The Central High School boys cross country team was in midseason form at the first meet of the season.

The Warriors ran away with the title in the first meet of the season — the Central Warrior Invitational at Las Colonias Park on Saturday, Aug. 21. Central’s top five runners all finished in the top 10, led by senior Broly Watts’ time of 15 minutes, 40 seconds.

Watts won by 17 seconds over his brother, Brendyn Watts, also a senior. Rounding out the Warriors’ contingent was junior Gordon Robinson (fifth, 16:31), sophomore Seth Rooks (sixth, 16:38) and junior Kaynin Polley (10th, 17:16).

Grand Junction finished second in the team race, with senior Gerardo Gonzalez finishing fourth in 16:19 and junior Owen Roper seventh in 16:44. Caprock Academy senior Korbin Church was eighth (16:44) and Palisade senior Chase Edmonds was ninth (17:02). Fruita Monument’s top finisher was sophomore Isaac Justus in 19:02.

Grand Junction dominated the girls team race as their top five runners finished fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth. Freshman Gwen Roper led the way in 19:52, followed by senior Leah Siering in 19:59, then senior Bailey Pommarane in 20:14, with junior Hannah Morstad next in 20:34 and finally junior Makenzie Zeller in 20:35.

Central junior Cordella Myers finished second in 18:55, four seconds behind the winner. Sophomore Josie White was Fruita Monument’s top placer, crossing in 11th (20:52). Palisade’s top finisher was freshman Carter Cowan (23:49) and Caprock Academy was paced by senior Ella Most (25:10).

SOFTBALL

Grand Junction went 1-1 on the second day of the FAN/NFCA Leadoff Classic in Fort Collins on Saturday, losing 6-3 to Fossil Ridge and then beating Legacy 8-2.

Against the SaberCats, the Tigers’ offense was silent until the bottom of the sixth inning, when they scored all three of their runs. With two outs and runners on second and third, Yzavel Esparza hit a two-run double and Alysa Lorimor followed with an RBI double.

Lorimor and Kloe Donahue both had two hits in the loss.

A six-run third inning propelled Grand Junction past Legacy in the final game. Trailing 2-0, Lorimor got the scoring started with an RBI single and Donahue gave the Tigers the lead for good with a two-out, two-run double. An error allowed another run to score and Jacquelyn Boyd capped the inning with a two-run double. Paisley Kemmer added and RBI single in the fifth inning and Boyd picked up her third RBI with a groundout to complete the scoring.

Donahue picked up the win in the circle, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits with four strikeouts and three walks in six innings.

Central also went 1-1 on Saturday at the FAN/NFCA Leadoff Classic, crushing Fort Collins 26-8 and falling 13-5 to Discovery Canyon.

Seven players had at least two RBI in the win over Fort Collins with Jaice Whiteskunk leading the way with four. Bailey DeWitt, Faith Rowbotham and Trinity Gough all had three RBI and Emery Nunn, LilaMae Kellerby and Brianna Lurvey all finished with two RBI.

In the loss to Discovery Canyon, Whiteskunk was 3 for 3 with a double and two runs scored, Makynzie Thomas was 2 for 3 with a triple and Madelyn Sonksen had two RBI.

Fruita Monument closed out the Pueblo County tournament with a pair of wins, beating Cherry Creek 13-4 and then topping Pueblo West 7-5.

BOYS SOCCER

Sophomore Tristan Russell scored the only goal for Caprock Academy in a 9-1 loss to Lake County on Saturday in the Eagles’ season opener.

Grand Junction fell to 0-2 on the season after a 2-1 loss to Castle View.