After losing by a single run in the 2A state championship a season ago, Benson is back and ready to make another run at a title.

And with Scottsdale Christian, last year’s champ, moving up to 3A this season…there’s no telling what will happen in the 2A state playoffs this year.

First round games are scheduled to get underway May 5 at the Goodyear Baseball Complex. Here’s a look at the matchups in the 2A state playoff bracket:

NO. 16 Willcox (9-17, 5-7 2A East) at NO. 1 Benson (16-9-1, 11-1 2A East): Led by Dalton Crockett offensively, Benson aims to get back to the 2A state title game in May, but this time they’d like to take home the trophy as champions. Crockett recorded 36 hits and 24 RBIs to go along with his nine doubles. He hit .522. Ryan Dunivan leads the Bobcats with 3.20 ERA while recording 54 strikeouts in 50-1/3 innings pitched. … Willcox managed only nine wins this season, thus a No. 16 seed. Kash Macumber hit .377 this season with nine runs scored, while Ayden Fuentes led the team with 22 RBIs.

NO. 9 Bisbee (15-11, 6-6 2A East) at NO. 8 Scottsdale Prep. (15-7, 8-0 2A Metro): These two clubs were the 10-7 matchup a season ago, with Scottsdale Prep. coming out on top, 14-10. Scottsdale Prep. holds a one-two punch in pitcher Craig Bohrer and catcher Nate Kammer. Bohrer posted a 2.65 ERA this season with 29 strikeouts and only 13 earned runs in 34-1/3 innings pitched. Kammer hit .450 this year with 21 RBIs, six doubles, four triples and a home run. “This year we have overcome numerous injuries and setbacks to win our region,” Scottsdale Prep. head coach David Primavera said. … Bisbee is led by Victor Ramirez at the plate with 41 RBIs, 12 doubles and 33 runs scored. Jose Mendez is their ace, striking out 73 batters in 63-2/3 innings pitched this season. He posted a 1.54 ERA with four complete games.

NO. 12 Arizona Lutheran (15-7, 8-4 2A West) at NO. 5 Gilbert Classical (12-3, 4-2 2A Valley): Neither of these two teams qualified for the 2A state playoffs in 2022. Starting pitcher Noah Scilley has 103 strikeouts to only 14 walks on the mound this year, making him Top 10 in the nation for whiffs. His 0.47 ERA isn’t bad either considering he’s only given up three earned runs all spring. “We have an amazing pitcher,” Gilbert Classical head coach Jeff Guymon said. “He works hard year round with a personal pitching coach and play club ball.” … Arizona Lutheran juniors Jorge Lomeli, Noah Urbieta and Ryan Pufahl are a big reason why their club is in the state playoffs this season. “[Our] core group of juniors have been frustrated with the program’s lack of success in the past and they dedicated themselves to putting in the work during the offseason to become better baseball players. Pufahl, Lomeli and Urbieta lead the team in hits. Pufahl has 10 doubles and five triples this season to go along with his team-leading 38 hits and 37 RBIs. Lomeli leads the team in RBI with 45.

NO. 13 Round Valley (13-10, 7-0 2A North) at NO. 4 Phoenix Christian (21-2-1, 8-0 2A Central: Xavier Gutierrez had 11 doubles, one triple and one home run this season to go along with his 28 RBIs and .459 batting average. Phoenix Christian teammate Erik Espinoza is 10-0 this season with a 1.20 ERA and struck out 59 batters in 46-2/3 innings pitched. “Mental toughness has been the forefront of what we have been teaching this year,” Phoenix Christian head coach Mark Band. “We raised the bar of what we expected out of the boys and pushed them to reach for it.” … Round Valley is led by Ryker Marble, who is tops on the team in average (.608), hits (45), runs (41), triples (10), home runs (5) and second in doubles (8). Ridge Knight is the ace for the Elks, posting a 1.14 ERA in 43 innings pitched this season. He has 36 strikeouts, but has allowed only seven earned runs all season.

NO. 14 TEMPE PREP. (10-8, 6-4 2A South) at NO. 3 Tombstone (17-7, 8-4 2A East): D.J. Elias turned in quite the 2023 campaign for Tombstone with 40 hits, 22 RBI, 11 doubles and a .519 average. He wasn’t bad on the mound either, sporting a 1.90 ERA in 51-2/3 innings pitched. His 84 strikeouts led the team, allowing only 15 walks and 14 earned runs all season. “We have had a pretty good season and are looking forward to the playoffs,” Tombstone head coach James Milligan said. “The biggest factors have been our pitching and defense.” … Tempe Prep. Nick Gastelum led the club in hits (24), RBI (17) and average (.490). Jack Sayer is second with 15 hits. He also hit .348 with four doubles, one triple and a home run.

NO. 11 Kingman Academy (17-6, 12-0 2A West) at NO. 6 Horizon Honors (19-7, 10-0 2A South): This Horizon Honors group made the state playoffs a season ago, but Willcox made them an early exit in an 18-2 loss. Diego Torres hit .458 this year with 14 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 40 RBI. “We are a pretty balanced team but pitching and defense has been our strength,” Horizon Honors head coach Tom Kandler said. … Kingman Academy went undefeated in region play this season, claiming the 2A West crown. Gauge Short hit .403 this season with seven doubles, two triples, a home run and 21 RBI. Starting pitcher Cade Benson posted a 0.53 ERA in 32-2/3 innings pitched this season, striking out 47 batters to lead the Tigers.

NO. 10 Morenci (12-12-1, 6-6 2A East) at NO. 7 Pima (12-11, 5-6 2A East): Britt Hawkins hit .500 this season with 15 RBI and one home run. Devon Hewitt hit .417 with three home runs, three triples and 15 RBI. He scored 22 runs to lead the club. … Morenci made it to the quarterfinals a season ago after defeating Glendale Prep. 9-6. They eventually lost to Tombstone, 7-1. The Wildcats were led by Daylen Johnson with a .345 average, 30 hits, 14 RBI, 21 runs scored and three doubles.

NO. 15 Phoenix Country Day (13-9-1, 6-2 2A Metro) at NO. 2 Miami (20-5, 6-0 2A Valley): Miami has won four straight. The Vandals have made it to the 2A state semifinals in the last two seasons, a year ago as a No. 2 seed, only to lose to No. 3 Benson 11-3. “Since we graduated a lot of players in the last two seasons after making the semifinals … I’m sure most people expected this to be a rebuilding year. This group has come out on a mission,” Miami head coach Brandon Powell said. The Valley region champs are led by Andre Hayes, who tallied 35 hits to lead the team. He also had 31 RBIs and 36 runs scored while hitting .500. … Phoenix Country Day Tim Moriarty carries the club offensively with a .569 average (37 hits) to go along with his six home runs and 39 RBIs. He also had seven doubles, four triples and scored 33 runs.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.