High school softball brackets were just released. Here’s who the area’s best will play
The CIF Sac-Joaquin Section on Friday afternoon released the 2026 softball playoff brackets for Divisions I through VII. The first round begins Wednesday with games at home sites, hosted by the higher seed.
Play-in games are Monday at 4 p.m. for Divisions I, III, V and No. 1 seeds in Divisions II, IV and VI have first-round byes.
Central Catholic at No. 8 is the highest ranked Stanislaus District team in the MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section rankings. The Raiders are the No. 2 seed in the D-IV bracket and if they want to reach a fifth consecutive section title game, they will have to get through Valley Oak League rival Oakdale, which is the No. 3 seed in the division. Central Catholic will have home field advantage through the first three rounds.
Here’s how each playoff division was seeded.
Division I
Monday Play-in: No. 17 Tokay at No. 16 Central Valley, No. 18 Edison-Stockton at No. 15 Turlock
Central Valley/Tokay at No. 1 Whitney
No. 9 McClatchy at No. 8 Folsom
No. 12 Gregori at No. 5 Inderkum
No. 13 Lincoln-Stockton at No. 4 Oak Ridge
No. 14 Mountain House at No. 3 Davis
No. 11 Enochs at No. 6 Franklin
No. 10 Pleasant Grove at No. 7 Rodriguez
Turlock/Edison at No. 2 Sheldon
Division II
Bye: No. 1 Tracy
No. 9 Woodcreek at No. 8 West Park
No. 12 St. Francis at No. 5 Kimball
No. 13 St. Mary’s at No. 4 Elk Grove
No. 14 Atwater at No. 3 Rocklin
No. 11 Lodi at No. 6 Merced
No. 10 Laguna Creek at No. 7 Vacaville
No. 15 Cosumnes River at No. 2 Del Oro
Division III
Monday Play-in: No. 17 Fairfield at No. 16 Bear Creek
No. 9 Vista del Lago at No. 8 Ceres
No. 12 Sierra at No. 5 Dixon
No. 13 Buhach Colony at No. 4 Manteca
No. 14 El Capitan at No. 3 Vanden
No. 11 Patterson at No. 6 Antelope
No. 10 River Valley at No. 7 Christian Brothers
No. 15 Johnson at No. 2 Ponderosa
Division IV
Bye: No. 1 Pioneer
No. 9 Yuba City at No. 8 East Union
No. 12 Oakmont at No. 5 Will C. Wood
No. 13 Nevada Union at No. 4 Rio Linda
No. 14 Placer at No. 3 Oakdale
No. 11 Los Banos at No. 6 Del Campo
No. 10 Lindhurst at No. 7 Roseville
No. 15 Lathrop at No. 2 Central Catholic
Division V
Monday Play-in: No. 17 West Campus at No. 16 Mesa Verde, No. 18 Venture Academy at No. 15 Livingston
Mesa Verde/West Campus at No. 1 Hughson
No. 9 Union Mine at No. 8 Orestimba
No. 12 Wheatland at No. 5 Casa Roble
No. 13 Woodland at No. 4 Liberty Ranch
No. 14 Galt at No. 3 Sutter
No. 11 Lincoln at No. 6 Ripon
No. 10 Woodland at No. 7 Escalon
Livingston/Venture Academy at No. 2 Calaveras
Division VI
Bye: No. 1 Amador
No. 9 Summerville at No. 8 Stone Ridge
No. 12 Mariposa County at No. 5 Hilmar
No. 13 Riverbank at No. 4 Bradshaw Christian
No. 14 Colfax at No. 3 Linden
No. 11 Bret Harte at No. 6 Bear River
No. 10 Western Sierra Collegiate Academy at No. 7 Ben Holt College Prep
No. 15 Big Valley Christian at No. 2 Argonaut
Division VII
Bye: Le Grand
No. 9 Delta at No. 8 Rio Vista
No. 12 Aspire Langston Hughes Academy at No. 5 Denair
No. 13 Humphrey’s Able Charter at No. 4 Leroy Greene
No. 14 Elite at No. 3 Buckingham Charter
No. 11 Millennium at No. 6 Golden Sierra
No. 10 Esparto at No. 7 Vacaville Christian
No. 15 Valley Christian at No. 2 Elliot Christian
