Nine teams from the BoCoPreps coverage area made the state softball regionals in 2024. Six went on to the state tournament at Aurora Sports Park, including Broomfield, Erie, Holy Family, Niwot, Mead and Lyons.

And yet for the first time since 2017, nobody from around town reached the title game.

Will that change in 2025? And if so, by who?

In this edition of BoCoPreps’ Fall ‘Four’cast, here are four softball storylines worth keeping an eye on.

Storyline 1: Broomfield tops the charts?

Broomfield won its first 27 games last fall, going 27-0 before bowing out in the Class 5A semifinals. In 2025, Eagles coach Kale Gilmore said he is returning “our entire starting group from a year ago.” So, how good will the encore be?

In 1975 — 50 years ago now — the rock band, Eagles, released “Take It to the Limit,” which proved to be another major hit for one of the top-selling bands of all time.

Though that song delved more into the perils of regret, former band member Randy Meisner once told reporters that the meaning behind the song was simple: “Just keep punching away” before it’s too late.

In a roundabout way, it’s a fitting tune for the Broomfield softball Eagles, too.

The Eagles were unbeaten last fall until their season ended in a 9-8 loss to Riverdale Ridge in the semifinals. This year, with their starters all back, it’s hard to imagine when they’ll have a better opportunity to claim their first state title.

Among those back for the Eagles are Daily Camera player of the year Kiley Wheaton and pitcher Ireland Heer. The rising seniors were each named to CHSAA’s all-state 5A first team in 2024.Storyline 2: Tough bats

The area supplied some of the best offensive players in the state last fall, including Broomfield’s Wheatley and Fairview’s Julia Savage. In 2025, the top five hitters in batting average from their league — the 5A/4A/3A Granite Peaks League — are eligible to return.

Two players in the top five of GPL 2024 batting average were from Fairview, which is excited about what’s going inside the program despite finishing 6-17 last year, coach David Castillo said.

Broomfield’s Wheaton led the league, hitting .607. Two Knights players followed in junior catcher Brooklyn Dangott at .597 and Savage at .574.

Wheaton also led the league with 25 stolen bases. Savage led in home runs. Her 15 bombs were tied for ninth-most out of the seven states that play high school softball in the fall, while her slugging percentage (1.492) was 11th, three spots behind former Peak to Peak masher Maggie Wallis (1.527).

Broomfield’s Lauren Martinez (.560) and Legacy’s Prisca Smolens (.544) rounded out the top five. Both are seniors.

Storyline 3: New face at Erie

Erie, the winningest softball program in state history, touting 12 state titles, had to replace coach Tobin Echohawk after she was named the head softball coach at the Colorado School of Mines in December. In her three seasons, she led the Tigers to back-to-back semifinal appearances, followed by another postseason berth last fall. Ryan Sanchez is now in charge.

Sanchez is coming off a nice run at The Academy, one of the better 3A softball programs in the state. Before departing for Erie, he led the Wildcats to the semifinals in 2023, then the quarterfinals in 2024.

According to the Erie’s press release, Sanchez is “dedicated to fostering a competitive, team-oriented environment. His expertise in strategy development, player mentorship and performance analysis will be a tremendous asset to our program.”

“We are excited to have him,” athletic director Chad Cooper added via text.

Storyline 4: Humphreys back in the mix

Emmaline Humphreys confirmed that she is coming back to play for Holy Family this fall. She was injured for the entire 2024 season. But before that, she was a star player for Tigers as they finished runner-up in 2022, then made it to the semifinals in 2023.

Humphreys’ return will be crucial to Holy Family’s success in 2025, especially after the Tigers graduated star players in Izzy Arroyo and Makaila Moosbrugger.

Before missing 2024 with an injury, Humphreys posted two seasons with a sub-2.00 ERA on the mound, going 19-3. In each, she also hit over .400.