Snow much for that idea - #lakewoodnews

Mountain Vista's baseball team didn't get out of town soon enough.

Instead of playing games in the Rawlings Classic in Emerson, Georgia, the Golden Eagles spent spring break watching it snow in the Denver area and trying to remain sharp with batting-practice sessions.

The Golden Eagles were scheduled to leave March 23 for the March 24-26 tournament but the team couldn't even get to Denver International Airport because of the heavy, wet snow that closed Pena Boulevard.

All flights were canceled and the first re-booked flight Mountain Vista could get was March 26 --; which was too late. The team did get its money back.

Ralston Valley also was entered in the Georgia tournament and left the day before the storm. The Mustangs went 2-2 and had Tanner Hauptman, Reed Hutchin and Lane Kimbro make the Rawlings Select Classic all-tournament team.

Missing the four games left Vista with only 15 scheduled games, four less than the minimum of 19 contests. The Golden Eagles have added two games with Cherokee Trail, which was also stuck in the snow and couldn't get out of town, and one with Broomfield.

Playing one less game will not damage Vista's RPI standing --; a computer ranking --;which will be used to determine qualifying teams for the state tournament.

According to a statement from the Colorado High School Activities Association, "Because the RPI system works off of averages, it won't make a difference in the final formula if a game cannot be rescheduled. It would not penalize, nor benefit, any team involved in that scenario."

Two no-hitters: same school, same day

Faith Christian senior lefthander AJ Stephens threw a six-inning no-hitter in a 10-0 win over Machebeuf April 2, but what makes the day more amazing is freshman junior varsity pitcher Michael Thorne followed by not allowing a hit in a five-inning, 16-0 victory.

"AJ did a good job and we scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth, so he didn't have to pitch the seventh," said coach Ralph Nance. "Then the kid that pitched the JV game which followed right behind the varsity game threw a no-hitter as well. We've never had two (no-hitters) in a row."

Stephens, who will pitch at Garden City Community College in Kansas next season, struck out 14 batters, walked three, threw 93 pitches and came up with big pitches as he often pitched from behind in the count during the game. He also helped his own cause by going 3-for-3 at the plate, scored twice, had two runs batted in and stole two bases.

Thorne walked three batters and struck out 11 in his no-hit effort.

Following in his father's footsteps

Brent Gilbertson was a hurdler for Nevada-Las Vegas and Northern Colorado in the 1970s. He became a teacher and wanted to get his two children, son Max and daughter Zoe, involved in sports.

Gilbertson coached Max in little league football and Zoe played club soccer. Both have competed in track programs since they were young.

Max is now a senior at Mountain Range and Zoe is a junior. They are two of the top hurdlers and sprinters in the state. Brent, now a retired English teacher, is the Mustangs' hurdles and sprints coach.

At the April 2 Mountain Range Invitational, Max won both hurdles events and Zoe was first in two girls hurdles events and the 100-meter dash.

"Max and Zoe have made steady progress over the years and it is starting to pay off," said Brent. "Max's progress has been hampered over the last few seasons due to football injuries but he seems to be back to his competitive self and Zoe just keeps improving each week."

Max tied a (North) stadium record and set a new meet record with a 14:54 in the 110-meter hurdles. In the 300 hurdles, he tripped going over the fourth hurdle but had such a big lead that he got up and still won. He was fourth in the 100 but broke the school record with a time of 11.2 seconds.

School records every time

Margaret Neuhardt has a chance to set a school record every time she competes this track season.

Neuhart goes to Golden View Classical Academy, which is a first- year charter school with 33 freshmen and sophomores enrolled. There are 11 athletes combined on the boys and girls track team.

And Neuhart is the only girl on the team --; so every time she competes and betters her previous time, she establishes a school record.

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