Regis Jesuit Ends 4-Game Skid, Wins Colorado 5A Title

Three years of championship disappointment ended Saturday afternoon when Regis Jesuit's baseball team finally hoisted the trophy they'd been chasing since 2019.

The Raiders defeated Arvada West 5-3 in a winner-take-all game at Blue Sky All-Star Park in Lakewood, Colorado, capturing their fourth state baseball title. It was the sweet ending to a grueling six-hour doubleheader that tested every player's resolve.

"Unbelievable," senior Carter Rathbun said after the win. The relief in his voice told the whole story.

The road to this moment had been painful. In 2024, Cherry Creek defeated Regis twice to steal a title the Raiders thought was theirs. Last season, Cherry Creek beat them again 8-1 in the championship game.

Saturday morning brought more heartache when Arvada West won 3-2, pushing Regis's losing streak in title games to four straight. But the Raiders refused to let history repeat itself.

In the championship game, Regis exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Rathbun delivered the crushing blow with a three-run double after recognizing the pitcher's pattern from an earlier matchup.

"I knew he threw all curveballs," Rathbun explained. "I got the pitch I was looking for."

Coach Matt Darr had given his team a crucial insight before the game. Arvada West hadn't won a single game all season without their two star pitchers on the mound, and both had already thrown complete games to reach the finals.

"I told them A-West was going to have to do something against us they hadn't done all year," Darr said. "I think that made them believe."

A nearly 90-minute lightning delay in the fifth inning gave everyone too much time to think about what was at stake. When play resumed, Arvada West scored three runs to cut the lead to 5-3.

Junior Cade Filleman took the mound and shut down the Wildcats for the final three innings. He'd watched his brother lose in the 2024 championship game and experienced his own heartbreak in 2025.

"I've been able to watch the past two years losing on the same stage," Filleman said. "It feels great to get it done."

Why This Inspires

The Regis Jesuit story reminds us that persistence matters more than perfection. These young athletes could have given up after four consecutive championship losses, but they chose to believe one more time.

Their coach trusted them with honest strategy instead of empty platitudes. Their seniors like Rathbun prepared by studying opponents and staying ready for their moment.

Even Arvada West's journey offers hope. The Wildcats hadn't reached a championship game since 1995 but built a program that went 49-9-1 over two seasons with young talent still developing.

The Raiders finished their season 23-7, but that final win meant everything after years of coming up short when it mattered most.