Hamilton celebrates winner's bracket rally that edged Corona del Sol last week. (AxPreps365 photo)

It's obvious Hamilton is and has been the team to beat in 6A in 2018 from the get-go.

Bringing the moniker of two-time defending champs is fact  Add the players the Huskies returned and depth they've displayed when injury has bit a few times seems is also hard to deny. They were tested and received a wake-up call from Corona del Sol rallying to tie in the seventh and win in the eighth with a three-run rally. They do seem destined for a threepeat come May 14.

Pinnac

The remaining challengers are five -- Pinnacle, Sandra Day O'Connor, Perry, Corona del Sol and Basha. Here's a glance at the six remaining schools and where they stand with less than two weeks left in the season:

#1 Hamilton: The Huskies are 32-1 with their lone loss to an elite California school Mater Dei in the Dave Kopps Tournament of Champions back in early March in Bullhead City. The roster is about half full of players who are signed or committed to D-I schools in the future. The loss for the season of pitcher Madison Seigworth to injury and to starting outfielder Ali Ashner twop-third of the way throught hasn't hindered. Senior Abby Andersen has been an able and equal No. 1 pitcher alongside Seigworth. The addition to the pitching staff and everyday lineup as a hitter in freshman Loganne Stepp has made pitching formidable game in and game out. The lineup featuring veterans Taylor Gindlesperger, Macy Simmons, Lorena Vazquez-Inzunza and Andersen is a nightmare for opposing pitchers. Hamilton has crashed 51 homers led by Simmons with 15.Hamitlon is in the semifinals after its narrow escape from Corona and can only miss out on the final if they are beaten twice by Corona or Basha. 

#2 Pinnacle: The Pioneers have served as bridesmaids to Hamilton each of the last two years in title games. Overall Pinnacle is not as polished as it's been the last two seasons, but with a healthy Marissa Schuld in the circle they have an arm that can handle any lineup. Schuld, Sydney Smith, Emma Bullard, Morgan Smith, Jessica Mabrey and Taylor Fawcett can produce enough runs most games. Pinnacle has gone with Schuld and Smith in the ciircle most of the season, but so far in postseason it's been all Schuld. The Pioneers have won by scores of 11-1, 4-2 and 7-0. They are in the semifinals and muist be beaten twice by either Perry or Sandra Day O'Connor not to make a third straight visit to the championship game.   

#3 Sandra Day O'Connor: The Eagles have known only one coach in their 16-year history and that's Melissa Hobson. O'Connor has beenin the thick of then title chase the last several years and won the title in 2015. They finished second in the Desert Valley Region race to Pinnacle where there was a three-way battle for the top among SDO, Pinnacle and Horizon. SDO spilt two games with each school. They won a slugfest with Pinnacle (14-13) and lost a pitcher's duel to Pinnacle (2-1). Chemistry and leadership has played a role in keeping the program's success at a high level. The Eagles are led by seniors Grace Lyons and Amber Brewer, junior Kaylee Erickson and freshman Rylee Holtorf. Lyons played on the 2105 title team. She is batting a lofty .642 this season as she concludes her four-year stint as a starter at short.

#4 Corona del Sol: Coach Jeep Ray and her team racked up another region title (Central) recently and are in the playoffs for the 20th time in her 21 seasons. There hasn't been one standout during the season that has seen the Aztecs post a 25-7 record. Different players have stepped up at different times, according to Ray. Some trouble early on straying from a team approach has been better as the season has wound down. Corona is led in the circle by dual punch of seniors Jessica Lynch and Mikaeli Davidson, who are the team's top power hitters. Leadoff hitter and one of the team captains is four-year starter Olivia Miller. She leads the team in hitting (.466) and is a solid tablesetter along with No. 2 hitter Caleigh Tilden-Long (.462). Corona is pressing for a final four finish or better for the first time since 2008.

#6 Perry: The Pumas rely heavily on senior pitcher Saige Stutz to guide their fortunes and that's been the case again this year. Stutz is not overpowering, but more often than not keeps Perry in games. Perry has an offense capable of exploding, but over the last 11 games has scored more than five runs just once. Hasn't hurt them much and in two playoff games has won by scores of 3-0 over Mountain Pointe and 4-1 over Sandra Day O'Connor. Tops at the plate are power-hitting catcher Piper Lujan, Chloe Krason, with a recent four-RBI game and HR against O'Connor and steady Syndee Smith. Perry reached the final four last year, losing both its games at state to runner-up Pinnacle in pitcher's duels. 

#9 Basha: The Bears have rebounded with a turnaround season under new head coach Kara Brun. They were 13-16 in 2017, lost a play-in game so didn't technical qualify for the state tournament. They are 21-13 and still playing in May. The Bears are led by senior pitcher Kenadee Rausch, who has won 15 games in the circle. She also chips in with a .440 average and 31 RBI. Sydney Stoltz has the top average at .495. Three other players are raking at a .400 clip or better - Trinity Smith (RBI leader with 32), Kayla Scholz and Randi Wright. In order to stay alive they must beat at least two teams they haven't defeated in four previous tries this season (Corona del Sol once and Hamilton three times).