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Here's the rundown on each local softball team competing in the CIF-SS playoffs

jose quintero, victorville daily press
·4 min read

Four softball teams from the High Desert will be in action Thursday afternoon for the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.

There is one local team still alive in both the Divisions 4 and 6 brackets. The other two teams are on opposite sides of the Division 7 bracket, and could potentially meet in the championship game next week.

The other two teams still alive, Hesperia Christian and Excelsior, are in the Division 8 semifinal games, which will be played Saturday afternoon. The Division 8 bracket consists of a 16-team format, while the other divisions have 32-team formats.

Granite Hills’ Mariah Maestas, center, celebrates with Saylor Croom, left, and Mia Vazquez at the end of the inning after catching a fly ball to left field. Granite Hills defeated Academy of Academic Excellence 7-5 on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Apple Valley.
Granite Hills’ Mariah Maestas, center, celebrates with Saylor Croom, left, and Mia Vazquez at the end of the inning after catching a fly ball to left field. Granite Hills defeated Academy of Academic Excellence 7-5 on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Apple Valley.

Granite Hills, Riverside Prep and Academy of Careers & Exploration will all be home for the quarterfinals, while Oak Hills is on the road.

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First pitch for all four quarterfinals games is set for 3:15 p.m. Here’s a brief look at all those matchups.

Division 4 — Oak Hills at JW North

  • The Bulldogs have a short ride down the Cajon Pass for the quarterfinals against JW North, which captured the CIF-SS Division 6 title last season.

  • Oak Hills has not reached the quarterfinals since the 2018 season and has never made a semifinal appearance in program history.

  • JW North is ranked 273rd in California, according to MaxPreps.com, while Oak Hills is 127th. Oak Hills is the No. 8 ranked team in Division 6 entering the playoffs.

  • The Bulldogs are 18-6 and have allowed 110 runs while scoring 228 in those 24 games. JW North is 15-13 and has scored 215 runs while allowing 165 in those 28 games.

  • Oak Hills enters the quarterfinals on a five-game winning streak.

  • The teams have three opponents in common this season. Oak Hills went 4-1 against those teams, while JW North went 2-2. Both teams have victories over Serrano and La Quinta. Both teams also have losses to Redlands East Valley. But Oak Hills has a 5-4 victory over Redlands East Valley, which was back on Feb. 24.

  • If victorious, Oak Hills will be home against Chaminade or Mira Costa in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon.

Oak Hills’ Maddie Romos, center, reacts with the rest of the dugout after Amaya Sigala brought in two runs against Sultana during the first inning on Monday, April 1, 2024 in Oak Hills. Oak Hills defeated Sultana 2-1.
Oak Hills’ Maddie Romos, center, reacts with the rest of the dugout after Amaya Sigala brought in two runs against Sultana during the first inning on Monday, April 1, 2024 in Oak Hills. Oak Hills defeated Sultana 2-1.

More: Three golfers from the High Desert shoot under par to advance in the CIF-SS regional

Division 6 — Granite Hills vs. Ganesha

  • The Cougars return home for the quarterfinals after beating Lancaster 12-10 on the road.

  • Ganesha is the No. 1 ranked team in Division 6, while Granite Hills is No. 9.

  • Ganesha is unbeaten (19-0) and has scored 301 runs while allowing just 13 runs. Granite Hills is 19-6-1 on the season, and has scored 297 runs and allowed 120.

  • While Ganesha hasn’t lost a game this year, Granite Hills has won two games in a row after losing two straight to Barstow to end the regular season.

  • Both teams have victories over San Gorgonio this season. Granite Hills beat them 7-2 on Feb. 23 while Ganesha shut out San Gorgonio 10-0 in the first round of the playoffs.

  • If victorious, Granite Hills will be on the road against Indio or St. Joseph, in Lakewood, for the semifinals on Saturday afternoon.

Division 7 — Riverside Prep vs. Yucca Valley

  • The Silver Knights enter the quarterfinals ranked 578th in the state, according to MaxPreps, while Yucca Valley is at 701.

  • Riverside Prep is 14-16-1 and has scored 215 runs while allowing 236. Yucca Valley (15-11) has scored 269 runs while allowing 209 in 26 games this year.

  • After losing the season finale, Riverside Prep has won two playoff games to reach the quarterfinals, while Yucca Valley is on a three-game winning streak.

  • If victorious, Riverside Prep will be home against Oxford Academy, or on the road against AB Miller, for the semifinals on Saturday afternoon.

Division 7 — Academy of Careers & Exploration vs. Muir

  • The Eagles rallied in the second round to reach the quarterfinals against the No. 2 ranked team in the division.

  • According to MaxPreps, ACE is ranked 690th in California, while Muir is at 459th. But ACE is coming off a victory over Leuzinger, which was ranked 272nd in the state and had allowed just 90 runs this season.

  • The Eagles (14-11) have scored 281 runs in 25 games and allowed 244. Muir (20-11) has allowed just 155 runs in 31 games and scored 298.

  • ACE is on an eight-game winning streak, and Muir has won five games in a row.

  • Both teams have one opponent in common this year. Muir beat Ontario Christian 16-13 back on Feb. 23. ACE beat Ontario Christian 18-16 on April 11.

  • If victorious, the Eagles will be on the road for the semifinals on Saturday against Eastside or Cathedral City.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: What you need to know about the CIF-SS softball quarterfinals