The 2025-26 Central Section high school baseball and softball playoffs are officially underway, and the opening weekend delivered plenty of excitement. With the postseason starting Friday, May 15, several local teams made strong statements on the road, setting up thrilling quarterfinal matchups ahead.
In Division I baseball, the Redwood Rangers (19-10) showed they are a force to be reckoned with. The 11th-ranked squad pulled off an impressive upset, defeating No. 6 Clovis 7-1 on the road. Coming off their fifth consecutive league championship, the Rangers are riding high and will return home to host No. 14 Centennial (15-14-1) on May 19 at Aaron Hill Field. With momentum on their side, Redwood looks poised for a deep playoff run.
Over in Division II baseball, Tulare Western (19-9-1) proved that rankings don't tell the whole story. The West Yosemite League co-champions traveled to face No. 7 San Luis Obispo and came away with a commanding 9-2 victory. The Mustangs will now host No. 15 Hanford (13-15) on May 19 at Taylor Field in Tulare. Hanford is coming off an upset of their own, having knocked off No. 2 Ridgeview 7-1 in the first round, so this quarterfinal promises to be a battle.
On the softball diamond, the Redwood Rangers (22-7) made a statement of their own. The No. 3 seed wasted no time against No. 14 Paso Robles, winning 10-0 in a mercy-rule shortened six-inning affair. Emily Webster led the charge, crushing a home run while finishing with two hits, four RBIs, and a run scored. Jackie Ramirez also contributed two RBIs, while Kenzie Cantu, Kyrie Rodriguez, Aubrie Jenkins, and Jaden Lopez each drove in a run. In the circle, Ramirez was dominant, tossing a complete-game two-hitter with 12 strikeouts. The Rangers are looking every bit like championship contenders.
In a regular-season finale that had playoff intensity, Dinuba edged Mission Oak 11-10 in a West Yosemite League slugfest. Ethyn Lizaola was the star for the Emperors, going 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs while also earning the win on the mound with three strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings. Daniel Aranzazu added a two-run double, while Ayden Montelongo, Deangelo Correa, and Boysie Campo each drove in a run. For Mission Oak, Eddie Bravo put on a show in his final regular-season game, blasting three hits—including a home run—to finish with five RBIs and two runs scored.
As the playoffs heat up, these teams are proving that preparation, teamwork, and the right gear make all the difference. Whether you're a player or a fan, make sure you're suited up for the postseason action.