AURORA -- Holy Family and Erie remained on track for a rematch in this year's Class 3A state softball title game, but the ride wasn't without its share of speed bumps Friday at the Aurora Sports Complex.
After two wins Friday, No. 1 Holy Family advanced to today's semifinals and will play No. 4 Valley at 10 a.m.
No. 2 Erie faces No. 6 Platte Canyon in the other semifinal, also at 10 a.m.
If both teams advance, it will mark the fourth time in a row the two teams will have met in the finals. Erie won last year and in 2005. Holy Family won in 2006, snapping Erie's six-year title streak.
This year, everyone is eager for a rematch of last year's state title and of Holy Family's win over Erie earlier this season.
"I am so ready to play them. I was ready to play them at eight o' clock this morning," Erie pitcher Mariah Bledsoe said. "I think we're hitting a lot better since then and we've gotten a lot better as a team."
Holy Family right fielder Beth Petersen is hoping her team's regular season win over Erie gives them an edge if they face Erie for the state title, but she knows that an early win can be a double-edged sword.
"It also brings a lot (of momentum) to them," Petersen said. "We got the target on our back, so they'll be looking to win more."
Holy Family coach Glen Ramos refused to look that far ahead.
"When the game is over and we're standing on top,you can come talk to us then," he said.
Friday's first-round games went smoothly for No. 1 Holy Family and No. 2 Erie.
Third baseman Mary Petersen led Holy Family with four hits and two doubles in a rout of Platte Valley 12-2.
With the help of her defense, Erie pitcher Lauren Murphy-Payne threw a no-hitter to beat Rocky Ford 10-0. Murphy-Payne had four strikeouts, but walked three and hit two batters.
There was no reason for her to worry, her defense was flawless in tracking down every ball put in play to keep her out of danger.
"Our pitching was a little shaky at first," Erie coach Bob Bledsoe said. "It's always tough your first year at state but I think she did a good job of getting over her jitters."
Both Erie and Holy Family had jittery moments in their respective second-round games before Erie prevailed 5-1 over Limon and Holy Family 4-3 over Faith Christian.
Erie's challenge came in the first inning after Limon successfully bunted twice in a row and an Erie error allowed the Badgers to score first.
"I think we were all stressed out after the first inning when they got all those bunts down," Mariah Bledsoe said. "I think they thought they found a weak spot in us, and, in a way, they did. But I think we came through with our run support and that really just helps out a pitcher."
None came through bigger than shortstop Ashley Ortega and left fielder Kaylynn Harmon, who each went 2-for-3 and hit a triple.
Ortega wasn't impressed with her team's five runs.
"We could've done better but it's OK," Ortega said.
Just a few hundred feet away, Holy Family was locked in its own battle to get to today's semifinals.
Holy Family trailed by one run going into the fifth inning when its bats finally got hot.
Outfielder Rachel Boothe and second baseman Lara Mathewson each hit a single and catcher Caitlin Connelly drew a walk.
Outfielder Daiva Jarasius picked the right time to smack a two-RBI single. Amy Baumberger provided the encore, with an RBI single to left field.
Faith Christian wasn't going away without a fight, scoring a run in the next two innings to tie the score going into the seventh.
With a runner on in the top of the seventh, Holy Family pitcher Amy Christopher found a little luck at the plate. She hit a pop fly to left, but the outfielder dropped the ball and Jarasius scored.
Faith Christian hit two last gasp deep balls, but Peterson and left fielder Ciara Clyncke gobbled them up.
"Relieved, obviously," Peterson, who slumped over in relief after the catch, said of how she felt. "Everybody in the dugout was like, 'Oh my gosh I'm so nervous.' Then, when the left fielder dropped the pop fly, everybody just kind of relaxed."
Ramos said he knew they were going to be just fine.
"Not nervous, I would probably say excited," Ramos said. "We knew we were going to be in a real tough game."
