It’s been two weeks since the start of the softball season. And while trying to predict what will happen in the postseason is a bit like looking through a window, straight into blinds, there are a few intriguing starts to take notice.

In this week’s look at the sport, we’ll dive into a few of those from teams in each of the three classifications. And just to be weird, we’ll forget numerical order and start with Class 4A.

Class 4A

No. 2 Holy Family: The Tigers brought most of their talent back from last year’s runner-up finish to Lutheran, including their stellar pitching combo of Isabella Arroyo and Emmaline Humphreys. Their top seven 2022 RBI leaders returned, too.

Wednesday, they improved to 6-0 with a 10-2 win over No. 6 Mead. Arroyo threw three perfect innings, lowering her season ERA to 0.70 across 20 frames. Kaylee McDonald drove in three, moving her team-leading RBI total to nine.

As part of an unblemished start, the Tigers have wins over 4A’s top-ranked Lions, the sixth-ranked Mavericks, No. 7 Pueblo South, No. 8 Elizabeth and 5A No. 5 Valor Christian.

In CHSAA’s next ranking, they should be moved to 4A No. 1.

No. 5 Frederick: Baserunning-guru Makenzie Sais was second in the nation with 62 stolen bags in 2022. And through her first two games of the 2023 season, she was listed with already having nine.

Last year’s semifinalist graduated ace Haley Howell (16-4, 3.02 ERA in 2022) but got a nice debut from junior Payton Torres, who allowed three runs — one earned — in an 8-3 win over Niwot last week. Torres then hit a grand slam in her next game.

The Golden Eagles are currently 3-0, outscoring teams 36-8.

Class 5A

No. 1 Columbine: The Rebels graduated 5A player of the year Araya Ogden, who behind a 24-1 record in the circle in 2022, led them to their second state title in program history.

But Liz Phillips returns after going 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA in 24 2/3 frames last year. She’s 3-0 in the circle this season, allowing 11 runs — eight earned — in 15 innings.

Sophomore Mason Abraham is currently hitting .636 with nine RBIs.

Their 3-0 start features double-digit wins over 2022 runner-up Douglas County, quarterfinalist Fossil Ridge and Rock Canyon.

No. 4 Erie: The Tigers, who reached the semifinals before falling to champ Columbine last year, is off to a sizzling 3-0 start, outscoring teams 34-3.

Their star pitching duo is back. Northern Colorado-commit Gracie Sackett, third in the state with a 0.94 ERA in 2022, has allowed two earned runs in seven innings, striking out nine. Colorado School of Mines-commit Matix Hull (7-0, 1.24 ERA in 2022) has allowed one unearned run in eight frames, fanning 10.

They’ve scored 30 runs in their past two games. Addie Osborne, who is going to Rutgers, is hitting .455 with 13 RBIs and three home runs in just 11 at-bats.

Class 3A

No. 1 Eaton: The defending champs are plus-50 in runs scored through five games in 2023.

Seniors Sadie Ross and Stephanie Bigley have led the way.

Ross has yet to allow a run through nine innings this fall, striking out 21. She is hitting .667, driving in eight to go along with her two homers.

Bingley is hitting .417 with seven RBIs after clubbing .400 with 35 RBIs in 2022.

All of their wins this season have been by double figures. Among them are blowouts over No. 5 Lamar, No. 6 Fort Lupton and No. 10 Limon.

Unranked Lyons: As it did last year, it starts and ends with ace Ceci Chiaravalle, who was second in the state with 263 strikeouts in 2022.

That year, she struck out 2.1 batters per inning. So far this year, she’s K’d 1.8 per frame to go along with a 0.84 ERA.

Aiding her and the team’s 4-0 start in 2023, freshman Ava Vasquez is hitting .357 with five RBIs and two triples.

Last year, the Lions were the 16-seed in the postseason and fell to No. 1 Strasburg in the opening round.