Just two days remain in the prep softball season with one task for each team: capture the state title.

Five Pikes Peak region schools advanced to the state tournament, which begins Friday at Aurora Sports Park in Aurora. Palmer Ridge, Cheyenne Mountain, Air Academy and Widefield all hope to reach the 4A finale.

In 3A, The Classical Academy is the only area team to qualify for the tournament and will attempt to win four more games.

First round contests start at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. while quarterfinals will occur at 2:30 p.m. Winners advance to Saturday’s semifinals, which take place at 10 a.m. The 4A championship contest starts at 1:15 p.m. while 3A’s begins at 1 p.m.

Below are a few details about the area contenders.

4A

Palmer Ridge (21-4, No. 2 seed)

The Bears bulldozed their way to the school’s first regional title and needed just six innings to win two games. Palmer Ridge has won 11 of its past 12 and looks to improve upon the school’s first-ever state playoff victory in 2024.

One victory Friday would give the Bears their highest win total in team history and break the record set last year when Palmer Ridge finished 21-5-1. The Bears also have two of the top four home-run hitters in 4A: Corinna Arellano (12) and Kayleigh Garcia (9).

Cheyenne Mountain (19-6, No. 10 seed)

The Red-Tailed Hawks narrowly missed winning the regional title Saturday, but recovered to squash Northridge 12-2 to earn their way to state.

Freshman Michaela Ewen paces the team with 39 hits and a team-high .520 batting average. Corinne Harlow brings the power and has 10 home runs this year, which is third in 4A. Pitcher Addison Gutschick has a no-hitter under her belt and is 18^th in the nation with 19 wins.  

Air Academy (17-7-1, No. 11 seed)

One season after a 5-18 finish, the Kadets earned the No. 11 seed in the state playoffs. The 12-win improvement is the team’s best year-over-year turnaround since at least 2009, according to MaxPreps.

Keira Finkle has posted impressive numbers all season for Air Academy and leads the team in batting average (.545), hits (48), runs (46), doubles (12) and triples (9) and is second on the team with six home runs.

Bailey Williams holds the top spot with seven home runs for the Kadets and has a team-high 41 RBIs.

Widefield (23-3, No. 12 seed)

The Gladiators have the best winning percentage of all area schools heading to Aurora. Their only losses came to 5A Pine Creek, Air Academy and Elizabeth, 4A’s No. 5 seed.

Olivia McEwen leads the Gladiators’ pitching charge and shattered the school’s strikeout record. After setting the mark at 130 as a freshman, McEwen fanned 158 batters as a sophomore and is 42^nd in the nation.

Widefield also boasts a host of hitters with McEwen (.558), Taylor Hall (.471), Susy Salvidrez (.455), Evelyn Ibarra (.439) and Isabella Monk (.430) all batting over .430.

3A

The Classical Academy (18-7, No. 10 seed)

TCA is the last Pikes Peak region team standing in 3A and features an astute defense ahead of the state playoffs.

The Titans have allowed double-digit runs just three times this season and allow 4.64 per contest. TCA drives home 9.24 runs per game and have two players over 30 hits with Taytum Kimbro (36) and Ada Wilson (33) leading the charge.

Wilson has also shined in the circle for the Titans and has 117 strikeouts in 69.1 innings pitched.

Friday’s schedule

4A

No. 5 Elizabeth vs. No. 12 Air Academy, 10 a.m.

No. 6 Frederick vs. No. 11 Widefield, 10 a.m.   

No. 8 Severance vs. No. 9 Cheyenne Mountain, 10 a.m.

No. 2 Palmer Ridge vs. No. 15 Ponderosa, 12:15 p.m.

3A

No. 8 Lamar vs. No. 10 The Classical Academy, 10 a.m.