Hanford, Hanford West to meet in softball playoffs

The Hanford High Bullpups and Hanford West Huskies have played many times before, but never in Central Section softball playoffs.

That will change Wednesday, when the teams meet in a first-round Division II game at the Hanford High diamond.

Hanford (13-15) is the No. 8 seed in Division II, and Hanford West (12-18) is No. 9 in seedings released Saturday. The winner of the 4:30 p.m. earns a trip to Bakersfield to take on top-seeded North in a Friday quarterfinal.

Lemoore (16-15) is the No. 10 seed in Division II, and will play at No. 7 Tulare Western in the first round. If the Tigers win, they'll face No. 2 San Joaquin Memorial on Friday in Fresno.

Lemoore was seeded below Hanford and Hanford West despite owning a better overall record and finishing one game ahead of both teams in the West Yosemite League standings.

But Hanford defeated Lemoore in two of three meetings between the teams this season. Hanford West and Lemoore split two games.

In the Division IV bracket, Corcoran is seeded No. 6, and will play at No. 3 Chowchilla in a Friday quarterfinal.

Riverdale, meanwhile, is the No. 3 seed in Division V and will be at home vs. Thursday for a quarterfinal vs. either Caruthers or Liberty of Madera Ranchos.

Kings Christian is seeded ninth, and will play at No. 8 Mission Prep in a first-round game Wednesday in San Luis Obispo.

All playoff games are scheduled for 4:30 p.m.