Kilponen-led Valor still super in softball
The more a sports dynasty builds, the more critics look for cracks.
I have tried, and failed, to do that with Valor Christian softball, the three-time defending Class 4A state champion. Despite the graduation of five starters from last season’s squad, and despite coach Dave Atencio telling me before the season that “Silver Creek is the team to beat,” the Eagles have rolled to a 16-0 record and once again are the clear front-runners.
The reason for the continuity of success despite the turnover of half the varsity lineup is clear. Senior Ali Kilponen is dominating in the circle (16-0 record with a 0.43 ERA, including three nohitters and a perfect game) as she aims to become the first starting pitcher in Colorado prep softball history to win four state titles.
“Ali’s been the only one on our team that’s been there the past four years, and she’s carrying the team,” Atencio said. “She’s been huge this year on the offensive side too, and that’s another pleasant surprise, because we never really counted on her bat in previous years.”
Kilponen has produced from the cleanup spot, where her production — a .434 batting average with 17 RBIS and four homers — is gravy for Valor Christian as later this month, the ace will inevitably attempt to break her title tie with Shelby Babcock, who was the winning pitcher for Legacy in three consecutive Class 5A championships from 2007-09.
“She has an opportunity to create history, and to do what no one else has done,” Atencio said. “And all while she’s carrying a young team with five new starters on the squad, because she’s leading the learning for all of the new players.”
After verbally committing to Colorado State as an eighth grader, Kilponen opened her college options back up — and rightfully so — as her performance over the past couple seasons has elicited recruitment by a bevy of the nation’s powerhouse Division I programs.
“This past summer when I was with my club team, the Triple Crown Stars, I had a heart-to-heart with (Triple Crown founder) Dave King and he made me realize where I could go, and how hard I have to work to get there,” Kilponen said. “So over the summer, I really pushed myself to become that much better by working on my speed, movement and control a lot more.”
LSU, Washington, Missouri and Baylor headline the shortlist for Kilponen, who aims to ride a repertoire that includes a curveball, screwball, off-speed curveball and 68 mph riseball — the baseball equivalent of a 96 mph fastball — to an eventual spot in the Olympics, which has brought back softball for the 2020 Tokyo Games.
But for now, Kilponen remains focused on the fall season, where the Eagles possess the depth necessary to earn a four-peat and give Atencio five titles to go along with the Class 5A championship he won at Dakota Ridge in 2001.
Junior catcher Katie Meredith, sophomore right fielder Hannah Hollander, junior center fielder Savannah Behabetz and junior first baseman Mackenzie Wilson are all batting over .400 for a Valor Christian offense that — in conjunction with Kilponen’s masterful pitching — has cruised to seven wins by 10 runs or more.
“Over the summer, everyone was working hard, because we lost a big senior class and lots of key parts in our starting lineup, so we knew everybody was going to say, ‘You lost all your players,’ ” Kilponen said. “But everyone has stepped up to the plate, and I honestly think we’re stronger than ever because we’ve been working harder than ever.”
As for if Kilponen ever thinks about the fact that she may be in the midst of making history?
The 18-year-old said the idea does come to mind, but adds that even a heavyweight such as Valor Christian can’t look too far ahead in a 4A field filled with other contenders such as No. 2 Mountain View, No. 5 Holy Family and No. 6 Erie.
“More than anything, I want to give my new teammates a chance to experience a title, because I believe this team deserves it,” Kilponen said. “I’m trying to lead the girls to know what to expect, and I’m trying to show them how hard we have to keep working to get there.”