Softball: Massive softball tourneys underway in Aurora, along Front Range
The annual migration of fastpitch softball teams from across the country to Colorado has begun, with a variety of top-level competition set to compete through July 5 in various events held by Triple Crown Sports.
Aurora is the home base to play in the 16U and 18U brackets of the Colorado Fireworks tournament, which will be played for the 57th time.
The tournament will conclude July 5 at the Aurora Sports Park — which will be in action for the entire tournament — while play is also set around the city at Arapahoe Little League Park, Highline Park, Horseshoe Park and Olympic Park. Games will also be played at sites in Denver, Brighton, Thornton and Westminster.
The Sparkler tournament features 412 16U teams — divided into four different pools — and 240 18U teams, which make up two pools. Colorado is well represented in the 18U competition with a total of 17 teams based in a variety of placers from around the state.
Two 18U teams from the Colorado Angels organization feature a heavy contingent of recently graduated or current Aurora area softball players.
The Angels Quimby/Becker 18 Gold squad includes Grandview grads Maddie Donaldson, Madison Jaramillo and Sasha Kennedy and Cherokee Trail grad Izzy Becker along with current Eaglecrest players Lelia Kelliher and Ryleigh Stufft plus Grandview’s Monroe Donaldson. The coaching staff is largely local as well, as it includes Eaglecrest head coach Yvette Hendrian as an assistant coach.
The Angels Waller team — coached by Vista PEAK Prep head coach John Waller — includes Vista PEAK Prep grad Amara Herrera, plus current players from Vista PEAK Prep (Rylie Camarillo), Regis Jesuit (Elsa Pedersen) and Cherokee Trail (Rylee Holsten, Kayla Kee and Emma Rice).
Other Aurora area players set to compete include Sydney Cobb (Cherokee Trail) and Caitlin Fairchild (Regis Jesuit) with the Colorado Batbusters 18U National Smith team.
In 16U play, Cherokee Trail’s Leera Davis and Taylen Shaver play with Batbusters 16U National Smith-Joiner, while Eaglecrest’s Lexi Bargar and Tiani Lobitos, Cherokee Trail’s Corrine Becker and Peyton Contes, Regis Jesuit’s Alex Tavlarides and Smoky Hill’s Nikiah Light suit up for the Colorado Angels Becker 16U.
The Colorado Sparkler tournament takes place concurrently at multiple sites.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
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