Baseball & softball opens to chilly reception

February 19, 2019 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Baseball and softball are back beginning Wednesday Feb. 20 with plenty of invitationals for fans to come out of hibernation to witness. (AZPreps 365 photo)

It won't be baseball and softball weather this week with temperatures struggling at best to make 60, but diehard fans will still show to watch their favorite teams compete as the 2019 baseball and softbal seasons commence with invitationals far and wide.

Here is a rundown of the first invitationals of the year taking place in the Valley and Tucson:

BASEBALL

Adam Donnenfield Invitational (Feb. 20-23) - Games at Brophy Prep, Westwood, Sandra Day O'Connor, Skyline, Marcos de Niza, Arcadia and Chandler high schools

Teams competing: Chandler, Canyon Del Oro, Gila Ridge, Kofa, Brophy Prep, Cibola, Prescott, Tucson, Flagstaff, Sandra Day O'Connor, Mesa, Perry, Queen Creek, Skyline, Marcos de Niza, Williams Field, Arcadia, Westwood

Cowboy Up (Feb. 20-23) - Games at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson

Teams competing: Marana Mountain View,  Ironwood Ridge, Yuma, Catalina Foothills, Palo Verde, Pusch Ridge, Flowing Wells, Buena, Sahuaro, Sunnyside, Centennial, Catalina, Sabino, St. Augustine, Cholla, Higley, Tanque Verde, Campo Verde, Highland, J.M. Hanks (TX.)

Tomas Pinon/Matt Huffman Memorial Invitational Feb. (20-23) - Games at Maricopa and Casa Grande high schools

Teams competing: Poston Butte, Seton Catholic, Maricopa, McClintock, Dobson, Casa Grande, Tempe, Apache Junction

Desert Vista Invitational Feb. 20-March 2: Games at sites of all teams entered

Red Mountain, Mesa Mountain View, Desert Ridge, Desert Mountain, Hamilton, Mesquite, Basha and Casteel high schools

Teams competing: Red Mountain, Casteel, Hamilton, Basha, Desert Vista, Desert Mountain, Mountain View, Mesquite, Desert Ridge

Scottsdale Invitational (Feb. 20-March 2) - Games at sites of all team entered

Teams competing: Saguaro, Notre Dame Prep, Salpointe Catholic, Sunnyslope, Nogales, Cienega, Sunrise Mountain, Gilbert, Chaparral, Cactus Shadows

Cougar Classic (Feb. 20-23) - Games at Phoenix Christian, Bourgade Catholic, Arizona Lutheran and Washington highs schools

Teams competing: Scottsdale Christian, Paradise Honors, Trivium Prep, Deer Valley, Arizona Lutheran, Payson, Valley Christian, Odyssey Institute, Dysart, Glendale Prep, Central, Yuma Catholic, Bourgade Catholic, Northland Prep, Shadow Mountain, Fountain Hills, Combs, Moon Valley, Washington, Phoenix Christian, Camelback, Glendale, Tempe Prep, Morro Bay (CA)

Laveen Classic (Feb. 20-23) - Games at Cesar Chavez, Betty Fairfax and Alhambra high schools

Teams competing: Goldwater, South Mountain, San Luis, Youngker, Ironwood, Buckeye,  Douglas, Westview, Maryvale, Alhambra, Carl Hayden, Cesar Chavez, Trevor Browne, North, Sierra Linda, Betty Fairfax

Shadow Ridge Classic (Feb. 20-23) -- Games at Shadow Ridge HS

Teams competing: Thunderbird, Boulder Creek, Estrella Foothills, Independence, Shadow Ridge, Peoria, Northwest Christian, Cactus

Wayne Descombs West Side Invitational (Feb.20-23) - Games at Tolleson, Millennium, Apollo and Verrado high schools

Teams competing: Mingus, Coconino, Bradshaw Mountain, Pinnacle, La Joya, Tolleson, Liberty, Agua Fria, Raymond Kellis, Valley Vista, Amphitheater, Apollo, Desert Edge, Millennium, St. Mary's, Verrado

 

SOFTBALL

Lion Country Classic (Feb. 20-23) - Games at Red Mountain HS and Red Mountain Sports Complex

Teams competing: Red Mountain, Basha, Cibola, Tucson, Perry, Gilbert, Chaparral, Queen Creek, Skyline, Campo Verde, Desert Ridge, Corona del Sol.

Dobson-Westwood Invitational (Feb. 20-23)- Games at Dobson and Westwood HS

Teams competing: Chandler, Gila Ridge, Casteel, Poston Butte, Payson, Sunnyside, Seton Catholic , Desert Vista, Dobson, Desert Mountain, Mesa, Marcos de Niza, Cesar Chavez, Page, Williams Field, Apache Junction, Arcadia, Westwood.

Sunrise Mountain Invitational (Feb. 21-23) - Games at Pioneer Park in Peoria

Teams competing: Mountain Ridge, Coconino, Horizon, Kofa, Boulder Creek, Pinnacle, Greenway, Willow Canyon, Shadow Ridge, Centennial, Tolleson, Liberty, Raymond Kellis, Xavier Prep, Sunrise Mountain, Desert Edge, Millennium, Betty Fairfax.

Dorado Classic (Feb. 21-23) -- Games at Lincoln Park in Tucson

Teams competing:  Benson, Canyon Del Oro, Mountain View Marana, San Manuel,  Ironwood Ridge, Pusch Ridge, Salpointe Catholic, Vista Grande, Sahuaro, Marana, Mesa Mountain View, Casa Grande, Sandra Day O'Connor, Sabino, Sahuarita, Mesquite, Cholla, Gilbert, Empire, Rincon/University, Cactus Shadows and 8 schools from El Paso TX.

Valley Christian Under the Lights  Feb. 22-23 - Games at Valley Christian HS

Teams competing: Walden Grove, Valley Christian, North Pointe Prep, Benjamin Franklin, Northwest Christian, American Leadership- Gilbert North

Kristin Diehl Invitational (Feb. 22-23) - Games at Maricopa HS

Teams competing: Florence, Holbrook, Maricopa, McClintock, Yuma Catholic, Higley.