The 2022 regular season has come to a close and we're onto the playoffs. It's win or go home now, as the top 8 seeds in Divisions 6A-4A, get the automatic bid advancing to the double elimination rounds, and the rest must survive and advance through a single elimination play-in round. Divisions 3A-1A play a win or go home tournament from the opening round. 

Stay with us through each round as we will be making our picks, providing game coverage, and highlighting standout performances. 

 

Automatic qualifiers

6A

AZ Preps Rank	PBR Rank	School	Record
-	5	Alhambra	(27-1)
-	12	Chandler	(22-6)
-	6	Chaparral	(14-13)
-	1	Hamilton	(22-3)
-	4	Mountain Ridge	(19-6)
-	17	Queen Creek	(18-4)
-	7	Red Mountain	(18-8)
-	11	Sandra Day O'Connor	(19-8)

 

5A

AZ Preps Rank	PBR Rank	School	Record
-	13	Canyon View	(19-6)
-	-	Centennial	(21-6)
-	9	Higley	(20-6)
-	3	Horizon	(22-4)
-	15	Millennium	(22-6)
-	2	Nogales	(27-2)
-	14	Sunrise Mountain	(24-4)
-	23	Verrado	(21-5)

 

4A

AZ Preps Rank	PBR Rank	School	Record
-	-	Bradshaw Mountain	(19-8)
-	20	Canyon Del Oro	(19-7)
-	22	Mesquite	(20-8-1)
-	-	Notre Dame Prep	(21-5)
-	21	Poston Butte	(26-2)
-	-	Sahuarita	(20-5)
-	-	Salpointe Catholic	(18-10)
-	-	Walden Grove	(24-3)

 

play in pick-em

*Picks Highlighted in Bold*

6A Play-In

Boulder Creek vs Tucson: 4pm @ Cherry Field

Tucson is a deep and talented team with an 11-3 record at home. Boulder Creek is a scary team to matchup with, that has the ability to win any time out, but we see Tucson taking this one at home. 

Liberty vs San Luis: 4pm @ San Luis

Liberty has not had the year they have hoped for, but none of that matters now. They will hit the road tomorrow to take on San Luis and we expect Liberty to come out on top with a road victory in round 1.

Pinnacle vs Desert Vista: 4pm @ Desert Vista

Desert Vista has depth on the mound and a scrappy offense. Any of their guys on the mound are serviceable options in a win or go home game and we expect DV to edge this one out in a tight and hard fought ball game.

Westwood vs Corona Del Sol: 4pm @ Corona Del Sol

Corona Del Sol seems to be rolling as of late. They got off to a slow start but have gotten hot late, and this is a team that could get even hotter at the right time. 

Mountain Pointe vs Brophy: 4pm @ Brophy

Very interesting matchup here. Brophy has been winning the close ball games, especially when their ace DeCremer is on the mound. If we see DeCremer take the ball in this one, we expect the Broncos to come away with the win. 

Cibola vs Basha: 4pm @ Basha

Basha is a team that has played a tough schedule all season, in arguably the most skilled region in the state. They've come away with some big wins, but also been on the losing end in some games we would not have expected. Tough first round matchup here for both teams, but we believe Basha is battle tested and will come away with this one. 

Sunnyslope vs Mountain View, Mesa: 4pm @ Mountain View

Another very interesting matchup that could go both ways. Mountain View is a veteran led team with two very scary left handed bats at the top of their order. We think Mountain View will edge this one out in a close ball game.  

Tolleson vs Perry: 4pm @ Perry

Perry has been led all year by Senior Stephan Hernandez and we don't expect that to change in the early rounds. We see Perry taking this play-in game with home field advantage. 

 

5A Play-In

Cactus Shadows vs Desert Mountain: 4pm @ Desert Mountain

This could be the most interesting matchup across all the division play-in games. Two very evenly matched teams with talent on both sides of the ball. Desert Mountain swept the regular season series with Cactus Shadows, but this time we think the Falcons get them back. Ace RHP Derek Schaefer is back on the mound after taking nearly the whole year off. If we see Schaefer in this one, we're siding with Cactus Shadows. But this will be a very emotional game with some built up fire between these two groups. 

Paradise Valley vs Marana: 4pm @ Marana

Two evenly matched teams going at it. But with Paradise Valley taking the long trip on the road, we see Marana edging this one out and advancing. 

Lake Havasu vs Williams Field: 4pm @ Williams Field

Home field advantage is a big advantage to have in the post season. Although Williams Field has a 3-6 record at home this season, we think they will take round 1 vs Lake Havasu. 

Ironwood Ridge vs Campo Verde: 4pm Campo Verde

Campo has had a streaky year with some ups and downs, but with their pitching and veteran led offense and a skilled catcher in Luke Jones commanding the game, we see Campo Verde taking this matchup. 

Apollo vs Casteel: 4pm @ Casteel

We had some high expectations for the Casteel Colts this year that they didn't quite meet in the regular season. But this is a skilled team that plays the game right and has a chance to make a run at this thing. Although Apollo is a fiery group, we see Casteel edging this one out in a hard fought victory. 

Casa Grande vs Catalina Foothills: 4pm @ Catalina Foothills

Casa Grande won't have to go too far south for this one. But with a skilled lineup for Catalina Foothills, we see them taking this round 1 matchup. 

Gilbert vs Cienega: 4pm @ Cienega

Very interesting game here that could go either way. Cienega is a veteran led team and we could see a senior on the mound in the matchup. With a skilled offense, we think Cienega will take this one behind the bat of Isaiah Jackson. 

Sunnyside vs Willow Canyon: 4pm @ Willow Canyon

Willow Canyon put together a great 18-5 season, with a 10-0 division record, while going 8-3 at home. Expect Willow Canyon to take this game in their neck of the woods. 

 

4A Play-In

Thunderbird vs Saguaro: 4pm @ Saguaro

Saguaro is one of the lower seeds in the 4A division that could make a deeper run. They have the pitching and athleticism to get them through a tournament, and also have a very special talent in Freshmen Cam Caminiti. Look for the Saber Cats to come out on top of this one. 

Peoria vs Lee Williams: 4pm @ Lee Williams

With three senior arms at the front of their pitching rotation, and an 8-3 record on the road, we think Peoria will take this #17 vs #16 matchup against Lee Williams.

Shadow Mountain vs Deer Valley: 4pm @ Deer Valley

This matchup is almost a coin flip for us. The team that pitches it and plays clean defense will come away with this win. We're giving the nod to the road dogs at Shadow Mountain with the 8-3 record as the visiting team.

Prescott vs Estrella Foothills: 7pm @ Estrella Foothills

Estrella Foothills at home under the lights.. we'll take that pick. Estrella Foothills has a skilled left side defense and athletes around the diamond. Expect them to take this first round W.

Sahuaro vs Seton Catholic: 6pm @ Seton Catholic

The higher seeded Seton Catholic is our favorite in this matchup. They've made a couple different appearances in our P25 rankings this year, and remain one of our top 4A clubs. We think Seton takes this one vs the traveling Cougars.

Flagstaff vs Coconino: 4pm @ Coconino

The battle of the north. Two teams from the same city going at it in this one. We're going to side with the higher seed with home field advantage. We see Coconino taking this game in an emotional and tight ball game. 

Mica Mountain vs St. Mary's: 4pm @ Phoenix College

St. Mary's showed this season that they are very competitive and have a true ace on the mound that they do not lose behind. David Galindo is striking out more than 2 batters an inning with only 1 BB on the season. If he gets the ball, St. Mary's is in a great spot to come away with a win. 

Mingus Union vs Vista Grande: 4pm @ Vista Grande

Vista Grande is a pretty skilled offensive team, led by Senior SS Emilio Barreras. Barreras has been carrying the load for them this year on the mound and with the bat. Expect Barreras and his squad to keep moving forward through round 1. 

 

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