PARKER — Meredith Barnhart has three state championship rings and a scholarship to Tennessee, but Lutheran’s insatiable slugging shortstop still insists on being best friends with her alarm.
Barnhart gets up at 5:15 each morning to go work out before school. She’s determined to leave nothing to chance, and no opportunity on the table, despite already cementing her status as one of the best prep softball players in the nation.
“There’s always more to do,” Barnhart said. “Colorado softball, as good as it is, that’s not my cap. That’s not where I measure myself. I don’t know my bar, so why not push it? … And I really enjoy the grind. The 5:15 wake-up, it kills you, but once you get in (the gym), it feels good. It sets the tone for my day.”
Barnhart’s been setting the tone for Lutheran for four seasons now, the first three of which ended in state titles.
In just its fifth year as a program, Lutheran won the Class 3A crown in 2021, added 4A titles in ’22 and ’23, and is a heavy favorite to add a fourth championship to its trophy case on the final day of the CHSAA state tournament on Saturday at Aurora Sports Park.
Lutheran head coach Glen Maestretti, who has coached Barnhart since she was 5 years old, says his shortstop possesses a unique blend of power, speed and defensive prowess that will translate well to the SEC.
“You just don’t see kids that talented,” Maestretti said. “She’s a right-handed shortstop, hits left-handed, and not only does she hit, she’s a power hitter. Ever since she was 5 years old, she’s had this sweet left-handed swing.”
The Lions have gone 25-1 en route to Saturday’s semifinals — their lone loss coming Aug. 24 vs. Class 5A power Valor Christian in a tournament game. And Barnhart’s been raking the entire time. Entering the state tournament, she was hitting .535 with eight doubles, six triples, nine homers, a 1.197 slugging and a 1.821 OPS.
Lutheran High School’s Meredith Barnhart tries to tag out Holy Family’s Essynce Contreraz during the 4A CSHAA Championship softball game in 2022 at Aurora Sports Park. The Lutheran Lions defeated the Holy Family Tigers 3-0. (Photo by Daniel Brenner/Special to The Denver Post)
Her performance over the past few falls, in conjunction with a homer in the Future Stars game broadcast on ESPN over the summer, catapulted Barnhart into the spotlight.
But her teammates and coaches say success hasn’t changed her. Barnhart remains the same humble, faith-focused young woman that she was when she first walked into Lutheran. She’s active in her youth group, describes herself as someone who enjoys school and relishes the family time she gets at the diamond with her dad, Randy, and brother, Macy, both of whom are Lions assistants.
“I’ve always had the hope that as my stage would grow, that it’s just a bigger opportunity to share who I am and why I play,” Barnhart said. “So has (Colorado prep greatness) crossed my mind? It has, but not for those (individual) reasons. It gets me excited because of what can come from it, not from what I’ve done to get it.”
While Lutheran’s racked up 105 wins over the past four seasons, Barnhart is far from the only star the Lions have produced. The private school is siphoning off much of the would-be public school talent in Parker by getting many of the top players in the Ponderosa, Legend and Chaparral neighborhoods to enroll on Newlin Gulch Boulevard.
Senior centerfielder Mackenzy Glenn, a Tulsa commit, leads the Lions with a .649 on-base percentage. Senior third baseman Aleksia Severson, a North Dakota commit, paces the team with a .553 average. And senior catcher Malea Yoxsimer, a Drake pledge, is another four-year starter who has a 1.109 OPS.
Plus, the pitching trio of junior Ella Faries, sophomore Annie Schroeder and freshman Reese Walker have a collective 2.20 ERA. They’ve picked up where Hailey Maestretti, the 2022 state Gatorade Player of the Year who is now at Utah, left off.
Lutheran High School’s Mackenzy Glenn (6) makes contact during the 4A CSHAA Championship softball game against Holy Family Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 at Aurora Sports Park. The Lutheran Lions defeated the Holy Family Tigers 3-0. (Photo by Daniel Brenner/Special to The Denver Post)
That wealth of talent allowed the Lions to beat an array of 5A teams this year, including state tournament qualifiers in Chatfield, Arapahoe, Erie and Riverdale Ridge, while boatracing their 4A Pikes Peak League competition. Within that league, Lutheran outscored its opponents 133-14.
For that reason, Glenn says “our biggest moment of adversity as a team has been figuring out when to step into go mode.” Windsor and Pueblo County, which lost to the Lions in a narrow 3-2 game on Aug. 17, match up in the other semifinal. Lutheran plays Holy Family for the right to earn their fifth straight title game appearance.
“Most of the teams in our league that we play, we can run rule by just showing up, swinging the bat,” Glenn said. “But knowing the big games are coming is what has refocused us leading into the state tournament. … And come Saturday, with Meredith and all the other talent we have, we’ll be ready for the biggest moments of the season.”
Players to watch on Saturday
Beyond Lutheran’s quartet of stars, here are 10 more players to watch across Class 5A, 4A and 3A in the final games of the CHSAA state softball tournaments. All stats are via MaxPreps and entering the state tournament.
Player
School
Class
Year/Position
Commitment
Stats
Comment
Neila Lucero
Riverdale Ridge
5A
Senior/C/SS
Metro State
.620, 8 HR, 50 RBIs, 1.291 slugging
A major factor in Ravens’ first Final Four showing.
Emma Rice
Cherokee Trail
5A
Soph/RHP/UTL
Uncommitted
.553, 8 HR, 11-2 with 3.01 ERA
The driver behind Cougars earning No. 1 seed.
Kiley Wheaton
Broomfield
5A
Junior/SS
Witchita State
.613, 5 HR, 25 SB, 1.107 slugging
Her stick and glove have the Eagles undefeated.
Charlotte Morgan
Legend
5A
Senior/RHP/1B
South Dakota
.519, 9 HR, 11-3 with 2.79 ERA
Two-way star can lead Titans to fourth title.
Molli Magaña
Windsor
4A
Senior/3B
Colorado Mesa
14 HR, 57 RBIs, 1.224 slugging
Soul of Wizards’ lineup alongside Lilia Mancina.
Olivia Nesbit
Pueblo County
4A
Senior/RHP/1B/3B
Colorado State
.554, .600 OBP, 9-2 and 1.98 ERA
The Hornets’ two-way star has powerful bat, arm.
Isabella Arroyo
Holy Family
4A
Senior/LHP
Tulsa
.541, .820 slugging, 1.50 ERA
Dominant two-play pitcher, 161 strikeouts this year.
Emma Anderson
Eaton
3A
Sophomore/C
Uncommitted
.662, 10 HR, 1.377 slugging
Powerful catcher behind Reds’ three-peat dreams.
Madi Olsen
Strasburg
3A
Sophomore/INF
Uncommitted
.440, 5 HR, 22 RBIs, 1.346 OPS
One of six slugging Indians with an OPS over 1.200.
Sydney Goetzel
University
3A
Junior/RHP/UTL
Uncommitted
.452, 9 HR, 8-2 with 2.45 ERA
The centerpiece of Bulldogs’ hopes for first title.