Colorado
Floydada softball refocuses during delay to down Colorado City in region quarterfinal Game 3
WOLFFORTH — The Floydada softball team spent nearly as much time in the parking lot as it did on the field Saturday.
The first lightning delay was welcomed. The Whirlwinds trailed Colorado City 9-0 late in an uncharacteristic Game 2. The time away allowed Floydada to regroup and focus on correcting its mistakes.
The Winds came out like a new team in Game 3, jumping out to a 4-0 lead with a revived offense. Lightning struck again.
One might’ve worried the second pause would throw off the newfound rhythm. Floydada coach Armando Morales didn’t.
The Winds’ bats remained steady following the almost two-hour delay, leading to a 13-6 series-clinching win in the Region I-2A quarterfinal at the Frenship Athletic Complex.
“I knew the second game (of the series) wasn’t us,” Morales said. “(C-City) did a heck of a job changing things and doing things different and adjusting. But I know what I have in my team. The break just helped us to encourage ourselves to get better and to move on, so it helped out.”
SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS: Lubbock, South Plains schedule, results
Floydada offense night and day in doubleheader
C-City’s Mia Obenhaus allowed four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in a complete-game shutout in Game 2. Wolves coach Jesse Casarez said she threw a “great game” in a 4-3 loss in the opener Thursday as well, but he gave K.K. Lloyd the nod in the decisive contest.
Lloyd pitched “lights out” the previous round against Clarendon, Casarez said, but she lasted five batters into Game 3. By the time Obenhaus returned to the circle, the Winds led 3-0 following three hits.
Floydada got the better of Obenhaus, too, even with an hour and 45 minutes on its bus in between. The Winds totaled 16 hits, seven for extra bases. The team hit four apiece in the first three innings to go up 11-1.
Carisa Fernandez, who went 3 for 3 with a double, two triples and five RBIs, said Floydada took time to adjust to the lefty Obenhaus.
“We haven’t seen a left-handed pitcher this year,” Fernandez said, “so seeing it from the opposite side, I think it was in our heads and we were thinking about it too much. … She’s a really good pitcher, but I finally think we adjusted to it. We settled down and we felt at home in the box.
“We hit our pitches instead of hitting her pitches.”
Casarez wraps up first season
So ended the Wolves’ first season under Casarez, a 1989 Lubbock High grad. Casarez, who started three freshmen and four sophomores, said the team adjusted to his “old school” coaching style and grew.
“I was extremely proud of them,” Casarez said. “We could have laid down when it was 11-1, and we came back and had a little fight.”
REGION QUARTERFINALS: Fernandez erupts for 12 RBIs to lead Monterey past Lubbock-Cooper
Analise Perez makes Floydada ‘whole’ in finale
Game 3 also saw the return of Analise Perez. The shortstop missed Saturday’s matinee after a Game 1 collision with Fernandez, who joked they were “playing football in the outfield.”
The senior Perez had an RBI and was part of a clean defense. She recorded three putouts and two assists as Floydada bounced back from a three-error Game 2.
“Having her back, it was huge,” Fernandez said. “She’s a huge part of our lineup. She’s a huge part in the field. I felt like without her we felt like we weren’t whole. But with her we came together. We knew what we needed to do, and we came out with a vengeance.”
REGION I-2A QUARTERFINAL
GAME 2
Colorado City 9, Floydada 0
Floydada 000 000 0 — 0 4 3
Colorado 300 150 x — 9 6 1
Madison Pyle and Alli Hernandez (5). Mia Obenhaus. W — Obenhaus. L — Pyle. 3B — Colorado City, K.K. Lloyd.
GAME 3
Floydada 13, Colorado City 6
Colorado 010 131 0 — 6 10 3
Floydada 434 002 x — 13 16 0
K.K. Lloyd and Mia Obenhaus (1). Alli Hernandez. W — Hernandez. L — Lloyd. 2B — Floydada, Kirsten Pyle 2, Carisa Fernandez, Madison Pyle. Colorado City, Alexis Martinez, Obenhaus, Alyssa Wooddell, Lyla Ramon. 3B — Floydada, Fernandez 2, Soriah Wickware. HR — Colorado City, Martinez.
