Sahuarita coach Chris Fanning recently won his 500th game. A state title in two weeks would be a nice edition. (Sahuarita photo)

Two of the last three years Empire has emerged as the 3A/Division III state champion. Those titles were in 2015 and 2017. The 2016 season was convoluted with plenty of schools moving up or down and some not belonging where they ended up. Wasn't your typical 3A field.

This year the conference makeup is the same as last year. Many of the top competitors are back to give the top spot another go. Empire is one of them.

Over the last six years the highest seeded team to win the title has been a #5 seed twice. Last year Empire was a #12 seed. Anything can happen.

The following is a capsule of the top-12 seeds:

#1 River Valley is the tournament's No. 1 seed and seems like it hasn't lost a West Region title in forever. Last season the Dust Devils took the top seed to the semis only to fall to pesky Empire, 7-5. The year before eventual champ Catalina Foothills outsted them in the semis. The return trip in 2018 is promising with senior Ashley Carter-Marshall putting up huge numbers at the plate and in the circle. Carter-Marshall is hitting .495 with eight homers and 45 RBI. She is 14-1 with a 1.01 ERA. Other top bats include Tianna Williams (.582 avg, 8 HR, 50 RBI), Korbyn Draper (.554 avg,, 38 RBI) and Ryann Glenn (.480 avg., 37 RBI).

#2 Casteel has used another year and some extra bodies with three classes to choose from to aid its rise in softball. They bowed out in the first round a year ago to Sabino, which reached the semis. This year they ascended to 3A Metro Region champs -- one spot higher than the year before. They have a good opportunity to grab the school's third state title this year -- football and girls soccer did so in the fall and winter, respectively. Junior Lael Swank leads a potent offense on paper with a .629 average and 22 doulbes. A freshman -- Morgan Norris -- has brought a .510 average. Players hitting .400 or better are the norm for the Colts. In the circle Rachel Sultzbach and Kate Wagner have combined for 23 wins with 14-2 and 9-2 records, respectively. Sultzbach sports a 2.73 ERA.

#3 Show Low is another school itching for a long run at state. The Cougars were the No. 3 seed last year and lost in the first round to Sahuarita, 4-2. No shame in that as Sahuarita is usually in the mix. Show Low won the 3A East for the second year in a row so they want more hardware.Veteran players Paige Kerr (.586), Haley Housley (.444) and Megan Reidhead (.321) are catalysts. The big year offensively has come from freshman Addie Clark -- .468 average, 12 homers, 14 doubles and 38 RBI. Senior Lauren Clark has logged the most work in the circle with seven wins and a 3.05 ERA.

#5 Winslow has endured some highs and lows this season. At present it is on the upswing. After a strong showing at the Gracie Haught Invitational in Payson, the Bulldogs went on to a tourney in Las Vegas where their fortunes and fielding turned sour. The last two weeks have seen a resurgence with the team posting six wins in its last seven games. Leading Winslow are seniors Harleigh Scott and Morgan Thomas. Scott is batting .465 and Thomas .520 with eight homers and 43 RBI. Winslow last won a state softball title in 2014 and were runners-up in 2013. They've been in the mix the last few years except 2106 when they were moved up to D-II and still posted a 19-12 record. Winslow lost in the first round last year to eventual champ Empire.

Empire celebrates its victory in the 2017 title game vs. Yuma Catholic. (Photo by Andy Morales, AzPreps365)

#7 Empire won a spirited three-team battle for the South Region title winning it via tiebreaker with Sabino and Sahuarita. The Ravens return several key players from last year's title run led by five seniors -- Hannah Brink, Emma Garbutt, Emylee Perry, Anbel Ramirez and Jaden Romero. Romero finished the regular season throwing a shutout vs. Pusch Ridge and tamed Yuma Catholic in last year's 3A title game. Although only 5-6 this year with a 3.50 ERA, she's a big-game pitcher. Perry leads the staff with a 6-1 record and 2.57 ERA. Perry is batting .384 with a team-high 32 RBI. Garbutt is hitting .352 with 22 RBI. Ramirez's average is .364 and leads the team in home runs with four.

#9 Page ruled the 3A North this season posting a 17-10 record after finishing second in the region in 2017. The Sand Devils were elmiinated in the first round last year by eventual runner-up Yuma Catholic. They are led by pitcher sophomore Shelby Blake and her work in the circle. Blake boasts a 2.22 ERA, an 8-3 record and has 136 strikeouts in 94 innings. Sophomores Mikenna Penrod and Christina Lucero hit a combined .400  and Tyanna Kelly brings the most power with four homers, 12 extra-base hits and a team-best 24 RBI. 

#11 Sahuarita is led by veteran coach Chris Fanning, who is in his second stint as head man -- 23 seasons total. The Mustangs have 500 wins-plus under Fanning's leadership, made the playoffs 21 of the 23 years and played in title games eight times winning twice. "We have been successful because we have played excellent defense, hit well and our pitchers have thrown strikes and kept us in ball games", Fanning said. "this is the best hitting team I've coached.." Seniors Cheyenne Fox and Aviana Alvarez are finishing their careers on a high note. Fox has pitched well (6-2 with a 2.90 ERA) and hitting .435; Alvarez ia raking at a .430 clip. Juniors Hailey Tanori and Solymar Navarro are having huge years. Tanori is hitting .606 with 66 hits and Navarro .460 wth a team-high 54 RBI.

#13 Chino Valley upended #4 Safford to reach the elite eight. The Cougars have a two-way standout in senior Keigan Willingham. Willingham is 10-7 in the circle and has fanned 141 batters in 106 innings. She is batting a sizzling .638 with 24 RBI. Sophomore Jacey Buchanan is hitting .500 and junior Madison Hooper is raking at .473 and a team-high 25 RBI.