Replay: At Mountain Vista

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director
Golden Eagles hosting again.
Mullen heads to Highlands Ranch to take on host and defending state champion Mountain Vista on Saturday in the Class 5A regionals.
The Mustangs will face the Golden Eagles in the first round for a second consecutive season.
Two victories are needed to advance to the Championship Series.
Below is the schedule with times, dates, sites and records for the big-school playoffs as well as a bit of information on the hosts:
 
REGION 1 (Saturday at Mountain Vista H.S.)
Game 1: No. 8 Mullen (13-10) vs. No. 1 Mountain Vista (21-2), 12:30 p.m.
 Game 2: No. 5 Castle View (14-9) vs. No. 4 Dakota Ridge (13-10), 10 a.m.
 Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m.
Mountain Vista, which has won 17 games in a row, is led by Minnesota signee, 2018 player of the year and all-around star Sam Ireland (.435, 11 doubles, five home runs, 31 runs batted in). The Golden Eagles also have 79 extra-base hits, including 22 homers.
 
REGION 2 (Saturday at Legend H.S.)
Game 1: No. 7 Fossil Ridge (13-10) vs. No. 2 Legend (14-9), 12:30 p.m.
 Game 2: No. 6 Fruita Monument (11-9) vs. No. 3 Rocky Mountain (15-7-1), 10 a.m.
 Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m.
Legend opened the season just 2-5, but has rallied nicely behind Justin Boyd, who’s batting .465 with 16 extra-base hits and 27 RBIs.
 
REGION 3 (Saturday at Windsor H.S.)
Game 1: No. 8 Denver South (15-8) vs. No. 1 Windsor (19-4), 10 a.m.
 Game 2: No. 5 Grandview (15-8) vs. No. 4 Ralston Valley (15-8), 11:30 a.m.
 Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Windsor has jumped to 5A and broadened the outlay of 5A. The Wizards’ top pitcher is Owen Lockner, who’s 7-1 with a 0.58 earned-run average and 77 strikeouts in 48 innings.
 
REGION 4 (Saturday at Douglas County H.S.)
Game 1: No. 7 Prairie View (15-7) vs. No. 2 Douglas County (15-7), 9:30 a.m.
Game 2: No. 6 Legacy (13-10) vs. No. 3 Grand Junction (14-9), noon
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Douglas County grabbed a host berth despite dropping its past four games and five-of-six. The Huskies and junior Case Williams (7-1, 1.53 ERA, 71 strikeouts in 45.2 innings) had been 12-1.
 
REGION 5 (Saturday at REGIS JESUIT H.S.)
Game 1: No. 5 Fort Collins (16-7) vs. No. 4 Chatfield (15-8), 9:30 a.m.
Game 2:  No. 8 Monarch (11-11) vs. No. 1 Regis Jesuit (18-5), noon
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Regis Jesuit, which also beta the Mustangs in nonleague, remains very dangerous with Caden Wagner (.468, nine homers, 36 RBIs) and about as deep of a pitching staff as there has been in years.
 
REGION 6 (Saturday at Pine Creek H.S.)
Game 1: No. 7 Broomfield (11-11) vs. No. 2 Pine Creek (16-7), 10 a.m.
Game 2:No. 6 Loveland (13-10) vs. No. 3 Chaparral (14-9), 12:30 p.m.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m.
Concerning Pine Creek (senior Riley Cornelio, 7-2, 89 strikeouts in 49 innings), it’s the same question – Is this the year the Colorado Springs Eagles, who have had talent and numbers in the past, break out against the high end of big schools?
 
REGION 7 (Saturday at Heritage H.S.)
Game 1: No. 5 Boulder (15-8) vs. No. 4 Rock Canyon (14-8), 10 a.m.
Game 2: No. 8 Mountain Range (12-11) vs. No. 1 Heritage (16-7), 1 p.m.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 4 p.m.
Fact is, Heritage has been one of the top teams all season with an experienced group that has balance and versatility as well as senior Eric McKnight, who leads the Eagles in hits at the plate (25) and strikeouts on the mound (48).
 
REGION 8 (Saturday at Cherry Creek H.S.)
Game 1: No. 6 ThunderRidge (11-12) vs. No. 3 Horizon (17-6), 9:30 a.m.
Game 2: No. 7 Valor Christian (11-11) vs. No. 2 Cherry Creek (17-6), noon
 Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 2:30 p.m.
For nearly five decades, Cherry Creek is exactly 800-200 under fabled coach Marc Johnson, arguably The Godfather of the in-state game. The Bruins also can swing it, notably with Jack Moss, who’s batting .520 with 39 hits, 10 doubles and 27 RBIs.
 
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