Arguably, no other league in the state of California has produced more top end talent than the Southwestern League over the past decade! Some could submit an argument for it being the toughest in the United States as well. With that, you have some incredible talent assembled before you this afternoon and early into the evening. The programs dominate the action in Riverside County and in Division 1 of the Southern Section, which is the toughest in the largest section in the nation.
The Broncos of Vista Murrieta were the CIF Division I Boys Champions from 2010-2012. Great Oak stepped into the role the following two years only to see Vista Murrieta reclaim it in 2015. The Wolfpack brought home the team title in 2016.. In 2018, Great Oak earned their fourth Division 1 title in the past six seasons! The Southwestern League has captured EIGHT of the past NINE team titles for Division 1. In the past four seasons, even the runner-up squad originated from this league.
Continuing to highlight the talent in this region, Murrieta Mesa's boys catapulted to another level last year. Not only did they capture the Division 2 team title, they held off Great Oak to earn the State team title in 2018! THREE of the past FOUR California State Boys' team titles have generated from the Southwestern League.
On the girls' side, Great Oak earned the 2018 Division 1 team title to compliment the one they earned in 2016. They were the divisional team runners-up in 2017 and 2015 and have positioned themselves for another title in 2019 as they are currently ranked No. 2 in the Southern Section. Meanwhile, Vista Murrieta's girls are consistently one of the top three teams in the Inland Empire on a yearly basis.
Each league champion will automatically advance to next weekend's Division 1 Prelims at Trabuco Hills High School. All second and third place finishers must meet a minimum standard (with the league being so loaded, this not be an issue). Meanwhile, anybody outside the top three can meet an At-Large standard that will allow them to also qualify for the postseason. No league sent more At-Large entries to the Southern Section postseason in 2018 than the Southwestern League!
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