D’Evelyn softball captures back-to-back league titles for the first time in its history

DENVER — Conference titles are coming in bunches for D’Evelyn’s softball program.

After not winning a league title for more than 20 years since the program began, the Jaguars have won three league titles over the last four seasons.

“It is very special to me,” D’Evelyn senior Lyla Nagy said of being a key member of three league titles. “It is something that I’m very proud to be apart of.”

D’Evelyn (19-3 record, 13-0 in league) was officially presented the Class 4A/3A Jeffco League title after a 15-0 victory over Pomona on Wednesday at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School.

“We talked about having goals at the beginning of the season. We knew we could achieve this goal,” D’Evelyn coach Kate Courtney said of the Jaguars winning back-to-back conference crowns. “We were going to put in the work to do it. We weren’t going to stop until it happened.”

It is the first time D’Evelyn has repeated as conference champs.

The Jaguars hold a 42-4 league record over the past four seasons, which includes conference titles in 2023, 2025 and 2026. D’Evelyn now has just as many league titles in the program’s history as state runner-up titles. The Jaguars were 4A state runner-up in 2009, 2010 and 2021.

D’Evelyn was a runaway league champion this year. The Jaguars have a 3-game lead over second-place Green Mountain (11-10, 9-3). The shutout victory against Pomona on Wednesday kept D’Evelyn undefeated in league play, along with running Jaguars’ winning streak to 11 games.

Junior Hallie Book got the start in the circle for the Jaguars. Book gave up just one hit — single by Pomona senior Dahlia Valdez — in the complete-game shutout.

“I like her presence on the mound,” Nagy said of Book. “She is strong.”

The junior finished strong striking out the final four batters she faced before the Jaguars ended the game with the 15-run mercy rule through three innings.

“It really helped me get back into the momentum and working on my pitches,” said Book of getting the start against Pomona. “We are just working toward regionals and state.”

Senior Myla Seda has been the Jaguars’ ace pitching 59 innings this season, but Courtney has faith in all three of her pitchers.

“We have depth on the pitching mound. Seda has been our rock for us this year, but I have all the confidence in Hallie that she can take us as far as we need to go. I’ve got confidence in Claudia (Harris) too,” Courtney said. “We’ve got the depth that we need and they have the confidence on the mound. That is what you need for two games for regionals and hopefully four games at state.”

Offensively, D’Evelyn batted around in both the first and second innings. The Jaguars put up 8 runs in the bottom of the first inning. The highlights were a 2-run triple by sophomore Myla Vigil and 3-run double by Book.

The deep drive by Book nearly left the yard. The ball hit the top of the fence to rob Book of her eighth home run of the season.

“Working with Coach (Dan Porreco) and making sure I’m not overthinking,” said Book, who has 38 RBIs so far this season.

Book delivered again with a 2-run double in the second inning and junior Aubrey Giddens hit the top of the fence just like Book did in the first inning. The Jaguars took a 13-0 lead into the third inning.

Senior Valentina Lamas ended the game with an RBI single to score freshman Harper Keithline in the bottom of the third inning.

The Jaguars wrap up their regular season on the road against Conifer (12-9, 9-4) at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. D’Evelyn currently is No. 1 in the CHSAA Class 3A softball rankings powered by MaxPreps.com.

D’Evelyn will host a single-elimination regional tournament Saturday, Oct. 17. Seeding for regionals is scheduled to be released by CHSAA on Monday, Oct. 12.