Only four teams remain in each of the state’s two largest baseball classifications.

Awaiting in Class 5A, Regis Jesuit will have two chances to win its fourth state title in program history on Saturday at Gold Crown All-Star Park. The last time the Raiders won it all was in 2019, when they beat Cherry Creek — the team that defeated them in the previous two championship games.

But the two-time defending champion Bruins failed to qualify for the state tournament this spring, leaving the title up for grabs for either a first-time state champion (Pine Creek or Legend), a team that hasn’t won since 1994 (Arvada West) or the school that has suffered heartbreak in the previous two 5A finals (Regis Jesuit).

In 4A, Pueblo County punched its ticket to the championship game with three wins last weekend. Either Falcon, Palisade or Ponderosa will need to beat the Hornets twice on Saturday at the Air Force Academy to claim the title.

Let’s dive in.

Class 5A at Gold Crown All-Star Park

Game 1: No. 4 Pine Creek vs. No. 7 Legend, Friday at 10 a.m. (elimination game)
Either the Eagles or Titans would have to go 4-0 this weekend to capture their respective program’s first state title.

Junior Jake Holm allowed just two runs in a complete-game performance in Pine Creek’s opening-round win over No. 5 Fairview. He also drove in two runs. The Eagles then lost to top-ranked Arvada West before junior Tristan Mullis tossed a three-hitter in a 9-0 win over No. 6 Mountain Vista to advance.

Legend upset No. 2 Broomfield in the opening round behind a home run and three RBIs from senior Silas Meuli. The Titans then lost to Regis Jesuit before junior Carson Reffel’s home run and four RBIs led them past No. 8 Chatfield and into the second weekend.

Game 2: No. 1 Arvada West vs. winner of Game 1, Friday at 12:30 p.m. (elimination game)

Arvada West rolled past Chatfield and Pine Creek in the opening two rounds before allowing a season-high 14 runs in a loss to Regis Jesuit.

Senior Brayden Reiner threw 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in the Wildcats’ opening-round win and has totaled five RBIs at the plate during the tournament.

Championship: No. 3 Regis Jesuit vs. winner of Game 2, Saturday at 10 a.m. If Game 4 is needed, it will be at 12:30 p.m.

Senior Deion Cesario-Scott homered in the Raiders’ opening two wins against Mountain Vista and Legend. He’s 5 for 9 in the tournament.

In the win over top-ranked Arvada West, senior Hudson Alpert went deep as Regis Jesuit homered in a fifth straight game. The Raiders finished 16 for 34 at the plate against one of the state’s best pitching staffs.

Class 4A at the Air Force Academy

Game 1: No. 1 Palisade vs. No. 8 Ponderosa, Friday at 10 a.m. (elimination game)
The bracket ends will meet for the third time this season and the second time this tournament. Last weekend, senior Will Seriani tossed a two-hitter to propel the top-ranked Bulldogs past the Mustangs, 1-0.

Palisade then lost to Pueblo County before beating No. 2 Durango. Ponderosa followed up its opening-round loss with wins over No. 4 Grand Junction and No. 7 Holy Family.

Game 2: No. 3 Falcon vs. winner of Game 1, Friday at 12:30 p.m. (elimination game)

Senior Brayden Millikan homered and drove in three runs in Falcon’s opening-round win over No. 6 Canon City. In the second round, he allowed just one run in a complete-game 2-1 victory over No. 7 Holy Family.

The Falcons then lost to Pueblo County.

Championship: No. 5 Pueblo County vs. winner of Game 2, Saturday at 10 a.m. If Game 4 is needed, it will be at 12:30 p.m.

Senior Blake Swift has made a strong case for the tournament’s MVP. In the Hornets’ first game, he tossed a complete-game shutout in a 2-0 win over No. 4 Grand Junction.

At the plate, he had a team-best six RBIs last weekend.