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Vail Valley preps wrap

Chris Freud
Vail, CO Colorado
Jeff Caspersen Post Independent
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GLENWOOD SPRINGS – Happy Homecoming, Eagle Valley cross country.

The Devils get the week off from competition sort of as a pseudo All-Star-Break midseason.

“We are right at the halfway point, and we’re off next week as far as racing goes,” said Devils coach Melinda Brandt after Saturday’s Glenwood Springs Invitational. “The second half of the season, we start to pick up the speed work and have real specific training for regionals.”



Said regionals are in Cortez this year, so maybe both the Devils and Huskies can run there to get ready. Seriously though, if this were the All-Star Break of the cross country season, Eagle Valley would be well-represented at the Midsummer Classic.

Meghan Gilman continued her outstanding freshman campaign finishing fifth in a time of 20 minutes, 46 seconds. Nikki Cunning also did the same with a 20:54, good for ninth. Kira Quintana’s was right in the mix with a 21:11 (14th). Kelly Cassidy was on her heels in 17th (21:31), followed by Logan Kinser in 34th.

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This is good pack running for Eagle Valley. Remember, not only are the Devils trying to finish as low as possible to lower their team score, but by running in a bunch they bump up the places and scores of their competition.

As of press time, places and times for the boys’ race were not available, which was unfortunate, because Brandt felt her guys put up some sparkling performances.

Greg Salas, Caleb Krueger, Hunter Burnham, Ben Muelenthaler and Robbie Clark finished in that order within the team.

The Hoss Award winners were Taylor Claydon and Tyler Keegan.

Eagle Valley competes at Aspen in two weeks.

Huskies girls harriers rounding into form

HIGHLANDS RANCH – Honesty time.

Barring the Battle Mountain boys cross country team being stuck by lightning, the Huskies will likely qualify for regionals. The same can be said of Amelia Ortiz as an individual. The senior’s qualified her first three years in high school.

The question is whether the ladies can qualify as a team?

Madama Ortiz was her usual stunning self finishing third at Rock Canyon in a time of 19:57, but there was a nice bunching of black and gold behind her. Sydney Gaylord came around in 21:53; Maddy Ortiz (22:40); Maddie Stevens (22:44) and Val Rivero (23:02).

“In practices and in races, it’s been so cool the past two weeks,” Huskies coach Ryan Matthews said. “You get chills watching them run in a pack together. Sydney may be ahead a little bit, but if one of them falls off, there’s always someone to pick them up.”

The guys were the guys Saturday, taking seventh out of 14th in a heavy field on the Front Range. David Shearon was fourth in 16:45. Mitch Walker was giving Shearon a run for his money in seventh (17:12). David Suarez (21st, 17:55) Remsen Allard (48th, 18:46) and Charlie Barry (60th, 19:19) rounded out the scoring.

The Huskies are the Ana Banana in Fruita on Saturday, the last time they will meet up with Moffat County before regionals.

Volleyball

Eagle Valley 3, Palisade 1

PALISADE – OK, Eagle Valley volleyball got pushed a bit Saturday, and that’s a good thing.

The Devils took Palisade on the road in four games, 25-19, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, to move their Slope mark to 3-0.

“(Palisade) is probably the best team we’ve seen since Fruita,” Devils coach Shawn Weatherred said. “They were definitely the first team in a while that attacked the ball hard and served hard.”

And so the Devils got a nice test. In the one game the Devils lost, Eagle Valley was actually down 16-3, and still made it a contest.

Next up on the hit parade for the Devils (7-1) is Round 1 against Battle Mountain at 6 p.m. in Gypsum on Tuesday.

“I think we just have to view this as another game in our season and do our best,” Weatherred said. “This game does not make or break our season.”

Rangely 3, Vail Mountain 0

Hayden 3, Vail Mountain 0

EAST VAIL – This is not how Homecoming is meant to go.

Hayden spoiled the party Saturday afternoon, taking down Vail Mountain volleyball in three games, just 24 hours after the Gore Rangers fell by the same count in Rangely.

VMS (2-8 overall, 0-4 against 2A league opponents) had trouble finishing in the second and third games, holding 10-point leads against Hayden.

“We’ll see West Grand again, Meeker again, Soroco for the first time and Hayden again in the next few weeks,” VMS coach Mike Garvey said. “We’re on the right track. We’re seeing steady improvement and we’ve got five weeks left in the season. We’re seeing progress with our young players.”

VMS hosts North Park Friday and is at Hayden Saturday.

Delta 3, Battle Mountain 1

DELTA – Battle Mountain volleyball lost a tough one Saturday, bowing to Delta in four games, 25-16, 25-18, 20-25, 26-24.

The Huskies (2-6) got 36 kills combined from Krista Norris and LaRose Currie, and 35 assists from setter Jayna Horn.

Battle Mountain is at Eagle Valley Tuesday.

Softball

Delta 12, Eagle Valley 2

DELTA – Delta’s Tiffany Schaaf struck out 12 as the Panthers defeated Eagle Valley softball, 12-2.

Eagle Valley (2-14) hosts Rifle at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 970-748-2934 or cfreud@vaildaily.com.


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