Southern Arizona schools claimed two of seven state softball titles last year, but are aiming and have a shot at a few more this year.

Heading into either the quarterfinals, semifinals or final round of loser's bracket play, Southern Arizona schools are still in the hunt for each of the seven titles (5A-I, 5A-II, 4A-I, 4A-II, 3A, 2A and 1A).

Salpointe, with standout pitching, notched two shutouts before losing last Friday to Basha. The Lancers must win four games in a row to prevail, but with great pitching they aren't out of it. Ironwood Ridge is one of two teams unbeaten in 5A-II, giving the Nighthawks a better chance of coming home a champion.

Defending 4A-I champ Cienega is still alive in the bottom bracket; Canyon del Oro and Sahuaro are afloat in the top half. It's hard not to see at least one of the three not reaching the final. Cienega faces a tough quarterfinal matchup on the road against the West Valley's Sunrise Mountain, in a rematch of last year's 4A-I championship game. The top seed in 4A-II is Sahuarita, runner-up last year, which hosts Mohave on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.

The best hope in 3A is Safford, the No. 4 seed, but the Bulldogs have to beat the top seed Bulldogs from Winslow on Friday to reach the final. Both of last year's 3A finalists -- Winslow and Estrella Foothills -- are in the 3A final four. The chances of an all-Southern Arizona 2A final are good with  last year's finalists #1 Benson and #4 Willcox squaring off in one semi on Friday and #2 Pusch Ridge taking on  #3 Bourgade in then other.

1A has been dominated recently by  Northern Arizona's Joseph City, but either #2 St. David or #3 Valley Union will get a shot at Joseph City if the Wildcats knock off Bagdad Friday in a rematch of the 2010 title game.