The in-city rivalry between Broomfield High School and Legacy added another juicy chapter when the Eagles beat the Lightning 7-6 in last season’s thriller of a Class 5A baseball final.

Then, adding to the fire for this spring, there was this: Legacy was named the No. 1 baseball team in the state by MaxPreps.

In this week’s look at baseball, we focus on the early frontrunners in each classification as picked by coaches across the state.

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Class 5A

CHSAA coaches poll No. 1 Broomfield: The Eagles have six titles in 12 championship game appearances since 1963.

Last year’s win was their first in a decade. And now, a repeat bid is up next.

This spring, Broomfield has opened with four straight wins.

Against Valor Christian last week, Luke Blackmon and Dane Most each knocked in a pair as part of a 6-2 win over the 2021 runner-up.

In a 17-7 win over ThunderRidge two days later, Michael Cannata homered and drove in three.

No. 2 Legacy: The Lightning bounced back from a season-opening loss to Valor Christian with a mercy-rule, five-inning win over Dakota Ridge Thursday.

Winning 18-8, senior infielder Brandon Sanchez, a University of Northern Colorado commit, went 4-for-4 with three doubles and two RBIs.

The Lightning’s trip to last year’s final was their first championship appearance in program history.

Class 4A

No. 1 Golden: The Demons open up as the favorites in 4A, looking to secure a baseball title for the first time since 2003.

Noah Wicks has fueled Golden to a 3-3 start, with all its losses coming to programs out of Alabama. He has homered and has driven in seven.

The Demons are at No. 10 Falcon Saturday.

No. 2 Windsor: The Wizards have just one championship game appearance in program history. That came back in 1994 when it eventually lost to Lamar.

This spring, they’ve won six of their first seven.

Senior Dylan Ferraro has thrown 16 scoreless innings with 20 strikeouts. Sophomore Ethan Fillinger is 8-for-21 with two homers and nine RBIs.

Class 3A

No. 1 Eaton: Arkansas commit Walker Martin already has two homers and nine RBIs for the back-to-back champ Reds, who are coming off their state-most 13th baseball title.

Yet again, Eaton has a few Division-I prospects across its roster in hopes of a three-peat. It includes right-handed pitchers Tate Smith (Oklahoma State) and Mitch Haythorn (Oklahoma).

Through five games, Eaton has combined to beat teams 63-5 behind its talented roster.

No. 2 University: Last year’s runner-up has six straight wins to start the spring.

Senior Riggs Towle has allowed just one earned run in 12 innings, striking out 19. Kaleb Tejada has allowed one run in nine frames, punching out 15.

Dalton Yaste has 11 RBIs, six doubles and a homer in 21 at-bats.

Class 2A

No. 1 Peyton: The Panthers have been on the final doorstep the past few years, winning gold in 2019, while finishing runner-up in both 2018 and 2021.

Last year, they came just shy of the championship game, losing in eight innings to St. Mary’s in the semifinals.

This spring, Peyton has won its first seven. Senior Owen Compton is 9-for-20 with a home run and 13 RBIs. AJ Kranz is 16-for-26, also with 13 RBIs and a homer.

No. 2 Buena Vista: The Demons have never been to a title game, though they look like a contender this spring.

They’ve won three of their first four behind six RBIs from both senior Haden Camp and junior Nolan Verrier.

On the mound, Caleb Camp, a junior, has allowed four earned runs in nine innings, striking out 18.

Class 1A

No. 1 Merino: The defending champs return the top two pitchers from their title run in Kaden Piel and Deacon Trenkle.

Piel led the way with a 1.76 ERA over 59 2/3 innings last spring. He also led the team with 25 RBIs.

Trenkle had a 1.06 ERA in 52 2/3 frames. He struck out 85.

Merino is 3-0 to start the year.

No. 2 Holly: The Wildcats have two championships and five finals appearances since 2013.

Last year, they finished runner-up to Merino.

Starting the year 2-2, sophomore Truman King is 8-for-15 with four doubles and seven runs driven in.

Devin Eaton has allowed two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings with 12 Ks.