The softball program at Chatfield High School is getting hot at the right time.

Nobody in the state had a better week than the Chargers, who beat the state’s top-ranked team on MaxPreps, Holy Family, as well as Class 5A CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index No. 1 Arvada West.

In this week’s look-in on softball, let’s stay away from the known favorites in each classification, and instead focus on an emerging contender we aren’t talking enough about with regionals in two weeks.

Class 5A

Chatfield

Last title: 1997

Why they could win it all: The Chargers (15-6) have proven they can beat anyone, handing 4A No. 1 Holy Family its first loss of the season in eight innings Saturday, before rallying to beat 5A No. 1 Arvada West Wednesday.

Beating the Tigers 5-4 on the road — Holy Family’s first home loss since Aug. 30, 2022 — Sierra Leyba had a two-run double off ace Isabella Arroyo as part of a three-run eighth, and the Chargers sealed it when pitcher Karlie Cooledge threw out the tying run at the plate.

In a 10-6 win over the Wildcats, who hadn’t allowed more than eight runs in a game this season prior to Wednesday, the Chargers scored eight in the fifth inning alone. Klara Van Beuge had one of four triples in the frame and is hitting .460 this season with a team-best 38 RBIs and eight home runs in 19 games.

Chatfield has won seven straight and can clinch the 5A Jeffco League season title with a win against Ralston Valley Saturday.

Class 4A

D’Evelyn

Last title: Never

Why they could win it all: The Jaguars (15-4) can outslug anyone. Their 61 extra-base hits are more than double the national average this fall.

Peyton Marvel, a star on the diamond as well as the basketball court, leads the way with 19 extra-base hits to pad a .635 average. Through 19 games this fall, she has 10 doubles, three triples and six homers.

In a 12-1 win over Wheat Ridge Wednesday, she doubled and drove in two runs to extend her RBI streak to four games. Last week, she homered in back-to-back wins against Cherry Creek and George Washington.

The Jags are averaging 11 runs per game during their current eight-game winning streak.

Class 3A

Lyons

Last title: Never

Why they could win it all: Whoever dethrones top-ranked Eaton will have to have stellar pitching down the stretch, and the Lions (14-4) have Ceci Chiaravalle.

Chiaravalle pitches nearly every inning for Lyons and currently leads the state with 175 strikeouts in 104 innings.

In her last three games, she racked up 11 Ks in a win against No. 8 The Academy, 20 in a win over No. 18 Weld Central and 11 more in a 2-1, extra-inning loss to 4A No. 5 Berthoud.

Against top-ranked Eaton two weeks ago, she held her own opposite Baylor-commit Sadie Ross despite the 8-1 loss — allowing four earned runs and striking out seven in six innings.

Her biggest blemish against the Reds was the pitch Stephanie Bingley hit for a three-run shot in the second inning. There were four errors behind her.

The Lions are ranked 3A No. 4 in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index behind powers Eaton, University and Strasburg, who have combined to win five of the classification’s last six titles.