Area prep athletes are All-Stars one last time

This weekend marks the true end of the 2008-09 high school sports season, with the All-State Games in Greeley on Saturday and the Colorado Rockies Top 50 Senior All-Star Game on Sunday afternoon.

The Colorado High School Coaches Association hosts the 53rd annual all-star event at the Northern Colorado campus recreation center and nearby Nottingham Field, with competition in basketball, football, volleyball and wrestling.

For 2009 Gazette Baseball Player of the Year Austin Kaiser of Rampart, the chance to play at Coors Field on Sunday is an exciting one.

"I can imagine it will be incredible playing in front of a big crowd like that," The Classical Academy graduate said.

The game follows the Seattle at Colorado interleague game scheduled for 1:10 p.m.

The top 50 includes eight Colorado Springs-area players, part of a steady increase in recent years. Six were recognized in 2007 with eight in 2008.

Kaiser thinks the increase better represents the level of play around the state.

"I always thought Colorado Springs had good talent," said Kaiser, who played baseball at 5A Rampart since TCA does not have a baseball program.

"We don't get as well represented at the state level because people think the competition isn't as good or the talent pool isn't great. But we're comparable to the Denver schools. Maybe they're starting to realize it."

Baseball Top 50
Catcher: Alex Reiter, 3A Manitou Springs

Infielders: Collin Bates, 4A Cheyenne Mountain; Tyler Patterson, 3A Peyton; Caleb Wade, 4A Lewis-Palmer

Outfielders: Austin Kaiser, 5A Rampart; Evan Kenebrew, 4A Widefield; Miguel Ortega, 5A Rampart and Jesse Porras, 5A Doherty

All-State Games area players
Boys' basketball: Red team, Logan Deputy, Calhan; LaShawn Hamilton, Mitchell, Bryse Velasquez, Doherty; Black team, Nick Fox, Sand Creek

Times: preliminaries, 8 a.m.; third-place game, 11:15 a.m.; championship, 12:45 p.m.

Girls' basketball: Red team, Morgan Chapman, Cripple Creek-Victor; White team, Brittany Kelly, Calhan; Black team, Brianna Johnson, Mitchell; Katie Stephens, TCA

Times: preliminaries, 9:30 a.m.; third place, 11:15 a.m.; championship, 2:15 p.m.

Football: South team, Jeff Cooper, Calhan; Rico Garcia, Cañon City; Daniel Gieck, Manitou Springs; Devyn Harris, Fountain-Fort Carson; Kai Jarmusz, Pine Creek; Ryan Lockwood, Pine Creek; Mario Michael Martinez, Florence; Damon McCain, Cañon City

Time: 5 p.m. Nottingham Field

Volleyball: Cassidy Austin, Pikes Peak Christian; Chelsey Matous, St. Mary's.

Times: preliminaries, 8:30 a.m.; third-place game, 10 a.m.; championship, 11 a.m.

Wrestling: None