With the 1A and 2A state softball playoffs scheduled to begin this weekend, several teams have their eyes on the prize. Here’s a look at the top teams to watch as bracket play opens May 1. 

2A SOFTBALL 

HERITAGE ACADEMY 

The two-time defending state champion Heroes (22-4, 8-0 2A Valley) are looking to make it a three-peat when the 2A State Softball Championships get underway May 2. 

Led by Arizona State commit Rowan Asanovich, who is hitting .705 with 13 home runs, 52 RBIs, 18 doubles, two triples and has scored 58 runs, Heritage Academy may do just that. 

Asanovich’s .705 batting average is good enough for second overall in the 2A state world behind only Tanner Banks (.732) of Mohave Accelerated. 

Head coach Steve LaDrigue said this club is a “great group of girls” that are tremendous teammates to each other. 

“They support each other through the good and bad moments. We have a great family environment that isn’t scared to play anyone,” LaDrigue said, adding that Heritage Academy will need to have quality at bats to put runs on the board in this tournament, and as always, limit the errors on defense. 

“I believe this year has some great competition. Mohave Accelerated and Horizon will be there again, but I believe Wilcox and Round Valley are emerging and will be good times this year, and in the future,” LaDrigue said. 

Other players to watch include Amaya LaDrigue, Gloriann Blanco, Savana Soltero, Sieana Soltero and Christina Martinez. 

The No. 1-seeded Heroes open with No. 16 Wickenburg on May 2, 11 a.m. 

MOHAVE ACCELERATED 

Having won nine straight before a tough 7-3 loss to Heritage Academy to end the regular season, Mohave Accelerated (22-4, 8-0 2A West) is looking to go on a run this postseason and return to the 2A finals for just the second time in program history. 

Their first visit? A 6-0 loss to Heritage Academy in the 2A championship a season ago, providing more than enough motivation to return and finally get over the hump. 

“The success we have obtained this season is due to the fact that most of our team has played together in one form or another since they were able to tie their cleats,” Mohave Accelerated coach Shanda Weiler said. 

The Patriots will lean on their dynamic duo in Tanner Banks and Kennedy Lamb. Both are far and away the best hitters in 2A, and are tied atop the leaderboard in home runs across the state with 21 apiece. The next closest player has 13. 

Banks leads the state in hitting at a .732 clip with 17 doubles and 79 RBIs (No. 1 in 2A), while Lamb is hitting a cool .651 with 10 doubles and 59 RBIs (No. 2 in 2A). 

In the circle, Lamb is dominant, sporting a 13-1 record with a 0.58 ERA in 96.2 innings pitched to go along with her 170 strikeouts (No. 5 in 2A) and 17 walks. 

“The road to success hasn’t always been easy for us as we have faced some challenges, but the girls always pick each other up and keep playing as one solid team,” Weiler said. 

Mohave Accelerated earned a No. 2 seed and opens with No. 15 Benson on May 2, 11 a.m. 

OTHER NOTES 

Having won 14 of their last 15 games heading into the state playoffs, Camp Verde (20-6, 9-1 2A Central) is led by Aislynn Mulcaire who is hitting .522 this season with three home runs, 31 RBIs, and 11 doubles while sporting a 1.97 ERA in the circle with 137 strikeouts. The Cowboys were one of two clubs to win 16 power point games this season. The other? Defending champ Heritage Academy. The Cowboys open as the No. 7 seed and will face No. 10 Morenci. … Horizon Honors was considered a contender in the 2A this season but sputtered across the regular season finish line with a 4-3 record. The club still won 21 games and still has shortstop Josie Barden, who was sixth overall in batting average in 2A competition with a .646 mark. Horizon Honors as the No. 6 seed will face No. 11 Tombstone on May 2, 11 a.m. … Round Valley is looking to make some noise this year after making the Final Four a season ago. Watch for shortstop Kelci Walker and her 12 home runs and .625 batting average to do some damage this May. The No. 3 Elks will face No. 14 Arizona Lutheran to open the playoffs May 2, 11 a.m. 

1A SOFTBALL 

JOSEPH CITY 

Looking for the program’s 11th championship and third straight dating back to 2024, Joseph City (14-8, 1-1 1A North) won only 14 games this season, but looks can be deceiving. 

Having played one of the tougher 1A schedules this spring, the Wildcats beat St. Johns 5-4, Phoenix Christian 16-8, and Superior 9-0, while losing to Williams (4-2), Round Valley (8-3), Globe (10-6) and Sahuarita (5-1), all of which are quality opponents. 

Coach Daniel Hutchens expects his club, along with Williams, St. David and Superior to be in the mix for 1A title this May. 

“We probably lost the most players to graduation last year of these other teams. We barely beat St. David last year in the championship game and Williams had St. David on the ropes in the semifinals,” Hutchens said. “Provided we make it there, there are going to be some intense semifinal games in the 1A this year.” 

Joseph City is led by Audrey Neill, who hit .525 this season with seven home runs, 30 RBIs, nine doubles and scored 26 runs. 

The No. 2 Wildcats open with No. 15 Antelope Union on May 1, 3 p.m. 

SUPERIOR 

After being upset in the first round by No. 13 Hayden (14-8) a season ago, the Panthers (19-2-1, 8-0 1A East) earned a No. 1 seed in the 1A state playoffs thanks to good pitching and defense this spring. 

“Those are our strong points, but our hitting is starting to come around also,” coach Alphonso Lopez said. “We are a team that has learned to work together, help one another and pick each other up when we are down.” 

A player to watch in May is Noelle Duarte, who hit .437 this season with four homers, nine doubles, four triples and scored 35 runs. She also finished Top 10 in RBIs this season in 1A with 29. 

Superior opens with No. 16 Duncan on May 1, 4 p.m. 

WILLIAMS 

Finishing with 13 wins and a No. 4 seed, Williams (13-10, 2-0 1A North) hopes to at least repeat their visit to the 1A state semifinals after losing to St. David 5-4 last May. 

Danika Howe leads the Vikings in the circle with a 9-3 record and 2.00 ERA with 113 strikeouts. 

“This is a good, hard-working group. We’ve made some deep runs in the last two years so hopefully we can put it all together and bring home a championship this year,” coach Gabriel Alvarado said. 

Williams opens with No. 14 Valley Union on May 1, 4 p.m. 

OTHER NOTES 

St. David returns eight of 10 starters from a season ago and have won eight straight entering the 1A state playoffs. Their 15 power point wins was second only to Superior and they’ll open with No. 13 San Manuel. Players to watch include Paisley Gooding, Austyn Hatch, Emelynn Jacquez and Jasmine Wise. … St. Michael’s may be a No. 6 seed to open this year’s 1A state playoffs but the feature the top three hitters in 1A across the state in Denea Livingston (.792), Hayden Roan (.629), and Chanelle Hale (.598). Livingston’s home runs (16) and RBIs (74) lead all of 1A softball. 

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.