Regis Jesuit High School's baseball squad captured the Class 5A state championship on Saturday, edging Arvada West 5‑3 in a contest that swung back and forth before a late rally sealed the title.
A Comeback Forged in Adversity
The Raiders opened the day with a loss to the top‑seeded Wildcats, a setback that could have derailed their title hopes. Instead, the team weathered a lightning delay, returned to the diamond with renewed focus, and began to rewrite the narrative.
Key contributors included senior Hudson Alpert, who anchored the lineup, along with Eli Shappee and Carter Rathburn, whose timely hits helped swing momentum. Pitcher Cooper Vais delivered a complete‑game effort earlier in the tournament, showcasing the depth of the staff.
Arvada West entered the championship game with a 26‑5 record, having dropped only two matches all season, both to Regis Jesuit. Their junior star Cooper Vais had been a dominant force, but the Raiders' balanced attack proved decisive.
Coach Matt Darr praised the resilience of his squad, noting that the victory marked the program's first state title since 2019 and capped a period in which the team had finished as runner‑up in each of the past two seasons.
The win resonated beyond the field, as the community celebrated a milestone that tied the school's athletic narrative together after years of near‑misses.