For the past couple of weeks after clinching their Western Slope League title, the Montezuma-Cortez softball team knew that their postseason qualification was assured – it was just a matter of which foes would stand in their way of a state qualification berth.
The long wait is over, M-CHS landed the No. 16 seed in the 3A state regional tournament field, and will travel to Eaton for their regional semifinal on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 12:15 p.m. The Panthers (13-9) will face off with No. 17 Sterling (12-9-2) in their regional opener with a state tournament qualification bid on the line.
The winner of the matchup between the Panthers and Tigers will face either the defending state champion No. 1 seed Eaton or No. 32 Kennedy in the regional final round at 2:30 p.m. While the program’s first regional title is on the minds of head coach Anthony “Hippo” Frost’s club when they make the trip to north-central Colorado, a victory against Sterling would guarantee the Panthers another week together, and the school’s first state appearance since 2021.
Six seniors guide the Panthers on their travels, with senior Devyn Cornett looking to take the ball in the circle for the win-or-go-home matchup against Sterling. The Tigers, who finished fifth in the Patriot League, are led by a strong junior class including the team’s leading hitter Makenzie Beck.
A win would propel the Panthers to the Aurora Sports Complex on the following weekend, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26 for the single-elimination 3A state tournament bracket.
