GOLDEN — Winning back-to-back Class 4A Jeffco League softball titles is clearly a priority for the Golden Demons this season.
“Absolutely it’s our goal,” Golden coach Steph Martinez said of the Demons attempting to win back-to-back conference titles and three league championships in four years. “I didn’t even need to set the goal. Our seniors and veteran juniors did. They know what that was about and all were starters last year. They were a big part of what happened last year. They set the tone.”
The last time Golden won two straight league titles was in 2018 and 2019. The Demons were the 4A state runner-up in 2019.
The Demons went 13-1 in league play last year and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 4A state tournament. Golden is off to a 3-0 start this year with dominating wins over Niwot, Bear Creek and Thomas Jefferson.
“It is really important. This is a really good team this year,” Golden junior Reagan Smith said of winning another league title. “I love everyone on this team. It would mean a lot to us to win league again.”
The Demons didn’t love all the aspects of the 16-6 home victory over Thomas Jefferson on Thursday. Golden jumped out to an 8-0 lead on TJ through the first three innings. However, the Spartans put up six runs in the top of the fourth inning to cut Golden’s lead to 8-6.
“This will be like some of our games in league,” Martinez said after TJ took advantage of an error and six walks. “It’s a good wake-up call for us.”
Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
Golden senior ace AD Riddle and senior catcher Katie Welte reentered the game after being subbed out after the first two innings. The Demons’ battery was able to stop the bleeding and end the inning.
“It was kind of nerve-racking,” Riddle said of the Spartans cutting Golden’s lead.
Riddle got the win striking out eight in three and two-thirds innings pitched.
“We’ve road her for two to three years strong,” Martinez said of Riddle, who is closing in on 200 innings pitched during her prep career. “We have nothing but confidence when she is in the circle. I trust her 120 percent.”
Golden’s offense responded in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring eight runs. The big hit was a grand slam home run by Smith.
“It was pretty cool,” Smith said of her grand slam that extended the Demons’ lead to 13-6. “I hadn’t been hitting amazing in the game. Being able to wait on the ball and lift my team up again was a great feeling.”
Welte and Riddle both had RBI hits to cap off the 8-run inning and allow Golden to induce the 10-run mercy rule after five innings. Riddle finished with win with a pair of strikes out in the top of the fifth inning.
Senior Molli Nath — who is filling the shoes as second base of 4A Jeffco League MVP Madeline Stubenrauch — had a 3-run double in the first inning for the Demons.
Golden does have a small squad this season with just 11 players in the program and no JV team this season.
“We are going to need all 11 of them to get through it,” Martinez said of her squad.
Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
