For the uninitiated, trying to figure out how high school softball playoffs go in California can be pretty confusing.

First, there is no such thing as a state champion; there are 10 Sections that cover Oakland Section which has eight teams, basically one league, up to the Southern Section covering much of Southern California with nearly 560 schools and is bigger than every state association than a few states such as Texas, Florida, Illinois and Ohio.

Then, within the Southern Section, there are seven divisions with Div. I, including the larger schools and the most competitive. According to Mark Tennis of CalHiSports.com, teams and the division they’re in are re-evaluated every three or years.

“The top teams typically are located in Division I which makes sense,” Tennis explains. “This year there are good teams spread within the lower divisions, like Grand Terrace in Division III and Palmdale Highland in Division IV. Division I is still better, but not drastically better like in many years.”

For all seven divisions, the first round of the playoffs kicks off on Thursday with the finals completing Friday and Saturday June 5-6 at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine, Calif.

Today in Divisions III and lower, there are “Wild Card” games that will feed into the main brackets, just as the NCAA Men’s Tournament as the “Play In” games.

You can track the march to the championship by going here and clicking on the “Download” button on the 2015 Softball Championship Brackets line.

Mark Tennis believes somebody in one of the top four divisions will pull an upset and surprise. “Somebody in one of the divisions will get hot, like an ML King, and upset the applecart. I think it will be in Divisions I or III.”

“I don’t think it will be Mission Viejo, they’re focused and have great senior leadership. Plus, they have a chance to finish off a legacy-type team that will be compared to the greats of all time.”

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Full Count also spoke to Carlos Arias, the Editor of OCSidelines.com, the leading high school source for Southern California about his thoughts on what to watch over the next couple of weeks in the Southern Section.

Div. I

The top seen in Div. I is Santiago out of Corona which Carlos says “is really looking good as of late and finished strong winning the Big VIII League title.”

Pacifica from Garden Grove, traditionally one of the top teams in So Cal, is playing well also as Hannah Boos is “looking great in the circle and has found her groove, catcher Dejah Mulipola (verbal to Arizona) is amazing and outfielder/infielder Faith Canfield (Michigan) “is a clutch leader.”

The No. 3 seed, Los Alamitos, started off slowly, but is peaking now behind the arm of Katya Duvall (Ohio State), who Arias mentions “is really playing well now as she’s 100 percent after missing last year with a torn ACL.” Los Alamitos is loaded with talent all across the line-up as 17 players on the Griffins roster are headed to DI colleges.

There were only two at-large teams in Div. I and Div. II and “they weren’t surprises,” according to Carlos.

One was El Modena which finished in a three-way tie for first with Canyon (Anaheim) and Crestview so “it was logical that they would get it.”

The other is Upland from the Baseline League with top teams like Chino Hills and Etiwanda.

Carlos feels great opening round games Thursday are Mater Dei vs. El Modena and Cypress vs. Huntington Beach.

Chino Hills, he adds, is a team to watch; “It’s not like they’re an unknown commodity, Chino Hills has tons of hitting. The whole line-up can hit.”

The team has the Snow sisters, Tannon and Taylon, who are both having record-setting years for Coach Mike Southworth.

Chino Hills could face another talented team in Canyon of Anaheim, which is one of the favorites but get a “that could be a scary game (for Canyon)” according to Carlos.

A sleeper to watch is Great Oak, which has Autumn Storms (Arkansas) in the circle. “She’s a very good pitcher could be the type who can carry her team possibly to the quarterfinals or beyond.”

Div. II

In this division, all eyes will be on Mission Viejo as the Diablos are the odds on favorite to win it all.

If they do, they’ll not only win a Division II championship, they’ll be named the Full Count Softball FAB 50 No. 1 team in the nation for the second straight year.

To do that, though, won’t be easy as they certainly have a target on their backs and one bad game and they’re out in the one-and-done playoffs.

If all goes as expected, Mission Viejo would face a tough Yucaipa team led by pitcher Brooke Bollinger (Nevada) which in two prior meetings this spring game Mission Viejo all it could handle.

Though they won both games, the Diablos only beat Yucaipa by one run in each of their meetings: a 1-0 victory in the Bullhead City championship and later a 3-2 win in the semis of the Michelle Carew Classic.

Reigning Gatorade National Player of the Year Taylor McQuillin has elevated her pitching game to another level.

“Nobody is pitching better than Taylor right now,” adds Carlos. “It’s total determination and domination with her.”

On offense, power-hitting outfielder Alyssa Palomino is battling with Tannon Snow of Chino Hills for the California career home run mark.

That will be one of the more interesting subtexts to watch in the entire championship run.

Capistrano Valley in the second round could be dangerous for Mission Viejo; CV started off 4-10, but has won every game since except against Mission. “They could be a little land mine for people not paying attention,” says Arias.

Westlake and La Habra are on the same bracket side with Yucaipa and one of those two could make the finals as well.

Agoura is a four seed and “could pose a challenge with pitcher Lexi Mills (Kansas) who’s a freshman that throws well.”

A sleeper according to Carlos could be Alisa Niguel. “The team has talent in the South Coast League and has played well although has been beaten by Mission Viejo each time they’ve faced them. Still, Alisa Niguel has run-ruled several teams and appear finely tuned and ready to go.”

Div. III

Carlos continues: “One I like a lot in Div. III is La Cerna. They were in the finals last year and lost to St. Paul. Another I like is Grand Terrace, which has been on the radar all year.”

Div. IV

Palmdale Highland, the No 1 seed, is the heavy favorite in this division because of pitcher Rachel Garcia (UCLA), who also was invited in January to play for the U.S. Jr. Women’s Team.

Div. V

A team to watch her is the No. 3 seed Garden Grove. “It doesn’t have a glossy record,” says Carlos, “but when they get in the playoffs they always do well and should do well again this year.”

Div. VI

Another heavy favorite is in Div. VI. “Savanna has won 12 straight Orange League titles and this is the best team they’ve had,” says Arias.

Div. VII

Rolling Hills Prep is the No. 1 seed and “the one to watch in this division, after being 24-1 last year and made it to the semi-finals.”