Today's Sports

MORRISON — The last time Littleton resident Mike Berry ran with the NHRA at Bandimere Speedway — last year’s Mopar Mile-High Nationals — it wasn’t his Pro Stock Motorcycle he was riding. It was fellow competitor Matt Smith’s bike, but with Berry’s motor.

The 2009 Buell XB9R didn’t work out too well for the 45-year-old. On his first run he couldn’t disengage the clutch and ended up burning out. But, oh, how things have changed.

Dakota Ridge pitcher Nick Silva accomplished something on July 14 that pitchers used to achieve a century ago. Just two days after pitching a 2-0 complete game shutout against Wheat Ridge, Silva pitched another complete game, a 5-2 victory over ThunderRidge.

The win gave Dakota Ridge the championship in the Willie White State Tournament at Dakota Ridge High School. Silva scattered eight hits while striking out eight batters. He didn’t issue a single walk.

“I knew it was the last game of the season and I had to give it my all,” Silva said.

It was uncharted territory already for the U-18 Colorado Rush Nike girls soccer team. A team loaded with soon-to-be college players had never made it out of the Region IV quarterfinals much less a half away from going to nationals.

But that’s where they were on June 26 in Boise, Idaho, against a Real So Cal team that had won its first five games in the weeklong tournament by a combined score of 21-1. Two early goals from Madison Yowsa and Denali Murnan had the Rush eyeing Phoenix, Ariz., site of next week’s four-team nationals.

Whenever Chatfield and Dakota Ridge get together it usually makes for a competitive game. Last week was no exception. After Chatfield defeated Dakota Ridge, 4-3, in nine innings on July 6 at Chatfield, Dakota Ridge returned the favor by winning the rematch 2-1 a day later at Dakota Ridge High School.