HS Softball – League Champions

This was both a difficult game to photograph and a great game to photograph.  It was difficult for three main reasons.  First, this late in the season, the sun was getting lower in the sky, so shooting from the third base side meant shooting directly into the sun.  Second, the softball field at RV was really dry, getting very little water, so any movement on the field was kicking up a lot of dust.  Third, it was the start of a very long shooting evening since across the parking lot a couple hours after the start of this game, I had the Chatfield and RV volleyball match.

It was a great game to shoot because it was the Pink game for the Mustangs, and they were wearing really cool gray jerseys with pink accents.  It was also the last home game of the regular season, and if Ralston Valley won, they would be the Jeffco 5A League Champion.  They were tied for first with Dakota Ridge going into the game, and Dakota Ridge was facing off with Lakewood at the same time this game was starting.

Chatfield jumped on the scoreboard first, plating 4 runs in the top of the first.  RV did not look good.  They were playing not to their normal level, but it was just the first inning.  In the bottom of the first, the Mustangs were able to cut the Chargers lead in half.  With another run in the bottom of the third, the Mustangs were only one run behind Chatfield going into the top of the third inning.  Then the wheels appeared to fall off as Chatfield took a 6 to 3 lead in the top of the inning kept that lead through the top of the 6th inning.  Routine fly balls were dropped by the Mustangs, the normally sure footed senior centerfielder Katie Lamirato fell down chasing after a ball that was hit over her head.  Baserunning errors, not getting on base, things just were falling apart.  Then, the Ralston Valley Mustang Varsity Softball team showed up.  In the bottom of the 6th inning, the wheels were tightened up, and a surge hit the Mustangs.  Getting base runners was the start, then a huge 2 run triple by junior Kat Schaefer was the highlight of a 5 run bottom of the 6th inning.  Holding the Chatfield Chargers scoreless in the top of the inning gave the Mustangs the victory at the same time that Dakota Ridge was defeating the Lakewood Tigers.

So both Dakota Ridge and Ralston Valley finished league play with a record of 7-1, but the title of league champions was all the Mustangs.  Earlier in the season the Mustangs hosted Dakota Ridge and won the game in extra innings giving Ralston Valley the tie breaker for the championship.  Ralston Valley, now ranked 7th in Colorado 5A Softball, has one more non-league game against Wheat Ridge before the playoffs start.  Dakota Ridge, is ranked 5th, so their is a very good chance both teams could see each other again before the season is over.

Here is my 10 shot from the game.

RV was sporting some of the best “Pink” uniforms I have ever seen.  Gray jerseys with pink accents, and some wild pink socks.

This next shot was a lucky shot.  I swung my camera around and she (Chatfield shortstop) was very close and thankfully my focus was able to lock in time to get this moment.

Shooting into the sun can give some fun rim lighting and back lighting, but can be a pain for exposure and white balance.

Hopefully for Ralston Valley, all the dropped infield pop ups were used up during this game, so they can go far in the playoffs.

Some of these photos and more are available to view and purchase through MaxPreps.