On Monday afternoon, excitement surged through the community as the brackets for the CIF-Southern Section softball playoffs were announced, signaling the beginning of a thrilling championship chase for 11 local squads eager to claim the title.
Leading the charge is Hesperia Christian, the proud champions of the Division 8 title from the previous year. Their impressive win continues to inspire fellow competitors stepping into the playoff arena this season.
This time around, Hesperia Christian will enter the playoffs as one of six teams scheduled to play away, starting with a first-round matchup against Excelsior in Division 7. This contest is unique, as it stands out as the only all-local game in the softball and baseball playoff brackets.
In another corner of the playoffs, Sultana—last year’s Mojave River League champions—are preparing to go head-to-head with Oak Hills and Apple Valley in the Division 4 bracket. Among their league, Sultana is the only team to clinch a home game in this opening round, taking on Colton, a team that has only tasted defeat four times this season.
Granite Hills, the Desert Sky League champions, are also primed for their playoff debut, facing Santa Rosa Academy in Division 6. The Cougars are entering this critical game with significant momentum from their previous successes.
Below is an organized overview of all local teams ready to compete in the initial round, categorized according to their respective league rankings. Let’s rally behind these athletes as they embark on their playoff journeys!
Agape League
- Div. 7 — Hesperia Christian (13-7-1) at Excelsior (11-10-1)
- Div. 8 — Academy of Careers & Exploration (9-9-1) vs. Redlands Adventist (8-4)
Cross Valley League
- Div. 5 — Riverside Prep (15-9) at St. Bonaventure (13-11)
- Div. 5 — University Prep (18-5) at Grace (13-4)
- Div. 7 — Excelsior (11-10-1) vs. Hesperia Christian (13-7-1)
Desert Sky League
- Div. 6 — Granite Hills (15-7) vs. Santa Rosa Academy (18-6)
- Div. 6 — Adelanto (14-9) at Pioneer (14-5)
- Div. 7 — Silverado (12-11) vs. AB Miller (12-6)
Mojave River League
- Div. 4 — Sultana (19-7) vs. Colton (23-4)
- Div. 4 — Oak Hills (11-10) at Harvard-Westlake (15-7)
- Div. 4 — Apple Valley (15-8-1) at Northview (19-8-1)
CIF-SS Softball Playoff Schedule
- First Round — Thursday, May 15
- Second Round — Saturday, May 17
- Quarterfinals — Wednesday, May 21
- Semi-finals — Saturday, May 24
- Championships — Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31, at Deanna Manning Stadium
