Don Ketchum
Former Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Spring starts early with baseball, softball tournaments

February 17, 2013 by Don Ketchum, AZPreps365


Spring has sprung, with baseball and softball tournaments sprouting like fresh blades of grass.

Track and field and the other spring sports are expected to get going next week.

Here are the top baseball and softball tournaments in Scottsdale, Phoenix, the southwest, northwest and north Valley.

Baseball

Falcon Invitational, Wednesday (Feb. 20) through Saturday (Feb. 23) at Fountain Hills Middle School.

Teams: Phoenix Bourgade Catholic, Camp Verde, Fountain Hills, Holbrook, Phoenix Northwest Christian, Payson, Queen Creek San Tan Foothills, Winslow.

Laveen Classic, Wednesday through Saturday at Phoenix Alhambra, Laveen Betty H. Fairfax and Laveen Cesar Chavez.

Teams: Phoenix Alhambra, Phoenix Barry Goldwater, Laveen Betty H. Fairfax, Buckeye, Phoenix Camelback, Gilbert Campo Verde, Phoenix Carl Hayden, Laveen Cesar Chavez, Scottsdale Coronado, Douglas, Phoenix Maryvale, Phoenix North, Queen Creek, Phoenix St. Mary’s, San Luis, Phoenix South Mountain, Phoenix Trevor Browne, Mesa Westwood, Buckeye Youngker.

Adam Donnenfield Tournament, Wednesday through Saturday at Chandler Basha, Phoenix Brophy Prep, Chandler, Tempe Corona del Sol, Phoenix North Canyon, Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor, Chandler Seton Catholic.

Teams: Phoenix Brophy Prep, Chandler, Tempe Corona del Sol, Yuma Gila Ridge, Yuma Kofa, Phoenix North Canyon, Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor, Chandler Seton Catholic.

Sunnyslope Tournament, Wednesday through March 2 at Glendale Cactus, Peoria Liberty, Phoenix Moon Valley, Sahuarita, Surprise Shadow Ridge, Phoenix Sunnyslope, Phoenix Thunderbird.

Teams: Cardinal Newman (Calif.), Dublin (Calif.), Peoria Liberty, Phoenix Moon Valley, Nogales, Sahuarita, Surprise Shadow Ridge, Phoenix Sunnyslope, Phoenix Thunderbird.

Scottsdale Invitational, Wednesday through March 2 at Phoenix Arcadia, Cave Creek Cactus Shadows, Peoria Centennial, Scottsdale Chaparral, Scottsdale Desert Mountain, Mesa Desert Ridge, Gilbert, Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep, Scottsdale Saguaro, Peoria Sunrise Mountain.

Teams: Same as locations.

Paradise Valley Invitational, Wednesday through Feb. 26 at Phoenix Cortez, Glendale Independence, Phoenix Paradise Valley, Peoria, Tempe, Phoenix Washington.

Teams: Same as locations.

Universal Athletic Supply Westside Preseason Tournament, Wednesday through Saturday at Avondale Agua Fria, Glendale Apollo, Goodyear Desert Edge, Glendale Ironwood, Tolleson, Buckeye Verrado, Avondale Westview, Surprise Willow Canyon.

Teams: Avondale Agua Fria, Glendale Apollo, Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain, Flagstaff Coconino, Glendale Copper Canyon, Glendale Deer Valley, Goodyear Desert Edge, Mesa Dobson, Glendale Ironwood, Avondale La Joya, Glendale Raymond S. Kellis, Phoenix Sierra Linda, Tolleson, Buckeye Verrado, Avondale Westview, Surprise Willow Canyon.

Cougar Invitational, Thursday (Feb. 21) through Saturday at Phoenix Arizona Lutheran and Phoenix Christian.

Teams: Phoenix Arizona Lutheran, Phoenix Central, Chandler Prep, Miami, Flagstaff Northland Prep, Phoenix Christian, San Carlos, Scottsdale Prep, Seligman, Tempe Prep.

Softball

Tolleson Union High School District Tournament, Wednesday through Saturday at Tolleson and Avondale Westview.

Teams: Glendale Copper Canyon, Avondale La Joya, Phoenix Sierra Linda, Tolleson, Avondale Westview.

Independence Invitational, Wednesday through Saturday at Glendale Independence.

Teams: Avondale Agua Fria, Phoenix Arcadia, Phoenix Barry Goldwater, Glendale Independence, Phoenix Maryvale, Phoenix Moon Valley, Surprise Shadow Ridge, Phoenix Thunderbird.

Peoria Unified Tournament, Thursday through Saturday at Glendale Cactus, Peoria Centennial, Glendale Ironwood, Peoria Liberty, Peoria, Glendale Raymond S. Kellis, Tucson Sabino, Peoria Sunrise Mountain.

Teams: Glendale Cactus, Casa Grande, Peoria Centennial, Tucson Desert View, Phoenix Greenway, Glendale Ironwood, Peoria Liberty, Goodyear Millennium, Peoria, Glendale Raymond S. Kellis, Tucson Sabino, Tucson Sahuaro, Phoenix St. Mary’s, Peoria Sunrise Mountain, Buckeye Verrado, Yuma.