Yesterday, we previewed the start of the CIF (Calif. Interscholastic Federation)’s Southern Section high school playoffs which are broken down into seven divisions with Div. I and Div. II being loaded with many of the top teams in the country (FAB 50 No. 1 Mission Viejo, for example, is in Div. II).

You could make a case that the Southern Section playoffs – with it’s more than 200 teams—is bigger and more talent-laden— than most state playoffs other than a few, like Florida, Texas, Ohio, etc.

It’s the “big dog” in California, certainly, but you could make the case that the San Diego Section is next of the 10 Golden State sections in terms of talent.

One thing this section does, that the Southern Section doesn’t do but, according to Mark Tennis of CalHiSports.com may implement too, is an “Open Division” where top teams are invited to compete at the highest levels of play.

Here’s the link to all the San Diego brackets: the Open Division and Divisions 1-5.

That being said, here’s a look at teams and players to watch in the San Diego Section playoffs—the ones we feel have the best chance to come out champions! (thanks to one of our great readers who contributed info!)…

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TOP 5

Bonita Vista (21-3-1)
Ranked No. 1 in San Diego and seeded No. 1 in the Open Division
Players to Watch: fr. catcher Madison Pacini (Univ. of Tennessee verbal), jr. OF Aalyiah Jordan (UCLA), fr. pitcher Mia Marrinakas (Cal State Fullerton), sr. left fielder Ashley Quidolit Rambago (Lehigh)

Patrick Henry (22-3-1)
Open Division No. 4 seed
Players to Watch: soph. pitcher Madison “MJ” James (Ohio State), sr. left fielder Sydney James (Cal Poly), sr. second baseman Sierra Altmeyer (Cal State Santa Barbara), soph. catcher CC Cacamise (LSU), soph. centerfielder Hannah McEwen (SDSU- centerfield)

Poway (21-6)
Open Division – No. 2 seed
Players to Watch: sr. pitcher Kourtney Shaw (Cal), fr. catcher/DP Colleen Sullivan (UCLA – freshman, catcher/DP), Malia Martinez (Arizona – Junior, SS), Catherine Seitz (Brown – Senior, catcher)

Rancho Buena Vista (20-9)
Open Division – No. 3 seed
Players to Watch: sr. centerfielderFale Aviu  (Oklahoma), soph. pitcher Hannah Bailey (Minnesota)

Cathedral Catholic (22-6)
Open Division – No. 6 seed
Players to Watch: fr. pitcher Megan Faraimo (uncommitted), sr. third baseman Sarai Niu (Mississippi State), sr. first baseman Tierra Falo (Long Beach State)

Others to Watch:

Eastlake
Div. I
Players to Watch: Samantha Manti jr. pitcher (Washington), sr. shortstop Jannell Ladrido (Fordham)

Rancho Bernardo
Div. I
Players to Watch: Konner Dahlberg soph. pitcher (San Diego State), sr. third baseman Bri Burchanti (Texas Arlington)

Carlsbad
Div. I
Players to Watch: Julie McDonald sr. pitcher (San Diego State)

Scripps Ranch
Div. I
Players to Watch: sr. pitcher Makayla Martin (Auburn)

La Costa Canyon
Div. II
Players to Watch: jr. pitcher Shannon Hennessey (Univ. of Dallas), sr. third baseman Samantha Smith (UNLV), jr. shortstop Sophia Chapelone (Manhattanville), sr. catcher Bailey Romano (Palomar College), jr. outfielder Megan Ruiz (uncommitted), sr. first baseman Nena Ricciboni (Army)