Rye baseball team enters familiar territory at Class 2A state tournament
They've been here before. And the results usually have been positive.
The Rye High School baseball team enters the final eight of the Class 2A state baseball tournament on Friday at the Runyon Sports Complex.
The No. 3-seeded Thunderbolts (22-3) take on No. 6 St. Mary's (17-8)) in the quarterfinals at 10 a.m. at Andenucio Field in the single-elimination bracket. The winner advances to Saturday's Final Four. The loser's season will end.
In other quarterfinal matchups, No. 2 Peyton (24-1) takes on No. 10 Buena Vista (15-10) at 10 a.m. on Hobbs Field, and No. 1 Limon (23-0) meets No. 8 Wiggins (16-9) at 12:30 p.m. on Hobbs, and No. 5 Highland (19-4) battles No. 13 Denver Christian (17-8) at 12:30 p.m. on Andenucio.
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The Rye-St. Mary's winner takes on the Peyton-Buena Vista winner in the semifinals at 10 a.m. Saturday on Hobbs and the Limon-Wiggins winner meets the Highland-Denver Christian winner in the other semifinal at 12:30 p.m. Saturday on Hobbs.
The championship is slated for June 4 at Rawlings Field on the Colorado State University Pueblo campus.
Seven of the eight teams return from last season when Limon defeated Peyton 11-7 in the championship game.
Rye enters the final eight with history on its side. The Thunderbolts have won three state titles (2015, 2011, and 1990) and have been a frequent qualifier to the Class 2A playoffs.
Rye head coach Clay Klipfel hopes his team can live up to tradition this season.
"I think we're down to some dang good teams," Klipfel said. "I think we have a shot at all of them. I think it's going to be some good baseball."
Rye junior Riley Rochester said his team is prepared for the final eight.
"Everyone has all the same energy and that's what brings us together," he said. "We have to grind if we want to go further because some powerhouses are going to the Elite Eight, for sure."
Limon is the defending champion and has won three state titles (2021, 2010, 2006) in its history.
Wiggins also has won three titles (2002, 1986, 1985), while Peyton (2019, 2018) and Denver Christian (2013, 1976) have won two apiece and Highland (1976) one. Buena Vista and St. Mary's have yet to win a state title.
If the eight teams appear familiar with each other, it's because they are, not only in the postseason but the regular season.
Each team has played a final eight opponent at least twice during the 2022 regular season.
Limon has beaten five of the final eight teams this season, including its quarterfinal opponent Wiggins 12-1, Highland is 3-0 against the final eight, Peyton is 3-1, St. Mary's is 2-2, Rye is 1-2, Denver Christian is 0-2, Wiggins is 0-3, and Buena Vista 0-4.
Chieftain senior sports reporter Jeff Letofsky can be reached by email at jletofsky@chieftain.com or on Twitter @jeffletofsky
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Rye baseball team in familiar surroundings at 2A state tourney
