AURORA – Never a dull moment with this Palmer Ridge softball squad. Seldom a doubt either.

The Bears didn’t know when their 10.7 runs per game would materialize in the first round and quarterfinals Friday, but rest assured, Palmer Ridge players understood they’d come.

Palmer Ridge used a five-run fourth inning in a 9-7 victory against No. 15 Ponderosa to advance to the quarterfinals. The Bears then dropped 10 in the final two innings against No. 10 Pueblo Central to advance to Saturday’s semifinals at Aurora Sports Park.

The No. 2-seeded Bears will face No. 3 Holy Family at 10 a.m.

“We’re all so grateful. We expected to be in this position but being here is just so surreal,” Palmer Ridge’s Corinna Arellano said. “I think we’re all so grateful and happy and elated to be here.”

With the victories, the Bears have their best win total in team history at 23-4 after setting the mark of 21-4-1 in 2024. That’s a great accomplishment, but the Bears traveled to Aurora for gold.

“My freshman year we didn’t make it out of regionals and my sophomore year we won our first state playoff game,” pitcher Pam Boyarko said. “It means so much to see the progression because I know everyone has been giving it their all and working hard.”

Boyarko improved to 18-0 after the win in the quarterfinals and escaped a bases-loaded situation to ensure the Bears tamed the Wildcats’ momentum. After a Bears error in the top of the fifth knotted the game at 2-2 with one out, Boyarko fanned the next two Pueblo Central hitters to keep the score tied.

The Bears showered the Wildcats with runs and scored six in the bottom of the fifth and four more in the sixth to eliminate Pueblo Central. Six Palmer Ridge players finished with two hits including Khloe Meider, who subbed for an injured Cambria Gibbs after Gibbs’ first at-bat.

“Once we get one or two girls to get a spark, that spark turns into a fire,” coach Dion Arellano said. “It happened the first game and that’s the way our lineup goes. Our one through seven (hitters) are money. … We had our sub come in and she had two hits. That was the spark, she did that twice for us. Once they feel that confidence bubble up then it’s lights out.”

Boyarko led the team in hits in the tilt with Ponderosa with three along with three RBIs. Corinna Arellano and Rielyn Bentz tacked on two apiece. The growth and confidence continues to swell with this Bears team and Boyarko was complimentary of her teammates’ strides from last year to this season.

“When I see my outfield Rielyn diving after a ball or Kayleigh (Garcia) giving it her all … that helps me calm down,” Boyarko said. “Corinna is almost leading the state in home runs. It’s amazing to see how much my teammates have improved.”

The Bears have not faced Holy Family since 2022 and, for the umpteenth time, could make history this season. In their previous and only two meetings, the Bears lost to Holy Family. The Tigers stand between the Bears’ shot at the 4A crown. Palmer Ridge players will cherish their recent school history, but understand they still have work to do.  

“We’re a team that knows the job is never done,” Corinna Arellano said. “Until the game is over and the umps say ‘ballgame’ the job is never done. We all have that drive and motivation to know that no matter how many runs we’re down, whoever is pitching, there will always be more things to do.”