore Kendal Evans had 24 RBIs in her first season in high school. Senior Sophie Jones has been a staple of the program coming into her fourth varsity season and had career-best 16 RBIs a year ago.

Class 4A/3A Frontier

Teams: Alameda, Arvada, Bennett, Centaurus, Englewood, Fort Lupton, Jefferson, Middle Park and Platte Canyon.

Centaurus Warriors

Coach: Micci Reed

Last year’s result: 10-12.

Testing 1-2-3: Sophomore P Nora Midness threw 49 2/3 innings for the Warriors a year ago, though it was her bat that made most of the noise. She hit .600 and drove in 16 runs. She also stole 17 bases.

The tea: Reed believes the program is getting better in her fourth year in charge, saying it is “stronger than I have seen in four years here.” Alongside Midness, fellow sophomore Penny Fisher is looking for another big year after a promising freshman start. Last year, she hit .583 and drove in 19 runs.

Class 3A Patriot

Teams: Brush, Eaton, Lyons, Platte Valley, Resurrection Christian, Sterling, Strasburg, University, Valley and Weld Central.

Lyons Lions

Coach: Julie Vasquez

Last year’s result: 19-6 record; regional champions; lost in the second round of the 3A state tournament.

Testing 1-2-3: Vasquez touted senior utility player Elle Magaldi’s versatility and leadership inside of the diamond, chiefly from shortstop, first base and second base.

The tea: The Lyons said goodbye to their ace, Ceci Chiaravalle, but this young team still possesses plenty of talent along with sophomore C/3B Ava Vasquez, sophomore P Gretta Wynja and sophomore INF Leora Hagan.

Class 3A Denver Metro

Teams: Forge Christian, Jefferson Academy, Peak to Peak and The Academy.

Jefferson Academy Jaguars

Coach: Brandy Trengove

Last year’s result: 11-13.

Testing 1-2-3: Junior 2B/P Aubrey Cox is one of the early standouts for new coach Trengove. She said of Cox, “She’s always there to help coaches, and she shows great leadership.”

The tea: Sophomore 3B Ellie Arnold is the team’s top returning bat after she hit .463 with 16 RBIs a year ago. She is joined by senior C/3B Kristen Kientz and incoming freshman 2B Daelin Ruff. “I would like to see more wins than losses,” Trengove said, and we want to build “a culture players want to play for.”

Peak to Peak Pumas

Coach: Brandin Becher

Last year’s result: Qualified for 3A regionals; 8-16 record.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior C Maggie Wallis led the Pumas at the plate last year with a .556 batting average, and is “poised to have an outstanding year,” according to Becher.

The tea: The Pumas will be chasing their 100th win under the tutelage of Becher and hope to be in the postseason mix for the sixth straight year. Wallis will be joined at the top of the ticket by seniors Dagny West, Sydney Cusack, junior Karina Lefort and freshman Gracie Trasky.