Cougar softball wraps up successful season

At the November team banquet for the Niwot High School girls softball team, head coach Bobby Matthews reiterated what he had said earlier in the year: softball can be a rough sport, and the best players don't always come out on top. He was clearly proud of this year's team that went as far as any Niwot team has gone since 2014, posting an overall record of 18 wins, 8 losses and one tie.

The softball team placed third in the Longs Peak League and was ranked 32nd in the state. However, their play set the tone for broader program successes. This year's JV team played well and with a winning focus. In addition, this was the first time in many years that the high school program had expanded to a C team. Play on all levels supported hopes that this season is the start to an extended upswing that will continue to build in the future.

Individual achievements highlighted the success of the team this year. Matthews received co-Coach of the Year honors for the Longs Peak Conference, and shortstop Autumn Rutherford was named All Conference Player of the Year. Rutherford, pitcher Kiana Butler and third baseman Anne Booth were each named to the Long's Peak All Conference team and first baseman Zoe Cameron was named as an honorable mention for the conference. In addition, nine players were named to the Academic All-State Team.

Rutherford, who signed to play D1 softball at Colorado State University earlier this month, was also named to the First Team in the 2023 Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) All-State Team. Some impressive stats got her there, as she led the 4A Longs Peak League in batting average, finishing just ahead of Frederick High School's Makenzie Sais, who held the top spot for much of the season. Rutherford also held the top spot in the league for on-base percentage, the number two spot for home runs and stolen bases, and was eighth in RBIs.

Booth was named to the Second Team in the 2023 CHSAA All-State Team. Though she has signed with Brown University to play lacrosse and won't be continuing her softball career, she led the league in home runs with 11, was second in RBIs with 40, and finished fourth in batting average.

New to Niwot this year, Butler made her mark on the team and in the league. She led the Longs Peak League in strikeouts and was fourth in the same category across all of Class 4A. She was also second in games won in the Longs Peak League.

Eight Cougars cracked the top 20 in the Longs Peak League for stolen bases. They were Rutherford at number two (26 SB), May Herrera at number seven (11 SB), Madison Dodge and Jenna Hobson tying in the ninth and tenth spots (9 SB), Zoe Cameron, Camryn Legh and Booth tying for the 11th, 12th and 13th spots (8 SB) and Julia Philofsky in 18th place (6 SB).

Though next year's play is many months away, this year's success is inspiring players to prepare for next season. Players are regularly lifting in the off season, and are preparing to take part in other sports through the rest of the year. With this kind of drive, it will be exciting to see what the next season will bring.