The chance to coach her first All-State softball game Wednesday, came with a bittersweet note for Dawn Gaffin.
After one of the most successful runs in high school softball history, capped with a fifth-straight Class 5A state title, the Legacy coach has the opportunity to garner some extra recognition in the showcase game. But Gaffin took the helm of the Red team without one of her top and arguably closest players.
The coach’s daughter Rainey Gaffin was chosen as a pitcher/utility player, but she did not take the field in Alamosa.
“She’s stuck in California,” Dawn Gaffin said. “It didn’t fit into her club schedule and we just couldn’t justify a $300 plane trip just to play in one game.”
The game was the last time the mother and daughter would have stepped on the field as player and coach. Rainey Gaffin is moving her softball career to NCAA Division-I powerhouse University of Tennessee next season. The game also came on the same day Gaffin was named Gatorade’s Colorado Softball Player of the year.
Even with the potential for a emotional high school finale, the Gaffins took the missed opportunity in stride.
For Rainey Gaffin the real bummer of missing the All-State Game was the opportunity to play with and against many of the state’s top players. This included teammate Jessica Ball, the Legacy shortstop slated to play at the University of Northern Colorado.
“I’ve grown close to many of those girls, it would have been nice to have had one last hurrah,” the Volunteers’ future first baseman/outfielder said. “Since we’re going all over the country, it might have been the last time I saw any of those girls.”
Tigers’ Franz, Johannsen face each other in All-State volleyball
Kassy Johannsen and Mary Franz terrorized Class 3A volleyball with their relentless attacks. In Saturday’s All-State Games, the Holy Family teammates have the potential to wreak havoc on each other.
The hitters were split up for the games, with Johannsen playing for the Black team and Franz the White. Sparks were sure to fly when the Tigers faced each other. The teammates are well matched, in size and statistics; Johannsen finished the Tigers’ 2011 campaign with 445 kills, Franz with 363.
Wood, Giltner aimed to bring plenty of offense to the All-State hoops
Despite Broomfield’s success in basketball the past year, the town will have scant representation at the Saturday and Sunday’s All-State Games. Broomfield’s Austin Wood and Holy Family’s Stephanie Giltner were the only local players on the rosters.
Given their seasons, each of the guards had the potential to make big impacts for their teams.
Wood finished the 2011 season his team’s top scorer, averaging 12.7 points per game. He was red hot in his team’s run to the Class 4A Final Four. He had career-best games against Wasson (23 points) in the Sweet 16 and Golden (26) in the Great Eight. Giltner also finished her team’s top scorer, not only in the season, but overall. Averaging 15.8 points per game her senior year helped the guard set the all-time scoring record at Holy Family with 947 points.
Legacy’s highflying McWee to cap high school football career in Alamosa
Legacy’s highest flier was the only Broomfield football player slated to take the field in Saturday’s All-State football game. Cameron McWee earned a spot with the North team after finishing his record-breaking career with the Lightning.
The Colorado Mesa University-bound receiver left Legacy with the team’s single-game receiving record (169 yards, set in 2010), its single-season receiving record (751 yards) and its all-time receiving record (1,404 yards).
