As it so often does, the spring sports season has flown by.
The playoffs are just around the corner, but there's still a lot left to be decided in more than a few league races before we get to postseason play.
With that in mind, let's take a glance at what's going on in the various leagues, and what needs to be done by teams at the top of the standings to walk away with the league title.
BASEBALL
Continental League round-up
It's a three-team race in the Class 5A/4A Continental League, as Regis Jesuit (6-0 league, 11-3 overall) and Chaparral (6-0, 10-3) sit atop the standings, with Legend (5-1, 9-4) a game back. Regis plays at Chaparral in the final game of the regular season on May 2, and that game could very well wind up deciding the league champion. Highlands Ranch (4-2, 8-5) has a chance to get back into the race with a win April 25 against Chaparral, although earlier losses to Legend and Regis hurt in a tiebreak scenario. Douglas County, Mountain Vista, Ponderosa and Castle View are all knotted together with 3-3 league records, which ThunderRidge sits at 2-4. Neither Heritage nor Littleton has won a league game this season.
Centennial League round-up
Barring an unforeseen cold streak, top-ranked Cherry Creek should emerge from the pack as league champions. The Bruins have yet to taste defeat in league play, and have already topped their next-closest competitors, Grandview (6-2 league, 11-2 overall) and Arapahoe (6-2, 9-4). Cherry Creek (8-0, 12-1) does see both teams again, and while Cherokee Trail has been inconsistent, they still will provide a challenge, as evident by its 3-0 win over Arapahoe on April 21. The loss to Cherokee Trail snapped a five-game winning streak for the Warriors, who have improved their play from the beginning of the season.
3A/2A Metro League round-up
Faith Christian has a three-game lead over Lutheran in the loss column, so the 14-1 Eagles, who have allowed just 29 runs (they've scored 189) on the season, appear to have things well in hand. Kent Denver (3-5, 4-10) and Englewood (3-9, 5-10) sit in the bottom third of the standings.
GIRLS SOCCER
Centennial League round-up
Arapahoe has the inside track on the league title, and could already have the league title secured by the time they face Cherry Creek on April 26 at the Stutler Bowl. The Warriors (4-0 league, 10-1 overall) have allowed just four goals on the season. Cherry Creek (3-1-1, 8-3-2) will need a bit of help from Cherokee Trail (2-2-1, 4-7-1) in order for its game against Arapahoe to still have league title implications. Should Arapahoe lose to Cherokee Trail and Cherry Creek win its game against Smoky Hill (4-2, 8-3-1), the Bruins would still have to defeat the Warriors, as a tie wouldn't be enough to overtake the Warriors.
Continental League round-up
A week ago, Mountain Vista seemed like a sure bet to win the league title, now the Golden Eagles find themselves in a tie with Rock Canyon at 6-1-1 atop the standings. The two teams play each other in the final game of the regular season on May 1 at Shea Stadium. Heritage (4-3, 7-4) and Highlands Ranch (3-2-2, 3-5-2) are currently tied for fifth-place in the league standings, just behind ThunderRidge (4-2-2, 8-2-2) and Legend (5-3, 7-4). Chaparral (3-2-3, 6-2-3) and Littleton (3-5, 6-6) could play its way into the top half of the standings with solid play down the stretch.
Class 3A/Region 6 round-up
It's a log jam at the top of the standings as Holy Family (5-1, 9-2), Peak to Peak (4-1, 8-2), Faith Christian (4-1-1, 8-2-1) and Colorado Academy (3-1-1, 7-2-2) are all within striking distance of the league title. Jefferson Academy (3-3-1, 8-3-1) heads the next wave of teams, followed by Kent Denver (2-2, 3-4-4) and St. Mary's Academy (2-3-1, 5-5-2).
BOYS LACROSSE
Front Range round-up
Kent Denver (8-2 overall) clinched the Front Range title, as they finished league play with a perfect 3-0 record. Colorado Academy finished second with a 4-1 league mark (8-5 overall), followed by Denver East (2-2, 8-5), George Washington (1-3, 2-8), Denver South (1-3, 2-10) and Bishop Machebeuf (0-2, 2-7).
Centennial League round-up
It boils down to one game: Cherry Creek versus Arapahoe. The winner will walk away with the league title. The game is scheduled for April 30 at 6 p.m. at Littleton Public Schools Stadium. Both teams have yet to taste defeat in league play, and combined have just two losses on the season. The top-ranked Warriors are undefeated at 11-0 on the year, while Cherry Creek sits at 11-2, and is coming off an emotional 6-5 overtime victory against Kent Denver in a non-league game. Arapahoe also defeated the Sun Devils by one goal.
South Suburban round-up
Regis Jesuit won the league title, as they finished with a 4-0 mark. The Raiders, 11-2 overall, were followed in the standings by Heritage (4-1, 9-4). Valor Christian (3-2, 5-6) and Littleton (2-2, 6-5) currently sit in third- and fourth-place, respectively, but could flip-flop if Littleton defeats Valor on April 26 at Valor Christian High School.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Centennial League round-up
By virtue of its win over Arapahoe last week, Cherry Creek clinched the Centennial League with a 4-0 record. The Bruins (11-1 overall) finish out the regular season with three non-league games.
Continental League round-up
Regis Jesuit sits atop the standings with a 3-0 mark, and can clinch the league title with wins this week over Chaparral (2-1, 7-2) and Douglas County/Castle View (1-2, 6-5). Heritage/Littleton (2-2, 3-7) is currently fourth, while Valor Christian (0-2, 1-7) and Rangeview (0-2, 0-9) round out the standings.
Metro league round-up
Kent Denver can clinch the league championship with a win over St. Mary's Academy on April 25. The Sun Devils (4-0, 8-2) host the Wildcats (1-1, 6-4) at 4:15 p.m. St. Mary's finishes up league play with games against John F. Kennedy on May 2 and Thompson Valley on May 4. If the Wildcats win two of those last three league games, they can move into third place in the standings.
