Four-time defending 3A state champion Sabino is looking to make it an unprecedented five-straight titles come May 11, but for now, coach Vanessa Arandules and the Sabercats are focused on one thing:

“Compete every pitch, every inning and believe,” Arandules said when asked what her club needs to do to win another title.

With six titles (1991, 2005), only Salpointe Catholic (7), Sahuaro, Joseph City and Hayden (8), San Manuel and Canyon del Oro (9) and Seton Catholic (12) have won more championships in program history across all state conferences, but only two of those clubs, Salpointe (2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018) and Canyon del Oro (2017) have hoisted a trophy in the past decade.

“[We need to] trust in each other and believe that they can get the job done. Let our instincts take over and just have fun and play for the girl next to them,” coach Arandules said. “[They need] to remember that they’ve set the standard here at Sabino.”

No. 12-seeded Sabino (20-7, 7-1 3A South) faces a bit of an uphill battle this season, having to win a 3A state play-in game against No. 21 Pusch Ridge, 19-2, but junior shortstop Alyssa Aguirre might be the difference this year.

“[She] leads by example and continues to be better every day,” Arandules said. “She sets the tone for the top of the lineup and gets her team going.”

Aguirre leads the team with a .565 average with 42 runs scored and seven stolen bases. Add that to Lilly Mann’s (.479, 11 HRs, 45 RBIs) power in the middle of the lineup and Sabino will be a handful for any club to face.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN

Undefeated in 17 power point games this season, the No. 1-seeded Trojans (24-2, 12-0 3A South Central) claimed a region title and Top 8 seed in the 3A state playoffs this spring. They’ll put their 13-game winning streak on the line April 27 in first-round action.

Led by senior Kat Hanson, who hit .658 this season and hammered six home runs with 48 RBIs in just 103 plate appearances in 2024, Valley Christian might be the team to beat in these playoffs, especially with key wins over Mohave Accelerated, Sabino and Dobson.

The Trojans outscored their opponents 364-54 and scored 15 runs or more 13 times and put 20-plus runs on the board six times.

Valley Christian has lost consecutive first-round 3A state playoff games, the first a 1-0 defeat against Snowflake in 2022, then were upset 9-0 by No. 13-ranked Payson as a No. 4 seed a season ago.

Coach Michael Fraley said his club needs to have a “championship mentality” if they are to get over the hump.

“Every game and every day we have to come ready to get better and give our best,” Fraley said. “[We must] put our personal agendas aside, don’t look at stats and win as a complete team.”

Fraley said ALA-Foothills, Yuma Catholic, Bourgade Catholic, Sabino, Empire, Snowflake and River Valley are all solid clubs, and any of them could claim a title.

“I think in girls softball on any given day anyone can beat anyone,” Fraley said.

BOURGADE CATHOLIC

The No. 2-seeded Golden Eagles (19-2, 11-0 3A North Central) were the only other 3A club this season to finish undefeated in power point games besides Valley Christian, going 17-0.

The group has won eight straight and features senior Raina Navarro, who hit .648 with four home runs, five triples, 13 doubles and tallied 39 RBIs this spring.

Bourgade Catholic has key wins over St. Johns, Page, Camp Verde and ALA-Ironwood.

SNOWFLAKE

With their only power point loss coming at the hands of rival Winslow in a 16-13 affair April 4, the No. 3-seeded Lobos (21-6-1, 9-1 3A East) fell short of a region title but both clubs are in the Top 8 heading into the state playoffs.

Featuring Mikelle Abbott, who hit .514 with 10 home runs (4th in state) and 47 RBIs (2nd in state) this year, Snowflake will always be a team to be reckoned with come playoff action.

Livi Schneider is also a player to watch with 12 home runs this season, putting her second overall in state 3A rankings behind Vanessa Delavigne (13) from Benjamin Franklin.

The Lobos last made the playoffs in 2022, defeating Valley Christian 1-0 in the first round, but were eliminated 1-0 against Empire three days later.

EMPIRE

The No. 7-seeded Ravens (22-7, 9-0 3A South) claimed a region title this year and have won 13 straight heading into the state playoffs, where they will be a Top 8 seed.

Led by Angelina Dehler, who hit four home runs, recorded 38 RBIs and managed a .493 average this season, Empire will look to return to the 3A state championship finishing the runner up in a 5-2 loss to Sabina a season ago.

OTHER TEAM NOTES

River Valley features two players atop the state batting average leaderboard for 3A in Tamarie Williams (.704) and Aaliyah Rodriguez (.678). … Winslow won 19 games this year and took the 3A East region crown thanks to some stellar play by Brinleigh Arredondo, who hit .544 with five homers, 14 doubles and 46 RBIs. … Yuma Catholic went 24-4 this season and split a doubleheader with ALA-West Foothills at the end of the season, the other 3A West top contender. … ALA-West Foothills outscored their opponents 243-49, including not allowing an opponent to score in the first five games this season, beating ALA-Ironwood, Wickenburg, Phoenix Christian and Tonopah Valley twice for a total of 73-0.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.