A trio of teams from Tucson and the East Valley were winners of softball invitationals over the weekend, capping the first week of softball action. The winners were Canyon del Oro, Gilbert and Dobson high schools.

Canyon del Oro, which lost its grip on the 4A-I title last year, knocked off Sahuaro 10-5, in the final of the 2011 Dorodo Classic in Tucson on Saturday. The Dorados also handled Pinnacle in the semis, Saguaro, Cactus Shadows and Rincon prior to that.

Gilbert won all seven of its games iand prevailed in the Lion Country Classic at Red Mountain High School. Pitcher Michelle Duncan confounded several opponents with shutout pitching, including Buchanan High (Clovis, Calif.), 5-0 in the championship game. Gilbert also defeated Salpointe (twice), Queen Creek, Tucson, Deer Valley and Mesquite.

Dobson took the top spot in the 20th annual Dobson-Marcos de Niza Tournament by beating Mountain Ridge, 5-2, in the championship game at Marcos de Niza High. Dobson won pool play games against Apache Junction, McClintock and Westwood and downed Horizon for the right to meet Mountain Ridge in the final.

Most  teams begin power-point games this week. More invitationals take place throughout March, many of them over spring break which for most schools takes place between March 12 and March 26.