The 2021-2022 school year is ripping by and as the high school winter sports season sits in the playoff portion of their seasons, the preseason for spring sports is getting underway. With that said, the CIF Southern Section offices released their preseason watchlists for the sports of baseball and softball last week and only a handful of local teams find themselves as “teams to be watched.”
On the baseball field, local teams like Vista Murrieta (No. 3) and Temecula Valley (No. 9) have found themselves being two of the top teams to beat in Division 2, which is where last year’s Southwestern League champs, Murrieta Mesa, and Ivy League champs, Paloma Valley, have been placed after having successful seasons in 2021. Both the Rams and Wildcats have a lot to prove in Division 2, but there is no doubt they are up for the challenge.
In Division 5, the Linfield Lions look good in the No. 1 spot and in Division 7, Temecula Prep holds the No. 2 spot. Elsinore and Heritage also received recognition; the Tigers are a top 15 team in Division 4 and the Patriots are in the No. 7 spot of the Division 4 polls. The high school baseball season officially began Saturday, Feb. 12.
CIF-SS BASEBALL PRESEASON POLLS
(Selected by the CIF-SS Baseball Advisory Committee)
DIVISION 1
No local teams
DIVISION 2
- Vista Murrieta
- Temecula Valley
DIVISION 3
- Heritage
DIVISION 4
Top 15: Elsinore
DIVISION 5
- Linfield Christian
DIVISION 6
No local teams
DIVISION 7
- Temecula Prep
Softball
On the softball diamond, last year’s Southwestern League champs, Murrieta Mesa, are definitely a team to watch in Division 1, as are league foes Temecula Valley, who are Division 3. Four other local teams garnered a “team to watch” nod and they are listed below. The 2022 CIF-SS softball preseason watch lists (in alphabetical order) were also released last week with the season getting underway Saturday, Feb. 12, as well.
CIF-SS SOFTBALL POLLS
(Selected by the CIF-SS Softball Advisory Committee)
DIVISION 1
Murrieta Mesa
DIVISION 2
No local teams
DIVISION 3
Temecula Valley
DIVISION 4
Orange Vista
DIVISION 5
No local teams
DIVISION 6
San Jacinto Valley Academy
DIVISION 7
Hamilton
Linfield Christian
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