Silver Creek softball, which just missed the NCAC conference crown in a 4-3 extra-inning loss to Holy Family on Saturday, starts play in the Class 4A state tournament today.
The Raptors (14-2, 9-0) are seeded sixth in the 16-team bracket and will play No. 11 Pueblo Central (11-5, 9-1) at 3:30 p.m. at Longmont.
A victory in the single-elimination first round could set up a rematch of the battle for the NCAC title. The winner will advance to play in Thursday’s second round against the winner of today’s 3:30 p.m. game between No. 3 Holy Family (14-2, 9-0) and No. 14 Mesa Ridge (14-2, 11-1), which Holy Family is hosting.
The Raptors will certainly take it after a narrow defeat at Holy Family on Saturday. The three-hour, 10-inning, 328 pitch battle decided the Northern Colorado Athletic Conference title.
Mead High School also made the final field of 16. The Mavericks were a perfect 14-0 to start 2020 but lost to both Holy Family and Silver Creek last week. Mead (14-2, 7-2) is seeded No. 4 and plays No. 13 Palisade (14-2, 4-0) at 4 p.m. Thursday.
The COVID-shortened season meant the traditional field of 32 schools in the postseason was paired down to the 16-team bracket.
The semifinal games and championship are set for Saturday at Aurora Sports Park.
See the full bracket and check for updates on the Colorado High School Activities Association website.
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Correction: Mead starts play in the Class 4A tournament on Thursday. The day of the game was incorrect in the original posting of this story.
