ERIE — Sophee Horovitz, Erie’s near-automatic ace, was limiting the damage through a laborious start in Saturday’s regional championship game.
But how long could it last? Not even she knew.
Erie: Erie’s Sophee Horovitz pitches against Horizon in the 5A Region 5 title game at Erie High School on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)
The senior pitcher wiggled out of jam after jam, allowing just one hit but seven walks through five innings. After walking the first two batters in the sixth, however, the Tigers chose to put the ball in the glove of freshman Skylea Lase-Weber to close things out. And she did.
The freshman got the final six outs, sending the 5A No. 5 Tigers past No. 12 Horizon, 4-3, and into next weekend’s state tournament.
“I was definitely nervous, but I had trust in my teammates behind me,” Lase-Weber said. “I knew they’d give me the outs I needed.”
Her outing started bleakly.
The Hawks welcomed the freshman with a run-scoring double, then pulled within 4-3 as another run scored on a passed ball.
Horizon had the tying runner at third with no outs … but couldn’t tie the game.
Lase-Weber sandwiched strikeouts around a lead-preserving, diving catch from Lyla Hardy to get out of the sixth.
In the seventh, Lase-Weber stranded another base runner as third baseman Braelan Heer threw to first for the final out.
“Skylea did a fantastic job,” Erie coach Ryan Sanchez said. “She doesn’t really act like a freshman, which is awesome for us.”
It’ll be even better if they can count on the freshman to back up Horovitz at state.
Horovitz has been stellar this fall, posting a 15-5 record and a 2.30 ERA. But even she knows she’ll need help if the Tigers are hoping to win state title No. 13 next weekend.
“I have a ton of confidence in her,” Horovitz said of Lase-Weber, who is 4-0 with a 3.52 ERA this season. “The fact that she’s only a freshman is crazy because every time she’s on the mound, she does a great job. Whenever I’m not doing my best, she’s always there to back me up.”
On Saturday, sophomore Molly Young had three hits and drove in a run as Erie beat fellow Front Range Leaguer Horizon for a third time this season.
On Friday, the Tigers opened the 5A Region 5 tournament with a five-inning, 10-0 win over No. 28 Northfield. Keyanna Reeves led the way with three hits, a home run and a career-high six RBIs.
They’ll be a top-five seed at the 16-team 5A tournament at Aurora Sports Park, which starts Friday.
“It’s about playing complementary softball and team softball,” Sanchez said. “That’s been the message to everyone, whether you’re batting leadoff or batting in the ninth hole. Everyone has a job and a purpose.”
Erie: Erie’s Braelan Heer bats against Horizon in the 5A Region 5 title game at Erie High School on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)
Erie: Erie’s Lyla Hardy bats against Horizon in the 5A Region 5 title game at Erie High School on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)
Erie: Erie’s Sophee Horovitz pitches against Horizon in the 5A Region 5 title game at Erie High School on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)
Erie: Erie’s Skylea Lase-Weber pitches against Horizon in the 5A Region 5 title game at Erie High School on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)
Erie: Erie’s Lyla Hardy bats against Horizon in the 5A Region 5 title game at Erie High School on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)
Erie: Erie’s Molly Young bats against Horizon in the 5A Region 5 title game at Erie High School on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)
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Erie: Erie’s Braelan Heer bats against Horizon in the 5A Region 5 title game at Erie High School on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)