State softball
HOLY FAMILY 4, FAITH CHRISTIAN 3
Score by innings:
Holy Family 000 030 1 -- 4 8 4
Faith Christian 001 011 0 -- 3 10 1
Christopher and Connelly, Johnson and Griego. W -- Christopher. L -- Johnson.
Holy Family hitting -- Mathewson 3-3, Booth 1-3, Connelly 1-3, Baumberger 1-4, Jarasius 1-4, Christopher 1-4, B. Petersen 0-3, White 0-3, M. Petersen 0-4.
Faith Christian hitting -- Gallegos 2-3, Johnson 2-3, Benson 2-4, Harris 1-3, Roundtree 1-3, Griego 1-3, Thompson 1-4, Bakarich 0-3, Richardson 0-3. 2B -- Thompson, Johnson.
ERIE 10, ROCKY FORD 0
Score by innings:
Rocky Ford 000 000 0 -- 0 0 1
Erie 100 202 x -- 10 11 0
Lowther and Hernandez, Murphy-Payne and Kovac. W -- Murphy-Payne. L -- Lowther.
Rocky Ford hitting -- A. Lowther 0-2, Kienitz 0-2, Hernandez 0-2, Munger 0-1, Lozano 0-0, T. Lowther 0-2, Mosher 0-2, Viescus 0-2, Gonzales 0-1.
Erie hitting -- Ruiz 1-2, David 3-3, Fong 1-3, Ortega 2-3, Maul 0-2, Harmon 1-2, Glick 0-2, Gartell 0-2, Kovac 1-2, Wetsch 0-1, Bledsoe 1-1. 2B -- Ortega, Fong, David. 3B -- Ortega,
ERIE 4, LIMON 3
Score by innings:
Limon 100 000 0 -- 1 2 4
Erie 100 202 x -- 5 7 1
Dutton and Ashcraft, Bledsoe and Kovac. W -- Bledsoe. L -- Dutton.
Limon hitting -- Taylor 1-3, Dutton 1-3, Malcom 0-1, Lengel 0-1, Smithson 0-2, Ashcraft 0-3, Head 0-3, Hollenbaugh 0-3, Kollath 0-2.
Erie hitting -- Harmon 2-3, Ortega 2-3, Ruiz 2-3, Gartrell, Kovac 0-3, Maul 0-2, Fong 0-3, David 0-3, Bledsoe 0-3. 2B -- Ruiz. 3B -- Ortega, Harmon.
HOLY FAMILY 12, PLATTE VALLEY 2
Score by innings:
Platte Valley 000 011 -- 2 8 2
Holy Family 403 122 -- 12 16 1
Furnish, Niederkorn (4) and Creech, Christopher and Connelly. W -- Christopher. L --Furnish.
Platte Valley hitting -- Widick 2-3, Prescott 0-2, Busch 0-2, Boothe 1-1, Dunn 0-1, Moser 0-2, Larson 0-1, Lawreu 1-2, Creech 1-2, Furnish 0-1, Niederkorn 0-2, Joseph 2-3, Bowman 3-3. 2B -- Joseph.
Holy Family hitting -- Mathewson 2-4, M. Petersen 4-4, Connelly 1-4, Christopher 2-4, Jarasius 2-2, Baumberger 2-3, Wild 3-3, B. Petersen 1-2, Gonzalez 0-1, Boothe 1-2, Medrano 1-1. 2B -- Petersen, Boothe.
VALLEY 4, LYONS 3
Score by innings:
Lyons 100 000 2 -- 3 4 1
Valley 012 001 x -- 4 6 1
Sutak and Hudson, Huston and Crystal. W -- Huston. L -- Sutak.
Lyons hitting -- Sutak 0-3, Hammans 1-3, Rudlong 0-3, Subbert 1-3, Hudson 0-2, Myers 1-3, Williams 1-3, Tusay 0-2, Bashor 0-3. 2B -- Williams.
Valley hitting -- Hubbard 0-3, Michaels 1-3, Asbury 1-3, Huston 0-2, Meining 0-3, M. Odenbaugh 1-2, Ray 2-3, C. Odenbaugh 1-3, Reynolds 0-2.
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