The CIF-Southern Section softball playoff pairings were released Saturday morning, May 9, and 13 High Desert teams are in the hunt for glory.
Three High Desert teams drew top seeds. Riverside Prep, the team placed in the highest division, enters the postseason as the No. 3 seed in the Division 3 bracket. In Division 8, Academy of Careers & Exploration drew the No. 1 seed, while Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy is just behind at No. 4.
They are among the seven local teams that will begin with home games.
The Division 6 bracket is loaded with six High Desert squads, including the Desert Sky League champion Silverado, which opens on the road.
Division 6 could give the High Desert an all-local showdown in the second round if both Hesperia Christian and Academy for Academic Excellence emerge victorious.
The even-numbered divisions will begin the first round on May 14, while the remaining divisions will play May 15. The second round is scheduled for May 16, giving no days of rest for teams placed in Divisions 1, 3, 5 and 7.
The rest of the schedule will be played across two weeks.
Here are the first-round games involving High Desert teams. All games are scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m.
May 14
Division 4
Apple Valley (17-10-1) vs. Maranatha (17-9)
Oak Hills (12-9-1) vs. Don Lugo (16-8)
Division 6
Hesperia (15-13) at Alhambra (15-7)
Serrano (10-13) at St. Genevieve (18-1)
Granite Hills (10-8) at Irvine (11-16)
Silverado (13-9) at Big Bear (23-1)
Hesperia Christian (17-9) vs. Heritage (10-13)
Academy for Academic Excellence (12-9) at Palm Desert (16-12)
Division 8
Academy of Careers & Exploration (9-10) vs. Public Safety Academy (9-9)
No. 4 Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy (9-7) vs. Cornerstone Christian (7-5)
May 15
Division 3
Riverside Prep (23-4) vs. Quartz Hill (17-4)
Division 5
University Prep (15-10) at Crean Lutheran (20-7)
Division 7
Victor Valley (7-16) vs. Cathedral City (14-5)
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: CIF-Southern Section softball playoff pairings released, 13 High Desert teams are in
Reporting by Jose Quintero, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
