Andrew Meyer is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to write stories for AZPreps365.com.

PHOENIX – Xavier College Preparatory School is prepared to go for a third consecutive state championship in softball despite not knowing its opponent yet.

Xavier ended the regular season on Monday with a 25-4 overall record. It enters the playoffs ranked as the no. 4 seed in the playoffs.

Xavier will know its opponent by Thursday after the result of the play-in game between Cibola High School and Corona del Sol High School. 

Xavier has won four state championships in softball, all coming in the last five years. 

The three seniors on the team offered insight into how they are approaching the playoff run.

Outfielder Shya Pethtel said that the pressure was manageable.

“We’ve already put so much in so it’s just kinda like we’re fighting to keep going,” she said. “Honestly, I’ve been seeing our team be really resilient through kinda, like, tough games and tough times and stuff like that, and I have a lot of confidence in us that we’re gonna make it to the state championship.”

Center fielder Leah Jollineau was all business in her mindset. She said that they have to stay focused despite already winning twice.

“Just knowing that each team has a lot of potential and anybody can really beat us and just knowing that our practices need to have quality so that we can go into the games and know that we have to work super hard for each one.” Jollineau said.

Outfielder Avery Fleet was more measured in her mindset.

“It’s a lot of pressure but I think if we can just do what we know like this is the sport that we know and love and if we can just continue to have that in mind there shouldn’t be any pressure,” she said. “I know we have a good chance.”

Despite their confidence, the girls understand they have a target on their backs from their opponents.

Pethtel explained her outlook on how the team can’t overlook their opponents.

“Obviously a lot of schools are trying to take that from us,” she said. “It gives us a sense of kinda like more motivation to, like, prove that we still deserve this championship and the title and stuff like that. It’s kinda like its own intrinsic motivator to keep us going and keep us fighting really strong.”

Fleet was less focused on her opponents for motivation. She instead looked to the future. 

“Just keeping our eye on the prize,” she said. “So if we continue to just focus on doing what we do best then we can definitely focus and get that win.”

Xavier won consecutive state championships in 2021 and 2022 but failed to win in 2023 when it lost to Queen Creek High School in the first round 15-0.

Xavier defeated Queen Creek the past two seasons in the final, winning 3-2 in 2024 and 6-0 in 2025.

Xavier’s first game is slated for Saturday morning, and will be played at Petznick Field at the school’s campus.