High school baseball playoffs: Predictions, scores and schedule in the Central Section
The Central Section high school baseball playoffs are underway.
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.
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, scores, schedule
4:30 p.m. unless noted
Division I
No. 1 Bullard 11, No. 16 Hanford 0
No. 9 Centennial 7, No. 8 Madera 2
No. 12 El Diamante 8, No. 5 Clovis 5
No. 4 Redwood 14, No. 13 San Luis Obispo 1
No. 3 Stockdale 13, No. 14 Clovis West 1
No. 11 Liberty-Bakersfield 2, No. 6 Tulare Western 0
No. 7 Righetti 1, No. 10 Frontier 0
No. 2 Buchanan 3, No. 15 Arroyo Grande 0
Friday
No. 9 Centennial at No. 1 Bullard
No. 12 El Diamante at No. 4 Redwood
No. 11 Liberty-Bakersfield at No. 3 Stockdale
No. 7 Righetti at No. 2 Buchanan
Division II
No. 1 Bakersfield Christian 15, No. 16 San Joaquin Memorial 10
No. 8 Highland 6, No. 9 Fresno 4
No. 12 Lompoc 17, No. 5 Atascadero 15
No. 4 Lemoore 10, No. 13 Mission Prep 5
No. 3 Cabrillo 2, No. 14 Clovis North 1
No. 11 Central 5, No. 6 Ridgeview 2
No. 7 St. Joseph 4, No. 10 Clovis East 3
No. 2 Kerman 3, No. 15 Sanger 0
Friday
No. 8 Highland at No. 1 Bakersfield Christian, 6:30 p.m.
No. 12 Lompoc at No. 4 Lemoore
No. 11 Central at No. 3 Cabrillo
No. 7 St. Joseph at No. 2 Kerman
Division III
No. 1 Kingsburg 15, No. 16 Morro Bay 1
No. 8 Mission Oak 10, No. 9 Central Valley Christian 4
No. 5 Washington Union 3, No. 12 Tehachapi 1
No. 4 Pioneer Valley 2, No. 13 Garces 0
No. 14 Independence 4, No. 3 Fowler 1
No. 6 Dinuba 8, No. 11 Kennedy 2
No. 7 Mt. Whitney 10, No. 10 Taft 2
No. 2 Dos Palos 16, No. 15 Sierra Pacific 5
Friday
No. 8 Mission Oak at No. 1 Kingsburg
No. 5 Washington Union at No. 4 Pioneer Valley
No. 14 Independence at No. 6 Dinuba
No. 7 Mt. Whitney at No. 2 Dos Palos
Division IV
No. 1 Liberty-Madera Ranchos 10, No. 16 Sunnyside 0
No. 8 Wasco 14, No. 9 Bishop Union 10
No. 5 Madera South 15, No. 12 Selma 9
No. 4 Hoover 5, No. 13 Exeter 2
No. 3 Immanuel 7, No. 14 Minarets 0
No. 11 Golden West 13, No. 6 Chowchilla 7
No. 7 Reedley 4, No. 10 Porterville 1
No. 2 Arvin 6, No. 15 Templeton 5
Friday
No. 8 Wasco at No. 1 Liberty-Madera Ranchos
No. 5 Madera South at No. 4 Hoover
No. 11 Golden West at No. 3 Immanuel
No. 7 Reedley at No. 2 Arvin
Division V
No. 1 Chavez 9, No. 16 Golden Valley 0
No. 9 Foothill 13, No. 8 Lone Pine 0
No. 12 Lindsay 10, No. 5 Yosemite 0
No. 13 East Bakersfield 12, No. 4 Fresno Christian 6
No. 3 Caruthers 10, No. 14 North 6
No. 11 Monache 11, No. 6 Sierra 2
No. 7 Rosamond 33, No. 10 Lee Vining 4
No. 2 Firebaugh 4, No. 15 McLane 2
Friday
No. 9 Foothill at No. 1 Chavez
No. 13 East Bakersfield at No. 12 Lindsay
No. 11 Monache at No. 3 Caruthers
No. 7 Rosamond at No. 2 Firebaugh
Division VI
No. 1 Shafter 6, No. 16 Mammoth 5
No. 8 Orange Cove 7, No. 9 Corcoran 5
No. 5 Torres 20, No. 12 Avenal 1
No. 4 Coalinga 10, No. 13 Farmersville 3
No. 3 Mendota 28, No. 14 Kings Christian 6
No. 6 Woodlake 6, No. 11 Riverdale 1
No. 7 California City 9, No. 10 South 4
No. 2 Kern Valley 12, No. 15 Laton 1
Friday
No. 8 Orange Cove at No. 1 Shafter
No. 5 Torres at No. 4 Coalinga
No. 6 Woodlake at No. 3 Mendota
No. 7 California City at No. 2 Kern Valley
This story was originally published May 16, 2023 at 11:11 AM.
