In this dugout is the three-time defending state champions of softball, with a significant portion of the 2012 title team playing prominent roles again. Red Mountain is a No. 6 seed oozing with confidence, has gotten lights-out pitching from junior ace Bre Macha, went through the winner's bracket for a second consecutive year and outscored its opponents 30-4 in this tournament, including a win over its next opponent.

Among the not-so-favorite memories from high school, standing in front of the class to deliver a presentation ranks right up there. Remember, the clammy palms, racing heart, dry throat and jumbled nerves?

After getting past No. 18 Ironwood Ridge in three games earlier in the day (25-17, 25-16, 25-19), No. 15 Hamilton ran into No. 2 Highland, who knocked the Huskies out of the second round of the boys state volleyball tournament, 25-17, 25-13, 25-18.

Here are the first two rounds of the boys volleyball state tournament, which begins Saturday and continues May 7 (quarterfinals), May 9 (semifinals) and May 11 (championship):

What a difference a year makes.

Devon Ryan had the game winning infield hit in the top of the 12th inning as No. 17 Perry beat No. 16 Corona del Sol in the first round of the Division I state softball tournament.

Baseball will have a grind of a playoff schedule upcoming for those not among the top eight seeds, but softball — especially Division I — appears to be deeper than ever. Or, at least, deeper than the past five years.

Outlooks for the Divisions I and II softball state tournaments: