The play-in round is all wrapped up, and now we head to the double elimination tournament. 16 teams from each classification have their chance to make a run at the 2022 State Title. With an action packed play-in round in the books, here are the scores from Wednesday's play-ins.

Play-in scores

 

Round of 16 pick-em

*Picks highlighted in BOLD* (All games on 4/30)

6A Picks

All 16 of these teams in this playoff have no doubt earned where they are. Both sides of the bracket are loaded with no slouch opponents. The double elimination tournament puts more emphasis on pitching, and we will see who has the depth with their pitching staffs and who can play clean defense. Mistakes are magnified in any playoff, and with high adrenaline and emotions, pitching and defense usually takes the cake in these spots. But each of these 16 also come with some skilled bats. It's going to be a fun tournament, and we're very excited to be covering these games over the next couple weeks. 

#16 San Luis vs #1 Hamilton: 11am @ Hamilton

With a rested pitching staff and a high powered offense at their home field, we're picking the #1 seeded Hamilton in their first playoff game of 2022.

#9 Tucson vs #8 Chaparral: 11am @ Chaparral

We'd like to plead the fifth on this one..  but since this is a pick-em, a pick must be made. Two very evenly matched teams here with Chaparral having a slight edge in pitching. Both groups play clean baseball and can score runs. If we see University of Arizona commit Andrew Carroll on the mound, we're going to take the Firebirds in a tight ball game. 

#12 Corona Del Sol vs #5 Queen Creek: 11am @ Queen Creek

6A Central Region matchup here. The regular season series was split between the two, each team taking a win on the road in hard fought games. This will be a very emotional matchup with a winners bracket bid on the line. Not sure if the 5/12 matchup plays in high school baseball like it does in March Madness, but we're going with the Aztecs in this one as they have been hot of late.

#13 Basha vs #4 Red Mountain: 11am @ Red Mountain

You'd have to think Red Mountain is going to throw their #1 Mason Kelley. Kelley faced Basha recently on April 13th.. he went complete game shutout allowing only 2 hits. The regular season matchup finished 1-0 with Kelley in control. We're going to side with the Mountain Lions on rest, at home, and with their guy on the mound. 

#15 Desert Vista vs #2 Alhambra: 11am @ Alhambra

With each win the Lions take it feels like they get stronger. In their first playoff game in 2022, we expect to see their ace Marco Pacheco on the mound who is yet to take a loss this season. Although Desert Vista is a dark horse to make a run, Alhambra will be our pick with this one, led by Pacheco, Ortiz, and Cotto. 

#10 Perry vs #7 Sandra Day O'Connor: 11am @ O'Connor

Tough to pick against either of these teams in this matchup. Perry has two high level arms that are available to throw in Styder Salas and Stephan Hernandez, and O'Connor has the 6A Desert Valley Region Pitcher of the Year Cennedy Murrell on their side. This could be a low scoring matchup between two talented teams, but we're going to side with Murrell and the Eagles.

#11 Brophy vs #6 Chandler: 11am @ Chandler

Brophy has been one of the most exciting team this spring, and we expect them to keep being that. But in this one, a rested Chandler team and their high powered offense will be tough to stop. Sr Tate Scott has put up very impressive numbers this spring along with others in the Chandler lineup. We're taking the Wolves.

#14 Mountain View, Mesa vs #3 Mountain Ridge: 11am @ Mountain Ridge

Mountain Ridge has been playing at a high level all year, and has been a staple in our P25 top 5 for the seasons length. Mountain Ridge is 11-1 at home this year and outscoring opponents by nearly 100 runs. The Mountain Lions are a complete team, we're taking them in this matchup.

 

5A Picks

#16 Sunnyside vs #1 Nogales: 11am @ War Memorial

The #1 seeded team in the 5A classification has been rolling all year and we don't expect them to stop. The depth and talent on their pitching staff gives them an edge over the rest, as Demetrio Crisantes leads the offense.

#9 Desert Mountain vs #8 Higley: 11am @ Higley

Two exciting teams matching up in this one. Both groups have been a consistent P25 ranked team this spring, and if we see the left hander Chambers take the mound on Saturday, we're going to side with Higley. 

#12 Cienega vs #5 Canyon View: 11am @ Canyon View

Cienega has the bats at the top of their order to put some runs on the board. But Canyon View is a team we've thought very highly of since fall games, especially when their guy Connor Mattison is on the mound. If Mattison toes the rubber, Cienega bats have their hands full.

