The double-elimination Division II state softball tournament begins on Saturday (April 27), and we are taking a look at some of the teams in this year’s field . . .

The top eight seeds earned first-round byes and will host games on Tuesday (April 30).

They are No. 1 Peoria Sunrise Mountain, No. 2 Tucson Canyon del Oro, No. 3 Glendale Raymond S. Kellis, No. 4 Tucson Ironwood Ridge, No. 5 Phoenix Paradise Valley, No. 6 Flagstaff, No. 7 Phoenix Greenway and No. 8 Flagstaff Coconino.

Saturday’s games begin at 10:15 a.m.

Might we see a rematch of last year’s title game? Sunrise Mountain and Canyon del Oro faced off in one of the most exciting games you would ever want to see. Canyon del Oro survived a back-and-forth contest to take an 11-9 victory in eight innings.

The teams are well-stocked again this season.

Sunrise Mountain has only one loss, that to Glendale Mountain Ridge, the No. 1 seed in Division I.

Other than that, the Mustangs have ruled the diamond.

The primary reason has been the pitching of senior left-hander Taylor Nowlin. She is not overpowering like some pitchers, but has a good fastball and can locate her pitches well. She also swings the bat well.

Kirsten Hostetler supplies power for the Mustangs, and Danae King adds the element of speed on the basepaths and solid defense at third base. She has an interesting nickname – Duh – as in, “Duh-nae.’’

Though Canyon del Oro parted ways with its outstanding pitcher, Kenzie Fowler, a few years ago, the Dorados have managed to regroup in the circle and have a two-armed approach – senior Alexis Alfonso and freshman Randi Longville. The latter had reeled off 11 straight victories.

CDO’s top three hitters are juniors – Sammy Nettling, Niki Gonzalez and Makenzie Sullivan, who have combined for 19 home runs and 124 RBIs.

Raymond S. Kellis was the 19^th seed a year ago and comes in this season with more maturity and confidence.

The Cougars are led by pitcher Jessica Rojo and two sets of sisters – Taylor and Madison Uden and Alex and Cherish Paolinelli.

Ironwood Ridge always seems to be in contention with its fundamentally sound program led by coach Randy Anway.

Coach Rudy Baca guided the Flagstaff program to prominence in the last decade, took some time off to watch his daughters play college ball and now has returned.

Among the top players for the Eagles are Keileen Padilla (.658 average, 52 hits) and pitcher Anely Marcilla (16-7).

Coach Kimberly Dennis has built a strong Coconino program to rival Flagstaff up north. And Ed McQuade always has strong squads at Greenway.

Buckeye Verrado opens play on Saturday as the No. 9 seed, playing host to No. 24 Phoenix Sunnyslope.

Like Raymond S. Kellis, Verrado has more maturity with nine starters returning from the team that reached the second round in 2012.

Coach Rich Stringer likes the all-around play of Shea and Sierra Smith and the hitting potential of Morgan Brown and Kaylah Hampton.

There was a time when Glendale Cactus reigned supreme in Class 4A but fell on lean times for awhile.

This season, the Cobras have shown a resurgence under Bartt Underwood, formerly of rival Peoria Centennial, and former Cactus coach Jeff Griffith, who retired and then signed on as an assistant.

No. 11 Cactus opens play on Saturday at home against No. 22 Laveen Betty H. Fairfax. Cactus will rely on the pitching of Morgan Renyer to advance to the next round.

No. 13 Goodyear Desert Edge could be one of the tournament’s “sleepers.’’ The Scorpions have a good group of hitters and a top-level pitcher in Cyra Wentz. The Scorpions open play on Saturday with a home game against No. 20 Tucson Cholla.

Ari Samaniego and Julie Sanchez are two of Desert Edge’s top hitters.

No. 17 Casa Grande also could be in the “sleeper’’ category, but will need to defeat host No. 16 Queen Creek on Saturday to advance.

Casa Grande’s top players are Kimberlee Myers (University of Washington) and Kaelyn Christofferson (Southern Mississippi commit as a junior).