Last Friday, the Montezuma-Cortez High School softball team thought its season was over.
After athletic directors took a second look at the team’s record however, it was determined that M-CHS had qualified for the playoffs.
The seeds for the change were planted on Oct. 3, at which time the Panthers traveled to Montrose to complete a game that was suspended on Sept. 26.
Before completing the game, both teams believed that if Montrose won, they’d qualify for the playoffs, while if M-CHS won, Durango would qualify.
Resuming with M-CHS leading 10-8, Panthers pitcher Tayla Topaha took the mound in the bottom of the seventh and after walking the first batter, induced three ground balls for the win.
According to M-CHS head coach Brett Martin, players and coaches believed that their season was over after the game.
On Oct. 4, however, M-CHS athletic director Stacey Hall talked with other league athletic directors, and it was determined that the Panthers had qualified for the playoffs.
“It came down to common opponents,” said Hall. “(M-CHS), Durango and Montrose all finished 1-1 against one another. Since we beat Delta and the other schools didn’t, we made the playoffs.”
The Panthers will enter the Class 4A Region 1 playoffs seeded 32nd in the state and play top-seeded Frederick High School in Longmont on Oct. 11.
Falcon and Weld Central will also be in the Region 1 tournament, and the top two advance to the 4A state tournament.
Discussing M-CHS’s unlikely berth in the playoffs, Martin said players and coaches are excited.
“One of the goals that we set at the beginning of the season was to reach this level,” said Martin. “To win only two games last year and enter the playoffs this year is a tremendous success story.”