#13 Williams Field vs #4 Sunrise Mountain: 11am @ Sunrise Mountain

Williams Field is a high energy team with some hitters at the top of their order and a veteran pitching staff. Could be a good matchup here. But if Sunrise Mountain hands the ball to Sr Ryne Palmer, and plays the way they have been all year behind him, they should be taking their first playoff game of 2022. 

#15 Ironwood Ridge vs #2 Horizon: 11am @ Horizon

Horizon has an offense that can stack up with anybody on the west coast. Not many pitching staffs have been able to slow their production and we don't see it happening on Saturday. Horizon Huskies are our pick in this one. 

#10 Casteel vs #7 Centennial: 11am @ Centennial

This is one of the more interesting matchups in this round. Casteel has some youth in the lineup with a lot of potential to get hot and make their run. Centennial has been winning all year long and shown some offensive fire power to pair with a solid pitching staff. It will be interesting to see who Casteel hands the ball to, with their #1 and #2 starters not being used in the play-in game, that means Mason Russell and Linden Reaburn are both available to pitch. We like Casteel's chances to take a road victory with Russell on the mound in this one. 

#11 Catalina Foothills vs #6 Millennium: 11am @ Millennium

Millennium is a senior led team that has shown to be an exciting and explosive team. Kaleb Duncan, Sean Farney, and Sterling Albrand at the top of their order have been consistent bats and run producers, with the help of some others through the lineup. We think Millennium takes their first playoff game at home. 

#14 Marana vs #3 Verrado: 11am @ Verrado

Verrado is a scrappy team that's going to play clean baseball and take advantage of opponents mistakes. They're 7-1 at home and have come out on top of some emotional Desert West Region games. 

 

4A Picks

#16 Mingus Union vs #1 Poston Butte: 11am @ Poston Butte

Poston Butte has put together a great season thus far, behind their senior leader Ethan Hatch. Hatch has put up Player of the Year type numbers on both sides of the ball. We're siding with the Broncos in their first playoff game at home. 

#9 Saguaro vs #8 Bradshaw Mountain: 11am @ Bradshaw Mountain

Bradshaw Mountain has feasted on opposing pitching in 2022, but on Saturday they will likely run into the top freshman left handed arm in the country in Cameron Caminiti. Caminiti is young, but has far more than impressive stuff on the mound. If Caminiti is around the zone, and the Sabercats play defense, we see Saguaro advancing on the road. 

#12 Deer Valley vs #5 Mesquite: 11am @ Mesquite

The #5 seeded Mesquite Wildcats are rested and ready to go. The defending state champs are looking to repeat their success from last year. One of the more exciting teams in the 4A Classification, and they added transfer DJ Barrett to their lineup/pitching rotation. We expect Mesquite to make some noise in the 2022 playoffs. 

#13 Lee Williams vs #4 Canyon Del Oro: 11am @ Canyon Del Oro

Canyon Del Oro is a talented group with skill on the mound and offensively. Behind Marcus Delgado, Dominic Felix, and Blake Lehmbeck, we expect the #4 seed to be one of the final teams standing in the 2022 playoffs. 

#15 Prescott Valley vs #2 Walden Grove: 11am @ Walden Grove

Walden Grove has turned some heads this spring. With a 24-3 overall record, they have earned the #2 seed in the 4A Class and it has been much deserved. Losing their ace on the mound will hurt them as the playoffs get extended, but in this round 1 matchup, we see Walden Grove advancing. 

#10 Seton Catholic vs #7 Sahuarita: 11am @ Sahuarita

This is going to be a good ball game with two evenly matched teams. Both teams losses have come to the top competition in their area. We're going to take Seton Catholic on the road in this one. 

#11 St Mary's vs #6 Notre Dame: 11am @ Notre Dame

Notre Dame Prep has one of the top arms at the 4A level in Chris Gaudio. And same deal on the other side with David Galindo. Saint Mary's only used Galindo for 3 innings on Wednesday, making him an option on Saturday. But with Galindo not on a full tank, and Gaudio in command of the game for the Saints, we're siding with NDP on Saturday. 

#14 Flagstaff vs #3 Salpointe: 11am @ Salpointe

The team from the north will travel to the south on Saturday. Salpointe has had an impressive year with talent all around the diamond. 7 out of their 10 losses have come from teams in higher divisions, as we expect the Lancers to be among the final teams in this playoff run.

 

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