It's May madness around Tucson as high school season nears end

May’s arrival means one thing in the world of high school sports: more madness.

Baseball and softball state playoffs resume Tuesday, along with the tennis team tournaments. A day later, track and field championships get underway in Mesa, and Salpointe Catholic’s sand volleyball team plays in the Division I state championship match.

Boys volleyball programs open up their tournament as part of a busy Saturday that also includes tennis championships, track and field finals and several semifinal baseball and softball games. Here’s a look at what to watch:

Tuesday

Baseball: Southern Arizona is guaranteed at least one team in the double-elimination stage of the Division II state tournament, with seventh-seeded Sunnyside hosting No. 10 Ironwood Ridge on Tuesday in a win-or-go-home game. Third-seeded Salpointe Catholic and defending state champion Canyon del Oro, the No. 6 seed, also host second-round games, all scheduled for 4 p.m.

Softball: There are no slim pickings, with five Tucson-area teams hosting second-round games in the Division II state tournament on Tuesday. Top-seeded Canyon del Oro, No. 2 Ironwood Ridge, No. 3 Sahuaro, No. 6 Salpointe Catholic and No. 8 Tucson all play at home, with a chance to move on to double-elimination play.

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Tennis: Catalina Foothills’ boys and girls teams both face Nogales on Tuesday at 3 p.m., with a chance to move on to Friday’s Division II semifinals. The Foothills boys are the two-time defending champs, while the girls are trying to reach the finals for the eighth straight season.

Wednesday-Saturday

Track and field: Mountain View high jumper Justice Summerset will be among the top athletes to watch after he broke the state record last weekend, but he won’t be alone. As Summerset goes for his first state title, Canyon del Oro thrower Turner Washington, Rio Rico distance runner Allie Schadler and Sahuaro hurdler Brielle Sterns will be among those trying to repeat as champions. Wednesday’s and Friday’s action at Mesa Community College will consist of mostly preliminaries and some finals; all remaining championships will be up for grabs on Saturday, with the first field events scheduled for noon.

Saturday

Boys volleyball: Cienega, Mountain View and Sahuaro each are in position to host a first-round match in the Division II state tournament on Saturday afternoon. The 16-team field will be revealed Wednesday afternoon. Cienega enters the week ranked second, while Mountain View is fifth and Sahuaro is seventh, with a match against No. 11 Rincon/University on Tuesday that could shake things up.