BY BRIAN ROTH

Well, here we are. Mid-April and it is still tough to which 8 teams are favorites to make it to the 5A Championship Series. Part of that is because of the single elimation district tournament format.  Any team is vulnerable in that situation....just ask Highlands Ranch (2007), Cherry Creek (2006) or Bear Creek (2005). All teams who breezed thru the regular season and were clear favorites - but were upset in a single elimination game.  But this spring, there are no teams that are far and away above the field. Sure, Rocky Mountain is the 2-time defending state champion, and yes, they are ranked #1 in our 5A Top Ten.  But, the Lobos pitching has been a beat-up and Rocky took it on the chin when they were 10-runned by ThunderRidge earlier this year.  Trust me, getting 10-runned wasn't a possibility last year for Scott Bullock's team. What about Chatfield? They have the best lefty in the state in Taylor Rogers (signed with Kentucky) and a solid number two pitcher in Mark Shannon.  But they have been inconsistent this season. That was evident when Bear Creek torched the Chargers for 14 runs in a 14-10 Bears win.  Green Mountain is a team that has surprised some folks across the state, but the Rams haven't surprised anyone in Jefferson County.  Ask the Jeffco coaches and they will tell you they knew Green Mountain would be good.  However, does the rest of the state believe that yet? Cherry Creek has six Division I signees on their roster, but even the Bruins have had to grind it out in a tough Centennial League.  Mountain Vista (with top pitcher Eric Anderson), ThunderRidge, Regis are all capable teams out of the Continental League who could easily find themselves in the 5A Championship Series. And Pine Creek is putting together a nice year in the Colorado Springs Metro League. However, even with the recent success of Air Academy the last 2 years, CSM teams still have to prove they can hang with their peers up north. And there are others who could very well make a run to the 5A Championship Series. Grandview, Smoky Hill, Cherokee Trail, Ralston Valley, Fort Collins and Legacy are all teams who could easily get out of districts.

But that is the point.  It is wide open. Rocky Mountain, Cherry Creek and Chatfield are still the favorites in my mind.  But, if one or two of those teams doesn't make it out of districts, it would come as a surprise, not a shock.

    
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