Records: Floydada 26-7-1; Colorado City 24-12.
An investigation is underway after authorities found a body near a picnic area in western Colorado last weekend that appears to have been eaten by a bear.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office says the human remains were located on Sunday near the Wild Rose Picnic Area off Lands End Road on the Grand Mesa. Investigators say the remains were scavenged and scattered, and they believe the person was consumed by a bear and other wildlife.
The Mesa County Coroner’s Office is working to identify the person and officially determine their cause of death.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who was in the area of the Wild Rose Campground between June 22 and July 5, 2026, and noticed anything suspicious to contact Investigator Jenna Reed at (970) 244-3274.
They added that Colorado Parks and Wildlife believes there is no threat to the community at this time.
The area is home to black bears, and the MCSO shared several guidelines for the community to prevent human-bear conflicts:
- Stay alert and together: Go with others when possible, keep children in sight and close by, and avoid using headphones so you can hear your surroundings.
- Food safety: Double-bag food, pack out all food and trash, and don’t burn scraps and trash in fire rings/grills or leave them behind.
- Pet safety: Keep dogs on a leash at all times or leave them at home; don’t force a bear to defend itself.
- Camping safety: Set up camps away from dense cover or natural food sources and do not cook or store food near/in a tent. Secure food in bear-resistant containers or suspend at least 10 feet above the ground and 10 feet away from any part of the tree.
- Know how to respond: Don’t approach bears; quietly move away. Never run, as it may trigger a chase response. If a bear approaches, stand your ground, wave your arms, and yell until it leaves. Stay with your group, use bear spray, and fight back aggressively if necessary.
- Bear spray: Carry bear spray and know how to use it correctly. It’s not repellent; don’t spray your tent, campsite, or belongings.
Damage assessments are still ongoing for homes and businesses affected by the Aspen Acres Fire in southern Colorado, but over 200 homes have been confirmed destroyed so far. The United Way of Southern Colorado is working to raise relief funds for those affected and says it’s making progress towards its fundraising goal.
In an update on Wednesday afternoon, Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero said they’ve assessed approximately 67% of the properties affected in the county. Authorities have confirmed the loss of 192 homes and four commercial structures so far and are working to contact property owners as quickly as possible.
Lucero urged everyone affected by the fire to use the survivor portal for more information on assistance.
Custer County Sheriff Rich Smith says they’ve lost approximately 83 homes so far, almost 2% of the county’s homes. The worst hit area is along the Highway 165 corridor, Smith added. He said that authorities don’t expect any new evacuation areas, but are not yet ready to release the existing evacuation orders.
Smith said a hotline is available during business hours for affected Custer County Residents to ask questions. He urged residents to contact them at (719) 467-0271 and advised they may need to leave a voicemail if the line is busy due to the high number of calls.
A flash flood watch is in effect for areas near the burn scar, which could affect nearby homes.
The President of the United Way of Southern Colorado, Shanna Farmer, said the organization is working to raise wildfire relief funds for those affected. Over the last few days, they have reached just over $417,000 of their $10 million goal.
“It has been incredible, the number of individuals and companies who have come out to support, to provide matches, and to provide innovative ways to raise those funds,” said Farmer. “And so, I encourage anyone who is willing to work with us on a corporate, business, or individual level to please reach out because it is going to take all of us to help rebuild.”
Farmer said that the community not only needs help with their immediate needs but also long-term support. She urged anyone interested in donating to visit their website.
The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office says anyone who has evacuated needs to contact the Disaster Assistance Center located at 29 Lehigh Ave. in Pueblo. The center is open between 9 a.m and 6 p.m. and provides multiple resources for those forced to evacuate.
Residents must also visit the center to obtain a re-entry pass, which will allow them to return home once evacuation orders have been lifted. A photo ID and proof of residency are required. Visitors can sign up online to reserve a place in line for faster service.
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