For the fourth time in the past seven years, Montezuma-Cortez High School will send its softball team to the state tournament.
The Panthers loaded up the bus Thursday morning en route to Aurora for the 16-team 3A state tournament, which begins on Friday. Montezuma-Cortez (14-10) will take on No. 3 seed University (18-7) at 12:15 p.m. Friday at the Aurora Sports Complex.
Montezuma-Cortez is the No. 14 seed by virtue of its regional tournament victory over Sterling last week.
The winner of the Round of 16 matchup will face either No. 6 Rocky Ford or No. 11 Alamosa in the quarterfinals at approximately 2:30 p.m.
The four teams left standing from the opening two rounds will play in the state semifinals at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the championship game slated for 1 p.m.
