The prep baseball season will come to an end by the end of the month for most classifications.

That, however, is not the case in Class 1A – so that’s where we will begin.

In 1A, the state champion will be decided on May 14.

The Final F4 is set with top-seeded Flatirons Academy (17-3) taking on No. 5 Nucla (13-9) at 10 a.m., May 14, followed by No. 6 Merino (15-8) facing No. 7-seed and defending state champ Akron (15-6) at 12:30 p.m. The winners of the semifinal games advance to the state championship at 3 p.m., May 14. All games will be played at Lakewood’s Blue Sky All-Star Park.

Flatirons Academy is paced by Braxton Kelley (.484), Caleb Doughty (.475) and Dillon Sauer (.429). Nucla, which has won four games in a row, will counter with Owen Tackett (.438); Brycen Rummel (.429); and Jackson McCabe (.407).

Nucla is an intriguing story since the Mustangs started the season with a 1-5 record, following an 11-3 loss to Ignacio on April 7. Flatirons, meanwhile, has hovered near the top or been the top team in the CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index all season.

(Note: Flatirons Academy beat Nulca 16-1 prior to the publishing of this story.)

Merino survived a rain-delay, and outlasted No. 3 Haxtun 18-16 last weekend. Now the Rams will try and keep their upset train rolling when they take on Akron.

The Rams are led by Tyler Everhart (.446); Isaac Poe (.373); and Kaleb Knutson (.355). Akron will counter with Jax Kusel (.484); Caleb Hansen (.362); and Jakzon Livesay (.350).

Flatirons Academy has never won a boys state title in any sport. Nucla’s one baseball state title on its resume came when it captured the 1A crown in 2017. Merino claimed state baseball titles in 2022 and 2024 – both in 1A. Akron’s lone baseball state title came last year.

Unlike 1A, the postseason story has yet to be written in 2A and 3A.

In 2A and 3A each class will have 32 teams qualify for the regional tournament based on RPI/MaxPreps. League champions not in the top 32 will receive an automatic qualifying position (minimum 5 teams in a league for automatic berth). The eight (8) teams with the highest RPI/MaxPreps host regionals, the remaining 24 teams will then be seeded by RPI /MaxPreps, and then any first-round league matchups will be adjusted. The bottom eight teams may be moved for geographical purposes.

The 2A, and 3A Regional games will be completed on May 15-16.

The 2A No. 1 seed is Forge Christian (21-2), followed by Monte Vista (21-0); and Yuma (19-4).

The 2A and 3A state championship games will take place on May 30 at Runyon Field and Butch Butler Field in Pueblo and Greeley, respectively.

Here are a couple matches to keep an eye on this weekend.

Class 2A

No. 9 Peyton (16-5) vs. No. 24 Ignacio (13-10), 12:30 p.m., May 16

This game offers layers of interest. First, these two teams don’t know much about each other because they are on opposite ends of the state.

Secondly, the winner of this game will play the victor between No. 8 Las Animas (17-6) vs. No. 25 Highland (9-14) at 10 a.m., Saturday. The Region 8 championship is scheduled for Saturday following the Peyton-Ignacio game.

Peyton has a modest two-game winning streak, a doubleheader sweep of Calhan (15-0, 10-0) on May 9.

Peyton’s top hitter is Bryce Love (.727); Zayden Ebbert (.571); and Trent Gregg (.415). Ignacio has Sonny Flores (.507); Stoney White Thunder-Lucero (.500) and William Mendoza (.467).

For what’s worth, Peyton has one baseball state champ in 2019 on its resume. Ignacio has never won a state baseball championship.

Class 3A

No. 12 Alamosa (14-9) vs. No. 21 Kent Denver (12-10), Region 5, May 16

The Mean Moose of Alamosa are riding a three-game winning streak with victories over Centauri (15-5, 15-0) and Florence (15-0). Alamosa’s offense is fueled by Jonah Pittman (.476); Brennan Maez (.409); and (.397). Kent Denver stumbled into regional play – posting a 1-5 record in its last six regular season games.

The Sun Devils are paced by Andrew Perry (.532); Levi Pollyea (.419); and Will Goldmanis (.365).

The winner of this game meets the victor between No. 5 The Classical Academy (16-6) vs. Woodland Park (13-8). The 3A Region 5 championship game is later in the afternoon on May 16.

Alamosa has won 28 boys state championships but none in baseball. Meanwhile, Kent Denver has 43 boys state titles, and just one in baseball in 1993.