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Pueblo's top players of the week include hat tricks and big plays on the softball diamond

chris abdelmalek, pueblo chieftain
·4 min read

With the weather starting to cool down as we enter the heart of fall, Pueblo-area athletes are starting to heat up as they approach the midway point of their seasons.

This week's top performers include some impressive outings on the softball diamond, two hat tricks on the pitch, back-to-back victories on the cross-country circuit, and some golf, tennis, and football action as well.

Each week, the Chieftain recognizes the top student-athletes from area schools to highlight those who have performed at a high level. The Chieftain sports staff selects them. Coaches can nominate players by emailing cabdelmalek@gannett.com before Thursday night.

Football

Terrell Dillaha, Pueblo County

Dillaha led the Hornets in rushing this past week and helped them to a 40-7 victory over Harrison. The senior running back had 15 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown. He is currently in the top five of the 3A Pikes League in rushing for the season.

Volleyball

Rye High School’s Jordan Holgerson taps the ball over Hoehne defenders during the second day of the Class 2A state girls volleyball tournament on Friday, November 12, 2021.
Rye High School’s Jordan Holgerson taps the ball over Hoehne defenders during the second day of the Class 2A state girls volleyball tournament on Friday, November 12, 2021.

Jordan Holgerson-Rahl, Rye

Holgerson-Rahl was stellar this week for the Thunderbolts. She had a total of 23 kills and five aces which helped Rye secure two more victories over Las Animas and Crowley County. Rye is now at 8-1 on the season.

More: South Colts and Pueblo West Cyclones battle it out for top spot in S-CL softball standings

Softball

Roxie Rodriguez, Pueblo Centennial

Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for the Bulldogs in their recent 8-7 victory over Pueblo East. It’s the Bulldogs' first victory in league play this season. Rodriguez is now tied for second on the team with 10 RBIs this season.

Albanie Cordova, Pueblo County

Cordova had a week for the Hornets. In a matchup against Pueblo East, she went 1-for-2 with two walks, a double, three runs scored, and an RBI to help the Hornets to a 19-1 victory over the Eagles. In her next start, Cordova went 2-for-2 with a walk, one run scored, and three RBIs which helped the Hornets get past the Colts 15-1.

Jaelyn Jimenez, Pueblo West

Jimenez had back-to-back games this week where she had at least three hits. Pueblo West faced off against Pueblo South earlier in the week, and Jimenez went 4-for-5 with a double, a walk, two runs scored, and one RBI en route to a 16-11 victory. In their next game against Pueblo Central, Jimenez went 3-for-3 with a double, RBI, and one run scored in a 3-2 victory over the Wildcats.

Soccer

Erick Chavez, Pueblo West

Chavez helped lead the Cyclones to their second victory of the season, a 10-0 victory over Pueblo East. He finished the game with a hat trick and now leads the team with five goals this season.

Benjamin Vega, Pueblo South

Vega was on fire for the Colts this past week as he helped guide Pueblo South to a 5-0 victory over Pueblo Central. Vega scored four goals and had an assist in this one. He now leads the team in goals scored with six on the season.

Elias Sandoval, Pueblo Central

The Wildcat freshman helped guide the team to an 8-0 victory this past week over Dolores Huerta Prep. Sandoval scored two goals and had two assists to help the team to their second win of the season. He currently leads the team in assists and goals scored.

Cross Country

South High School's Andres Cura heads to the finish line at the Class 4A region 5 cross-country meet at Elmwood Golf Course on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021.
South High School's Andres Cura heads to the finish line at the Class 4A region 5 cross-country meet at Elmwood Golf Course on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021.

Andres Cura, Pueblo South

Cura once again earned the name of “The Ghost” as he won the Harrison Panther Invite this past week with a time of 17:11.77 — almost 45 seconds better than second place. This is Cura’s second straight victory as he also took first in the Widefield Cross Country Invitational.

Golf

Pueblo West High School's Preston Allen tees off from the fifth hole during the East Invitational at Walking Stick Golf Course on Sept. 15. Allen, a freshman, finished fourth at the tournament.
Pueblo West High School's Preston Allen tees off from the fifth hole during the East Invitational at Walking Stick Golf Course on Sept. 15. Allen, a freshman, finished fourth at the tournament.

Preston Allen, Pueblo West

Allen had two first-place finishes this past week in the Cyclone Invitational and the Pueblo East Invite. Allen scored a 70 in the Cyclone Invitational and a 72 in the East Invite. This now puts Allen at five wins overall on the season and ninth overall top-five finishes this season.

Niko Cozzetto, Pueblo County

Cozzetto finished second in the Pueblo East Invite this past week with a score of 73 overall, one shot off the leader, Allen. He also finished in sixth place in the Cyclone Invitational as well. His two top 10 finishes this past week give him six top 10 finishes on the season.

More: CSU-Pueblo's comeback bid falls short after forcing double OT against Grand Valley State

Tennis

Tyler Thielemier, Pueblo Central

Thielemier helped lead the Wildcats to a 7-0 victory over Pueblo South this week on the tennis courts. Thielemier went (6-0, 6-0) in his game against Cameron Johnson to improve his record to 2-1 on the season.

Christopher Abdelmalek is a sports reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain and can be reached at cabdelmalek@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @chowebacca. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo's top players of the week: hat tricks, RBIs and more