High school baseball playoffs: Preview, predictions and schedule in the Central Section
The Central Section high school baseball playoffs start Wednesday.
Top seeds in each division are Bullard (D-I), Bakersfield Christian (D-II), Kingsburg (D-III), Liberty-Madera Ranchos (D-IV), Chavez (D-V) and Shafter (D-VI).
With Beiden Field at Fresno State unavailable (Fresno State is hosting the Mountain West Conference Tournament), the section championship games will all be played at Valley Strong Ballpark in Visalia spread over three days, May 25-27.
Preview, predictions
Division I: As you would expect, it’s a fully loaded bracket. Any of these teams can come away with a section title. Surprises? It’s possible. Just ask then-No. 1 seed Buchanan last season when the Bears lost to No. 8 Frontier 17-11. Righetti and Stockdale met in the final, won by Stockdale. This season? Bullard is the top seed and Buchanan is No. 2. A final between these two powers is tantalizing. Predicted champion: Bullard
Division II: Bakersfield Christian is the top seed here. The Eagles faced some tough foes in nonleague such as Bullard, Buchanan, Centennial and Fresno, which BC might see in the quarterfinals. Bakersfield Christian defeated the Warriors 3-2 earlier in the season. Predicted champion: Bakersfield Christian
Division III: No. 1 Kingsburg has been good all season. Will it continue in the section playoffs? In the same bracket, they’ve faced Central Valley Christian, Washington Union and Fowler. Fowler and Washington Union beat the Vikings. Predicted champion: Kingsburg
Division IV: Speaking of good, No. 1 Liberty-Madera Ranchos has proven that all season. The Hawks open against No. 16 Sunnyside. They have faced some tough competition in nonleague like Clovis North, Stockdale, Righetti and Frontier. The Hawks lost to Chowchilla, which is in the opposite bracket. Will that matter? Predicted champion: Liberty
Division V: Chavez is the top seed and Firebaugh is the No. 2 seed, but throw away the seeds because both teams will be challenged. No. 12 Lindsay is a wild card in this division because it finished atop of its league at 7-1. The Cardinals faced No. 6 Sierra and beat them 2-0, but lost to No. 11 Monache 9-2. Predicted champion: Lindsay
Division VI: No. 1 Shafter honed its resume playing some tough games in nonleague. Predicted champion: Shafter
Seeds, schedule
4:30 p.m. Wednesday, unless noted
Division I
No. 16 Hanford at No. 1 Bullard
No. 9 Centennial at No. 8 Madera
No. 12 El Diamante at No. 5 Clovis
No. 13 San Luis Obispo at No. 4 Redwood\, 6 p.m.
No. 14 Clovis West at No. 3 Stockdale
No. 11 Liberty-Bakersfield at No. 6 Tulare Western
No. 10 Frontier at No. 7 Righetti
No. 15 Arroyo Grande No. 2 Buchanan
Division II
No. 16 San Joaquin Memorial at No. 1 Bakersfield Christian
No. 9 Fresno at No. 8 Highland
No. 12 Lompoc at No. 5 Atascadero
No. 13 Mission Prep at No. 4 Lemoore
No. 14 Clovis North at No. 3 Cabrillo
No. 11 Central at No. 6 Ridgeview
No. 10 Clovis East at No. 7 St. Joseph
No. 15 Sanger at No. 2 Kerman
Division III
No. 16 Morro Bay at No. 1 Kingsburg, 6:30 p.m.
No. 9 Central Valley Christian at No. 8 Mission Oak
No. 12 Tehachapi at No. 5 Washington Union
No. 13 Garces at No. 4 Pioneer Valley
No. 14 Independence at No.3 Fowler
No. 11 Kennedy at No. 6 Dinuba
No. 10 Taft at No. 7 Mt. Whitney, 6:30 p.m.
No. 15 Sierra Pacific at No.2 Dos Palos
Division IV
No. 16 Sunnyside at No. 1 Liberty-Madera Ranchos
No. 9 Bishop Union at No. 8 Wasco
No. 12 Selma at No.5 Madera South, 6:30 p.m.
No. 13 Exeter at No. 4 Hoover
No. 14 Minarets at No. 3 Immanuel
No. 11 Golden West at No. 6 Chowchilla
No. 10 Porterville at No. 7 Reedley
No. 15 Templeton at No. 2 Arvin
Division V
No. 16 Golden Valley at No. 1 Chavez
No. 9 Foothill at No. 8 Lone Pine, 3:15 p.m.
No. 12 Lindsay at No. 5 Yosemite
No. 13 East Bakersfield at No. 4 Fresno Christian
No. 3 Caruthers 10, No. 14 North 6
No. 11 Monache at No. 6 Sierra
No. 10 Lee Vining at No. 7 Rosamond
No. 15 McLane at No. 2 Firebaugh
Division VI
No. 16 Mammoth at No. 1 Shafter
No. 9 Corcoran at No. 8 Orange Cove
No. 12 Avenal at No. 5 Torres
No. 13 Farmersville at No. 4 Coalinga
No. 14 Kings Christian at No. 3 Mendota
No. 11 Riverdale at No. 6 Woodlake
No. 10 South at No. 7 California City
No. 2 Kern Valley 12, No. 15 Laton 1
