Let's check out the match-ups and picks for state.

4A
Lockport vs. Bradley Bourbonnais: #4 Lockport knocked off the top team in state. Good pitching match-up. Both teams have an elite hitter. Who blinks first. They split in regular season. Both played tough schedules. Lockport is my pick: deeper line-up and Chovanec and staff give them the edge.

Barrington vs. St. Charles East: Two teams with good offenses and defenses. A few D1 players on both sides. Does this become a game whose offense catches fire first? Perry Peterson and Barrington have the playoff experience. East is my pick: tougher conference and non-conference schedule.

Marist vs. Oswego: Identical records. #3 Oswego has some elite players in the circle and the line-up The Marist machine is a no brainer. Deeper line-up, experience, pitching depth. #2 Marist can rest easy they won't have to see St. Charles North at state.

Loyola vs. OPRF: Can an 11 seed make the state finals? The NU recruit is willing her team to a deep run. OPRF has the experience. Both coaches are newer to the head coaching role. Toss up.

3A
St. Laurence vs. Montini: Conference champs and last place team from the same conference meeting up in a Super. St. Laurence won both regular season match-ups by putting up double digits on the scoreboard. Montini's offense has caught fire handing out beatings in the playoffs. Does St. Laurence have the mental edge or can Montini's offense keep producing. St. Laurence advances

Pontiac vs. Providence Catholic: Pontiac's Stanford committed pitcher is another ace willing her team through one of the toughest paths to the state championship. Providence has some difference makers in the line-up. Easy pick here, Pontiac after beating 3 top ten teams in state in the playoffs and all 3 were ranked higher.

Glenwood vs. Centralia: Glenwood the #1 team in 3A only has 1 loss on the season, one of the top pitchers in state, the top line-up in 3A and hall of fame coach. Glenwood is favorite to win it all. Don't know anything about Centralia

Prairie Ridge vs. Antioch: #4 Prairie Ridge has the clear advantage in the circle with an Indiana commit. They are the only other team with only 1 loss on their record. Antioch bounced back from an 0-6 start. They have a versatile line-up and one of the top coaches in the state. My pick PR.