Baseball, softball teams take to diamond this week

February 19, 2017 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Baseball and softball season begins Feb. 22 with a smattering of power-ranking games and a deluge of invitational tournaments across the Valley and southern Arizona.

Here's a list of invitationals and dates to get fans through the first week to10 days. Check with your school for exact game times and locations:

BASEBALL

ADAM DONNENFIELD INVITATIONAL Feb. 22-25: Several host schools.  Teams competing -- Brophy Prep, Cibola, Chandler, Prescott, Mesa, Marcos de Niza, Gila Ridge, North Canyon, Corona del Sol, Sandra Day O'Connor, Kofa, Basha, Raymond Kellis, Queen Creek, Seton.

HORIZON PRESEASON TOURNAMENT Feb. 22- March 4: Several host schools. Teams competing - Desert Mountain, Mountain Ridge, Shadow Mountain, Horizon, Perry, Liberty and Pinnacle.

SCOTTSDALE INVITATIONAL Feb. 22-March 4: Several host schools. Teams competing -- Gilbert, Chaparral, Sunnyslope, Skyline, Cactus Shadows, Saguaro, Arcadia, Thunderbird, Nogales, Notre Dame.

FALCON CLASSIC Feb. 22-25: Several locations, host school Fountain Hills. Teams competing -- Northwest Christian, Payson, Seton, Fountain Hills, Scottsdale Christian, McClintock, Winslow, Peoria, Shadow Ridge, Blue Ridge, Sahuarita and Catalina.

DESERT VISTA INVITATIONAL Feb. 24-March 4: Desert Vista host school. Teams competinbg -- Desert Ridge, Desert Vista, Hamilton, Mesquite, Mesa Mtn. View and Red Mountain.

TOMAS PINON-MATT HUFFMAN INVITATIONAL Feb. 22-25: Casa Grande and Maricopa host schools: Teams competing -- Casa Grande, Maricopa, Marana, Tempe, Dobson, Poston Butte, Apache Junction, Higley.

WAYNE DECOMBS WEST SIDE INVITE Feb. 22-25:  Several host schools. Teams competing -- Independence, Deer Valley, La Joya, Millennium, Tolleson, Coconino, Verrado, Ironwood, Rincon. Flagstaff, Moon Valley, Valley Vista, Bradshaw Mountain, Copper Canyon, Apollo, Agua Fria.

LAVEEN BASEBALL  CLASSIC: Feb. 22-25: Several host schools. Teams competing - Westwood, Coronado, Douglas, Youngker, Goldwate, Cactus, Sierra Linda, St. Mary's, San Luis, Sahuarita, Camelback, North, Buckeye, Maryvale, Alhambra, Cesar Chavez, Trevor Browne, Willow Canyon, Dysart, Carl Hayden, Westview, Betty Fairfax.

SOFTBALL

LION COUNTRY CLASSIC Feb. 22-25: Red Mountain host school. Teams competing -- Deer Valley, Chaparral, Tucson, Desert Ridge, Gilbert, Skyline, Corona del Sol, Perry, Basha, Red Mountain, Campo Verde and Desert Mountain.

DOBSON-WESTWOOD INVITATIONAL Feb. 22-25: Dobson and Westwood host schools. Teams competing -- Cibola, Dobson, Casteel, Mesa, Westwood, Sunnyside, Marcos de Niza, Arcadia. Gila Ridge, Apache Junction, Poston Butte, Buena.

DORADO CLASSIC: Feb., 23-25: Canyon del Oro host school, games at Sportspark Softball Complex. Teams competing -- Catalina Foothills, Canyon Del Oro, Shadow Mountain, Desert Vista, Mesa, Mtn. View, Vista Grande, Flowing Wells, Marana, Sahuaro, Ironwood Ridge, Sandra Day O'Connor, Benson, Rincon, Mesquite, Cholla, Cactus Shadows, Sabino, Desert View, Queen Creek, Marana Mountain View, Socorro (TX), Eastlake (El Paso, TX), Montwood (TX), Parkland (TX); Del Valle (TX).