The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

Just two weeks remain in CHSAA's Season D and the pressure is rising along with the temperatures. With triple digits in the forecast, athletes will not only have to beat the competition, but also the stifling heat.

In last weekend's Class 3A girls tennis state tournament, Fort Morgan's Olivia Wolff won her opening round match-up (7-6, 6-1) in Number 2 singles, but then fell in the quarterfinals to the top seed (6-1, 6-0). Wolff just completed her junior year, so bigger things could be on the horizon next season.

Girls soccer has reached its postseason, but no area programs will be competing. Lamar ended the regular season with a busy final week. First, the Savages downed Sterling 10-0 last Monday, scoring five goals in each half. Courtney Sneller and Amaly Alvarez each found the back of the net twice. That was followed by a forfeit victory over Dolores Huerta on Wednesday and the Savages wrapped things up with a 9-0 loss to Manitou Springs on Friday.

Fort Morgan made a late push to be included in the Class 4A bracket, winning two matches last week, but it wasn't enough. Jackie Escalera recorded a hat trick in a 3-1 win over Roosevelt last Monday, with Olivia Odle picking up the win in net. The Mustangs found goals aplenty in last Tuesday's finale, beating Berthoud 10-0. Escalera, a senior, went out on a high note, tallying five goals. Yasmin Urbina had a goal and three helpers.

Baseball's postseason is in full swing (no pun intended), with Class 1A regionals this weekend, and all other classes having started their regional round earlier in the week. Champions will be crowned next week.

Merino won the District 5 crown in Class 1A and earned the #2 seed in the bracket. The Rams got a no-hitter from Deacon Trenkle in the semifinals against Otis and he came on to close out the championship contest against Haxtun, striking out the final two hitters. Merino will get the winner of the contest between #7 Caliche and #10 Dayspring Christian.

Holly also had a pitcher toss a no-hitter in the district round. The Wildcats, who run-ruled Stratton/Liberty 15-4 in the semifinals, saw Brigden Parker dominate Cheyenne Wells in a three-inning affair in the championship game of District 4. Holly blasted four home runs (two by Jose Magallanes, one apiece by Wyatt Cook and Parker) in the 21-0 run-rule win. The Wildcats are the #3 seed and await the winner between #6 Eads and #11 Simla.

Haxtun is the #9 seed in the 1A bracket and the Bulldogs must get through #8 Dove Creek to get a shot at the top seed, Flatirons Academy. Flatirons is the defending champion, having won the crown in 2019. Cheyenne Wells, who upset Eads in the district semis, is the #12 seed. The Tigers drew #5 Nucla in the first round, with a match-up against #4 Evangelical Christian awaiting the victor.

Twenty-four teams made the Class 2A bracket and the top eight seeds all received first round byes. Burlington earned the #15 seed and the Cougars faced #18 Meeker on Tuesday. The winner of that contest went on to tangle with the host, #2 Highland, for the right to move on.

As the #10 seed, Wiggins squared off with #23 Sargent on Tuesday, with a regional final against #7 Buena Vista as the prize. The Tigers finished the regular season with a 14-4 loss to Limon last Tuesday.

In Class 3A, #15 Brush met #18 The Academy on Monday, for the right to face a familiar foe in #2 Eaton. The Beetdiggers finished the regular season with a sweep of Platte Valley in a home and home series. Brush claimed a 9-1 win on the road last Monday and then pounded out a 17-1 win at home on Wednesday. The Beetdiggers did not fare well against Eaton early in the season, losing 2-0 and 3-0. They were no-hi in the second of those games, and only mustered three hits in the first.

Lamar was awarded the #7 seed in the bracket and with it, the right to host a regional on Monday. The Savages went 14-2 during the regular season and outscored their opponents by an even 100 runs (169-69). They rode a six-game winning streak into the regional final. Kent Denver and Salida met in the opening round to determine Lamar's opponent.

Fort Morgan went into the final week of the regular season holding down the final spot in the Class 4A bracket. However, losses to Mead (10-7) and Erie (6-2) knocked the Mustangs out of contention. The contest with Erie was an elimination game of sorts, as it was the Tigers who earned the final spot in the field. The Mustangs finished 25th in the final RPI standings.

The Class 1A state semifinals and finals will be held next Wednesday at University High School in Greeley. Class 2A will play quarterfinals and semis on Saturday at the Runyon Complex in Pueblo, and meet there again next Saturday for the finals. Class 3A heads to Frederick High School and Niwot High School this weekend and reconvenes next weekend at Frederick for the final games.

Girls golf held its regional round last week and many young ladies from across the area punched tickets to State. The State competitions will be held next Monday and Tuesday. Class 3A golfers will attack the Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo, while 4A hits the links at Common Ground Golf Course in Aurora.

Last week saw a number of league meets in track and field and this week will have several more as athletes try to improve their standing and qualify for next week's state meet at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. Class 1A will qualify nine in most track events, 12 in the longer distances and 10 in field events. All other classes will qualify 18 in all events. The State meet takes place next Thursday through Saturday.