All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
The Niwot Youth Sports 10U Wildcats softball team finished second at the Indian Peaks Girls Softball Association end of season tournament. Top row (l to r): Coaches Jeremy Deems, Paula Deems, Bill Dickhans and Murph McCloy; Middle row: Layla Polk, Sasha Strickland, Maya Loughlin, Emily Dickhans, Evie Gremaud, Nicole Myers; Front row: Julianna Deems, Nora Lockwood, Molly Larsen, Marlowe Getter, Gabriella D'Angelo; Not pictured, Ella Johnston.
The Niwot Youth Sports 14U Cheetahs softball team took second at the Indian Peaks Girls Softball Association end of season tournament. Front row (l to r): Brenley Ludlow, Amelia White, Kiera Laput; Back Row: Campbell Owens, Kendal Evans, Sofia Laput, Sofia McMurry, Alana Carl, Mandy Roth, Emerson Laughlin; Not pictured: Lyndsey Brown; Coaches: Chad Owens, Lance Carl, Aaron Evans.
With the final games played this past week, a terrific Niwot Youth Sports recreational softball season has officially come to a close.
NYS softball teams played league games and tournaments through the Indian Peaks Girls Softball Association (IPGSA), which has connected softball teams across the Northern Front Range for nearly 40 years. In all, NYS fielded 13 softball teams, comprised of over 170 players in divisions ranging from 8U to 18U, some of the highest participation numbers the program has seen in many years.
In early May, the softball season got underway with NYS' Opening Day ceremonies, featuring a visit from Colorado Rockies' mascot Dinger, the playing of the National Anthem by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, a bouncy house, team photos and informal scrimmages between NYS teams.
During Opening Day, former players, coaches and league officials participated in a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off NYS' Monarch Improvement Project, an initiative to upgrade Monarch Park to include a new on-site building, featuring a concession stand, storage and permanent restrooms. The project's $500,000 fundraising goal has been partially met, with donations now exceeding $250,000. Tax deductible donations can be made online at http://www.niwotyouthsports.org, or by texting the word "Monarch" to 801801.
In early June, select players from NYS softball teams participated in the IPGSA Round Robin Tournament. Teams for the Round Robin are formed by placing players from 11-12 different teams on rosters together. "This is a unique opportunity to build connections with other teams and players across the front range, and the kids have a blast," said longtime NYS softball director Glenn Wager. "For most players, it's their favorite event of the year."
The NYS softball season culminated in the IPGSA End of Season Tournament for teams that qualified through their regular season records. NYS teams had a strong presence in the tournament this year, with 7 of 10 possible teams (8U does not participate in the tournament) making the playoffs.
In the 10U division, coaches Jeremy and Paula Deems' NYS Wildcats leaned on their strong pitching to make it to the championship game, ultimately taking second place behind the Lyons Lions. The loss was the first of the year for the Wildcats, who placed second overall out of a staggering 33 teams in the IPGSA 10U division.
In the 14U division, coach Chad Owens' NYS Cheetahs also had a strong showing, finishing in second place out of 18 teams in the division. As a team with many returning players over several seasons, the Cheetahs' team chemistry and rock-solid pitching helped lead the charge to Championship Sunday.
Looking forward, NYS softball teams will play in the IPGSA Fall League, starting in early September. For more information on Fall Softball or to register a player, please reach out to Glenn Wager at [email protected].
Reader Comments(0)