Feb. 26 marked the beginning of the high school spring sports season. West Valley Preps asked local coaches to take a look at their teams and two coaches from schools in Glendale responded:

Deer Valley Skyhawks

4A West Valley Region
Coach: Greg Rice (10th year as coach)
2024 Record: 19-7, 7-3 region (Reached 4A quarterfinals)
Who are your top returning players? Our top returning players are junior outfielder Max Weaver, senior outfielder/catcher Jack Fellens, senior infielder Marqelo Douglas, senior pitcher Carter Reitz and senior pitcher/catcher Grant McMeekin.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? We have nine seniors this year and the strength of our team is pitching. We have our top four starters all return in seniors Carter Reitz, Grant McMeekin, Gaven McDonald and Nate Gentz. We have a strong middle infield with junior Max Weaver and senior Marqelo Douglas. We are a team that will need to play solid defense behind our pitching staff. Some of our top hitters that we will rely on are senior Jack Fellens, Douglas, senior Hunter Metz and senior Hunter Short.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? We need to improve on offense with base running and on defense make sure that we do not give the other team extra outs.
Who are your team leaders? Our leaders are seniors Nate Gentz and Marqelo Douglas and junior Max Weaver.
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? We have a few newcomers that will contribute in junior Talon Yaeger, junior Ty Carr and junior Cam Waddell.

Ironwood Eagles

5A Northwest Valley Region
Coach: Rafael Sanchez (second year as Ironwood head coach)
2024 Record: 6-16, 1-11 region
Top returning players? Sebastian Rodriguez and Lane Stilwell
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? We have a fairly young pitching staff but so far they are what keeps in or out of games.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Our guys need to continue to trust in themselves and their teammates. They need to believe that all the off-season preparation will pay off.
Who are your team leaders? Lane Stilwell and Sebastian Rodriguez in my opinion are two of our leaders who give it 100 percent on and off the field.
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? As a second year coach we have a lot of new faces that have and will contribute to the progress we are having.

Liberty Lions

6A Desert Valley Region
Coach: Christopher Raymond (ninth year as Liberty head coach)
2024 Record: 20-10, 9-1 region (Final six of 6A tournament)
Top returning players? Senior catcher Braden Watson, junior right-handed pitcher/shortstop  Abram Sherrin, senior right-handed pitcher Garrett Theile, senior outfielder Cody Croxford, senior shortstop.second base Hunter Kuczkowski.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Experience from winning the Desert Valley Region and advancing in the state playoffs.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Being accountable to one another for the daily grind of the game. 
Who are your team leaders? Senior pitcher Noah Pringle, Sherrin, Watson, senior infielder Lucas Mitchell, Theile Croxford and Kuczkowski.
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Jayden Hosey is new to lineup and packs a punch with the bat. Freshman Troy Tewers has been steady at the plate and mound.  CF Marley Chancey has solidified the middle of the field.
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? Keep grinding it out every day and find ways to get better.