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Baseball tourney won't wait on rain
Contributed by: RockyMountainNews.com on 5/3/2005

The Class 5A baseball postseason seedings will be revealed Wednesday, regardless of whether the inclement weather continues.
While several leagues already are decided, some key races remain - assuming teams can find a dry diamond to play on the next few days.
The biggest question around the circuit leading up to selection day seems to be which eight teams will be chosen to host a four-team district. Squarely on the bubble and at the heart of the debate is Adams City.
The Eagles, up from Class 4A this season, have a 16-1 mark, including 13-0 in the Skyline League. Problem is, six of the 10 teams in the hybrid league are 4A. Furthermore, two of the 5A teams in the league, Hinkley and Aurora Central, have a combined 5-27 record.
"I definitely think we've earned the right to host with our league and overall record," Adams City coach Mark Gonzales said. "They could definitely justify us not hosting based on the league we play in, but I feel we've proven ourselves."
Gonzales noted that although his team did not face any elite 5A teams in the regular season, the Eagles did in summer play and came away believing they were of the same caliber. The Eagles will eagerly await the decision by the Colorado High School Activities Association, but Gonzales said they won't let that decision ruin their postseason enthusiasm if they have to travel.
"We'd just go with it," Gonzales said. "You have to play all these teams anyway. It's not where you start, it's where you finish."
Many coaches have strong feelings about where Adams City would be placed but declined to elaborate. Asked his opinion, Smoky Hill's Keith McElreath was noncommittal.
"It's really tough for me to say," McElreath said. "I've noticed, especially offensively, Adams City has put up some numbers that are almost unheard of. But I haven't seen them, so all I can talk about is the Centennial League, and I know it's one of the most competitive in the state."
McElreath has his own concerns as the season winds down. If the No. 3 Buffaloes can win one of their final two games, they will be Centennial League champions for only the second time. The previous time, in 2001, they won their only state championship. Smoky Hill (14-3, 11-1) beat Cherry Creek twice this season in one-run games, which might prove to be the difference.
"We still have to win one of our next two, but we're feeling pretty good about it," said McElreath, whose team has contests remaining against Mullen and Boulder. "This league is as tough to win as the state championship."
Even if No. 5 Cherry Creek (14-3, 10-2) finishes second in the league, the Bruins are a prime candidate to host a district.
Two other intriguing league races remain in the classification, including the Front Range League.
Top-ranked Rocky Mountain and No. 4 Legacy each have a 5-1 league mark and are scheduled to face one another today in a game that could determine the league title and, subsequently, an opportunity to host a district. Each also has one other league game remaining.
In the Southwestern League, two of the four 5A teams qualify. That means Grand Junction Central, which has been a mainstay at the tournament in recent years and won it in 2002, might be on the outside looking in. The Warriors (10-6, 5-4) trail 10th-ranked Durango (8-1 league) and Grand Junction (6-2) in the league standings with the Warriors having only one game to play.
Coronado (10-4) clinched the Colorado Springs Metro League title Friday with a 5-1 win at Rampart. Three teams - Denver East, Denver North and Kennedy - are in the running for the top spot in the Denver Prep League.
The Continental and Jefferson County leagues are set, as No. 6 Arapahoe (15-3, 9-1) has clinched the Continental and No. 2 Bear Creek (16-2, 9-1) the Jeffco. Ninth-ranked Arvada West, which dominated the circuit early in the season, probably lost its opportunity to host. The Wildcats were leapfrogged by Pomona and Columbine, falling to fourth place in Jeffco. Arvada West beat Smoky Hill and Cherry Creek to start the season.
CLASS 4A: The 4A seedings also will be announced Wednesday, with Niwot, Delta, Ralston Valley and Pueblo South appearing to be locks to host a district.
Thomas Jefferson can win the Denver Prep League outright with a win against Kennedy on Monday night, which probably would secure the right to host for the Spartans.
The Colorado Springs Metro League was decided by Sand Creek's 11-6 win against Cheyenne Mountain on Friday. Centaurus can become the Skyline League's top 4A seed with a win against Westminster on Tuesday.
Pueblo Centennial and Rifle also have an opportunity to host districts, as does another team or two - perhaps Thompson Valley, Sterling or Northridge - from the mammoth 16-team Northern League, which qualifies eight teams overall.
CLASS 3A/2A: In 3A, each league has a district tournament, from which 16 teams emerge overall for the state tournament. In the mix will be top-ranked Eaton (17-0), which has won four consecutive titles and has not lost since May 8 of last year.
Roosevelt, Machebeuf, Lamar and La Junta all are playing well heading into the postseason, as is surprising Denver Christian. The Crusaders lost all but three starters from last year's squad but have gone 12-4 overall and 10-0 in the potent Metro League.
In 2A, four regions each qualify two teams for the state tournament. Defending champion and No. 4 Academy of Charter remains in the mix, as does runner-up and top-ranked Las Animas. Limon, Resurrection Christian and Calhan also are among a handful of teams expected to advance. Regional action in 2A will be completed next week.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Tabitha Dial

Denver , CO

Tabitha Dial has posted 1876 stories and 389 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. Tabitha Dial's average story rating is 4.92.
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