LAKEWOOD — It was a historic day at the iconic Keli McGregor Field at All Star Park on Saturday.
The first ever Colorado High School Activities Association’s softball game was played on the field that used to be the former site of the old Alameda Junior High School at W. Alameda Ave and S. Harlan St. in Lakewood. All Star Park opened in 1998.
Lakewood moved its Class 5A Jeffco League home game against Chatfield to the artificial turf field that is managed by the Gold Crown Foundation. Colorado Christian University currently uses All Star Park as its home field for its baseball and softball in the spring.
Chatfield grabbed the victory in the historic game with a dominating 11-0 win in five innings. While it was a significant win, Chatfield (7-4, 1-1 in 5A Jeffco League) knew it was most important to get the victory to stay in the running of defending its conference title.
“Absolutely,” Chatfield coach Darin Shepard responded after being asked if it was a must-win for the Chargers if they still wanted to have a shot at the league title. “We came out on Thursday and did not play well. (Valor) did a number on us. This was a game that we needed to bounce back and play better.”
The Chargers had their 5-game winning streak snapped it their league opener with a 12-3 home loss to Valor Christian (11-1, 2-0).
“It defintely was a must-win,” Chatfield senior catcher Lexie Balfanz said. “It is hard to come back after an 0-2 start (in league), especially what is coming up next week for us in league. Those are going to be tough ones.”
Chatfield hosts rival Columbine (11-2, 2-0) on Monday, Sept. 26, before heading up north for a road game at Arvada West (7-5, 1-1).
The Chargers took care of business with a huge offensive burst in the second and third innings. Three straight singles got things going for an eventual 4-run top of the second inning.
Chatfield stretched the lead to 10-0 with a 6-run third inning. Balfanz got things going with a deep solo home run to lead off the inning. Senior Ava Burgess capped off the big inning with a 3-run double before stealing home to plate the sixth running of the inning.
Senior Kendall Davros finished off the scoring with an RBI double in the fourth inning to give the Chargers an 11-0 lead.
Freshman Layne Steadman-Lieb picked up the victory in the pitching circle in her first varsity start. Steadman-Lieb scattered five hits in her four-plus shutout innings on the mound.
“That is a girl that I pulled up from JV,” Shepard said of Steadman-Lieb, who had just two varsity appearances before the start Saturday. “I’ve got five pitchers who we are still playing to see who is going to do what for us.”
Sophomore Taylor Zercher got the final two outs to complete the shutout victory.
“I try to make them feel comfortable,” Balfanz said of handling the young pitching staff as the Chargers’ starting catcher.
Chatfield’s defense was solid from the get-go against Lakewood. The Chargers threw out runners at third and home in the first inning when the Tigers (4-8, 0-2) had the opportunity to grab an early lead.
Lakewood will be on the road next week looking for its first league victory at Arvada West and Bear Creek.
Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
