Looking ahead at the week in high school sports
Here is a look at some of the week’s top high school sports events.
Baseball
Monday — Spring Valley at Bishop Gorman, 3:30 p.m.
This is the first of three games as both teams close out the Southwest League season. Bonanza’s upset of Spring Valley on Saturday means the Grizzlies will need to sweep the series to take the league title.
Monday — Rancho at Green Valley, 3:30 p.m.
The Gators can clinch the Class 4A Sunrise League title with a win here. Rancho is coming off a 4-3, walk-off victory over Basic and will try to keep it’s championship hopes alive.
Tuesday — Palo Verde at Cimarron-Memorial, 3:30 p.m.
The first of three games this week between the teams, and Palo Verde holds a two-game advantage over the Spartans for second place in the Northwest League. A win here would clinch a first-round home game in the Sunset Region tournament.
Softball
Monday — Foothill at Basic, 3:30 p.m.
The Henderson rivals are in the hunt for the Class 4A Sunrise League’s No. 4 seed, and the winner of this game can still dream about hosting a first-round playoff game. Foothill won the first meeting 13-9 on April 1.
Tuesday — Durango at Sierra Vista, 3:30 p.m.
Provided they win Monday in the opener of the three-game series, the Mountain Lions can clinch the top seed from the Southwest League in front of their home fans with a victory over Durango.
Wednesday — Liberty at Rancho, 3:30 p.m.
Depending what happens with makeup games and the rest of the schedule, this game should decide the No. 2 seed for the Sunrise Region tournament. The Rams won 6-3 when the teams played on April 4.
Wednesday — Faith Lutheran at Centennial, 3:30 p.m.
The Crusaders find themselves in a tough spot after starting out 6-0 in Northwest League play, needing two victories against Centennial to overtake Arbor View for the final postseason berth. This could be Faith Lutheran’s last chance to stay mathematically alive in the race.
Wednesday — Tech at Chaparral, 3:30 p.m.
The winner of this game is practically assured of finishing no worse than the No. 4 seed in the Class 3A Sunrise League.
Thursday — Mojave at Pahrump Valley, 3:30 p.m.
If the Rattlers win Tuesday against Cheyenne, first place will be on the line in Nye County. The Trojans routed Mojave 23-4 in three innings when the teams met April 19.
Track and Field
Saturday — Region meets at Foothill, 8 a.m.
The postseason begins with the Class 4A regions begin their meets at the home of the Falcons. Silverado won the Sunrise Region boys and Green Valley won the girls last season. Centennial boys and girls swept the Sunset Region last year.
Boys Volleyball
Monday — Durango at Desert Oasis, 6 p.m.
The winner here probably will get the Southwest League’s No. 2 seed in the Sunset Region playoffs. Who wants to host a playoff game? Durango won the first meeting in fours sets on April 6.
Tuesday — Green Valley at Coronado, 6 p.m.
Green Valley broke the Cougars’ streak of three consecutive league titles last season. If Coronado wins here, it will be the school’s first league championship since 2015 and eighth in 10 seasons. Can the Gators play spoiler again?
Tuesday — Cheyenne at Tech, 6 p.m.
Mojave has once again run away with the Class 3A Southern League, but second-place is still up for grabs in this one. Cheyenne won a four-setter at home over the Roadrunners on April 4.
Thursday — Shadow Ridge at Arbor View, 6 p.m.
If Shadow Ridge defeats Centennial on Tuesday, this match probably will determine the Northwest League champion. The Mustangs stunned Arbor View in five sets on April 18. Can they do it again and walk away with their first league championship since 2012?