Preps: Aspen soccer beats CRMS for first win, faces rival Basalt next

Rounding up some high school sports results as the fall prep slate gets into midseason form.

FOOTBALL

For the first time since its season opener, Aspen is scheduled to return home on Friday against Summit. Kickoff is 7 p.m. on the AHS turf.

The Skiers (1-1) are coming off a tough 24-22 loss on Friday at undefeated Steamboat Springs; SSHS is ranked No. 1 in 3A this week. AHS beat Grand Valley back on Aug. 23 for its lone win, 28-8.

Summit, which plays a classification higher than Aspen in 3A, is 0-2 with losses to Glenwood Springs (35-13) and Canon City (21-0).

Basalt (3-0), ranked No. 10 in 2A as of Tuesday, heads to 3A Evergreen on Friday night. Kickoff is also 7 p.m.

The Longhorns are rolling right now, having recorded wins over Arvada (40-8), Rifle (42-12), and Glenwood Springs (35-7). Evergreen (2-0) has wins over Montbello (47-27) and George Washington (28-6) so far.

Roaring Fork football is 2-1 following Saturday’s forfeit win against Del Norte. The Rams next play Saturday at Prospect Ridge Academy (1-2).

BOYS SOCCER

Aspen got in the win column for the first time on Tuesday, beating Colorado Rocky Mountain School, 5-1, in Carbondale. The Skiers’ only other game this season had been their Sept. 12 opener at home against Steamboat Springs, a 4-0 loss.

AHS (1-1) next plays Thursday at rival Basalt. Game time is set for 4 p.m. on the BHS field.

The Longhorns are 3-4 overall, their latest outing a 3-0 home defeat to Delta on Saturday.

Thursday’s match between Aspen and Basalt is a non-league game; the two will meet again in the league contest on Oct. 19 in Aspen.

VOLLEYBALL

Aspen continues to ride the roller coaster as it sits at 4-4 overall this fall. The 3A Skiers lost 3-0 at home to Battle Mountain — a ranked 4A team — in their latest outing on Saturday. Prior to that, AHS beat Grand Valley at home, 3-1, in a league game. Aspen is 2-0 in league play up to this point, as its season-opening win over Olathe on Sept. 5 was also a league game.

Next up, the Skiers will play Thursday at Cedaredge, ranked No. 9 in Class 3A this week.

Basalt is 2-2 overall (2-1 WSL) following Thursday’s 3-1 home loss to Cedaredge. BHS had beaten Roaring Fork and Olathe in the two games prior.

The Longhorns host North Fork on Thursday and Steamboat Springs on Saturday. Aspen will travel to Basalt on Tuesday, Sept. 24, for the first of two regular-season meetings between the valley rivals.

Roaring Fork is 2-6 overall (0-1 WSL) and will host Coal Ridge on Thursday.

BOYS GOLF

The Basalt season continues to gain momentum as the Longhorns won again on Monday, shooting a collective 227 (11-over par) to win the Rifle Invitational at Rifle Creek Golf Course. Vail Christian was second with 238, Rifle third with 242, and Aspen seventh with 262.

Individually, Basalt senior Jackson Stewart won, shooting 2-over 74 to beat Vail Christian senior Sam Casey by a single stroke. Basalt’s Hudson Arnold and Meeker’s Wil Schwartz each shot 76 to tie for third place, while Basalt’s Griffin Didier locked down solo fifth place with 77. BHS freshman Parker Strelecki tied for sixth place with 78.

Aspen’s top finisher was sophomore Julian Plessett, who tied for 20^th with 86. AHS sophomore Colton Jones tied for 22^nd with 87. Most of Aspen’s top varsity golfers did not compete at Coal Ridge.

The countdown is ramping up for the regional tournament, to be held Sept. 30 at Snowmass Club.

CROSS COUNTRY

Many regional cross country teams converged Friday at a meet hosted by Coal Ridge in New Castle. The host Titans won the boys team title with 48 points, holding off Moffat (55) and Caprock (92). The Titans also won the girls team title with 57 points, followed by Caprock (83) and Delta (84). The Aspen girls were sixth with 118 points.

Individually, Soroco’s Nick Clark won the boys race in 17:13.1. Aspen’s Jack Diaz was seventh in 18:02.95. Aspen’s Dominic DiMaria also recorded a top-30 finish, coming in 26^th in 20:01.78.

The girls race was won by North Fork’s Saskia Marlin in 18:55.20. Coal Ridge’s Effie Fletcher was second in 18:55.26, losing in a photo finish. Aspen’s Julia Diaz was seventh in 20:30.2 to lead the Skiers. Darienne Kenny was 28^th for Aspen in 23:45.93.

Basalt did not compete at Coal Ridge.

SOFTBALL

Basalt is now 4-9 overall following back-to-back road losses to Durango (12-2) and Montezuma-Cortez (18-3) over the weekend. The Longhorns will look to get back on track this coming Thursday with a game at Montrose (2-10).

Aspen (0-3 against varsity opponents) was swept by Cedaredge in two games on Saturday, falling 20-0 and 23-0. The Skiers next play this coming Saturday at Delta (6-7).

BOYS TENNIS

Aspen boys tennis returns to the court Wednesday when it hosts Basalt, the third meeting between the teams this fall. AHS has recorded a pair of 6-1 wins, per MaxPreps, including as recently as Sept. 10. The Skiers have lost twice since, falling to Vail Christian (7-0) and a short-handed Steamboat Springs (4-3).

acolbert@aspentimes.com