Baseball and Softball Invites open season

February 20, 2018 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Baseball and softball invitiational kick off the season this week and teams will get a chilly reception. Temperatures most of the week will struggle to make 60 degrees, but if you love your sport  you'll be there anyway.

Here's a list of tournaments this week that will occupy most schools before power-ranking games start to become common place:

BASEBALL

Cougar Classic - Feb. 21-24  hosted by Phoenix Christian, Arizona Lutheran and Washington high schools. Participants -- Phoenix Christian, Glendale Prep, Sedona Red Rock, Moon Valley, Northland Prep, Washington, Payson, Central, Yuma Catholic, Valley Christian, Arizona Lutheran, Camelback, Tempe Prep, Paradise Honors, Bourgade Catholic. 

Cowboy Up Invitational - Feb. 21-26 hosted by Kino Sports Complex, Cholla and Sabino high schools. Participants -- Cactus, Ironwood Ridge, Show Low, Tanque Verde, Yuma, Buena, Vista Grande, Walden Grove, Pueblo Magnet, Rincon/University, Cholla, Campo Verde, Flowing Wells, Williams Field, Highland, Centennial, Sunnyside, Marana Mountain View, Sabino, Sahuaro

Matt Huffman-Thomas Pinon Memorial Tournament -- Feb. 21-24 hosted by Casa Grande and Marciopa high schools. Participants -- Tempe, Casa Grande, Higley, Poston Butte, Marana, Maricopa, Dobson, Apache Junction.

Scottsdale Invitational - Feb. 21-March 3 hosted by Gilbert , Chaparral, Cactus Shadow, Saguaro and Sunnyslope high schools. Participants --Nogales, Salpointe Catholic, Cactus Shadows, Chaparral, Sunnyslope, Cienega, Gilbert, Saguaro.

Horizon Preseason Invitational - Feb. 21-March 2 hosted by all participants. Participants -- Liberty, Horizon, Pinnacle, Perry, Raymond S. Kellis, Basha, Boulder Creek, Desert Mountain

Shadow Ridge Classic -- Feb. 21-24 hosted by Shadow Ridge and Desert Edge high schools. Participants -- Peoria, Desert Edge, Northwest Christian, Glendale, Independence, Shadow Ridge, Queen Creek, Ironwood

Adam Donnenfield Invitational -- Feb. 21-Feb. 24 -- Hosted by most participants, mainly Brophy Prep. Participants -- Prescott, Marcos de Niza, Gila Ridge, Corona del Sol, Kofa, Brophy Prep, Chandler, Cibola, North Canyon, Mesa, Sandra Day O'Connor, Arcadia.

Wayne Decombs Pre-Season West Side Invitational -- Feb. 21-Feb. 24 -- hosted by Tolleson, Millennium, Agua Fria, Apollo, Verrado high schools. Partiicipants - Flagstaff, Shadow Mountain, Bradshaw Mountain, Verrado, Coconino, Millennium, Valley Vista, Agua Fria, Deer Valley, Skyline, La Joya Community, Tolleson, Copper Canyon, Amphitheater, Apollo.

Laveen Classic -- Feb. 21-Feb. 24 -- Hosted by Cesar Chavez, Alhambra,, Trevor Browne, Buckeye, North, Betty H. Fairfax high schools. Participants -- St. Mary's, Dysart, Sahuarita, Buckeye, Cesar Chavez, Betty H. Fairfax, Douglas, Goldwater, Westwood, North, San Luis, Trevor. Browne, Alhambra, Maryvale, Carl Hayden, Westview, Sierra Linda, Youngker, Del Valle (TX), Bel Air (TX).

Patriot Kickoff Classic -- Feb. 21-24 -- Hosted by American Leadership Academy Queen Creek. Participants -- Gilbert Classical, Gilbert Christian, Chandler Prep, Benson, Benjamin Franklin, North Pointe Prep, Trivium Prep, American Leadership Academy.

Desert Vista Classic -- Feb. 23- March 3 -- Hosted by Desert Vista HS. Participants -- Desert Vista, Mesquite, Desert Ridge, Hamilton, Red Mountain, Mesa Mountain View.

SOFTBALL

Agua Fria Kick Off Classic -- Feb. 21- 24. Hosted by Agua Fria HS. Participants -- Estrella Foothills, Saguaro, Prescott, Trivium Prep, Buckeye Union, Valley Vista, Agua Fria, Blue Ridge, Sahuarita, Bourgade Catholic, North Canyon, Goldwater, Trevor Browne, Douglas, Sierra Linda, Mountain Pointe, Youngker.

Lion Country Classic - Feb. 21-24. Hosted by Red Mountain HS and Red Mountain Park. Participants -- Red Mountain, Skyline, Chaparral, Basha, Deer Valley, Campo Verde, Gilbert, Desert Ridge, Perry, Desert Mountain, Corona del Sol, Tucson.

Dobson-Westwood Invitational -- Feb. 21-24 -- Hosted by Dobson and Westwood high schools. Participants -- Marcos de Niza, Westwood, Dobson, Casteel, Apache Junction, Gila Ridge, Williams Field, Arcadia, Mesa, Payson, Poston Butte, Cibola, Chandler, Sunnyside, Buena.

Dorado Classic -- Feb. 22 -24. Hosted by Canyon del Oro HS games at Lincoln Park.. Participants -- Flagstaff, Benson, Casa Grande, Cactus Shadows, Desert View, Marana, Canyon Del Oro, Mesa Mountain View, Mesquite, Salpointe Catholic, Cholla, Ironwood Ridge, Sandra Day O'Connor, Desert Vista, Sabino, Marana Mountain View, Sahuaro, Vista Grande, Queen Creek, Rincon/University, Socorro (TX), Eastlake (El Paso, TX), Del Valle (TX), Montwood (TX), Parkland (TX), Chapin (TX), Ysleta (TX), Americas (TX), El Dorado (TX). 

Sunrise Mountain Invitational -- Feb. 22-24. Hosted by Sunrise Mtn. HS. Games at Peoria Pioneer Park. Participants -- Greenway, Coconino,Sunrise Mountain, Millennium, Desert Edge, Ironwood, Kofa, Liberty, Willow Canyon, Horizon, Pinnacle, Shadow Ridge, Xavier Prep, Tolleson, Boulder Creek, Mountain Ridge, Centennial, Raymond S. Kellis.

Krystin Diehl Tournament - Feb. 22-24. Hosted by Maricopa HS. Participants -- Peoria, Higley, Florence, Holbrook, La Joya, McClintock, Maricopa, Page.

Falcon Invitational -- Feb. 22-24. Hosted by Fountain Hills HS. Parciipants -- Scottsdale Christian, Coronado, Horizon Honors, Seton Catholic, Blue Ridge, Fountain Hills, Winslow, McClintock.