Caught in the frenzy of February Madness with the boys and girls basketball state tournaments that reach its crescendos this week, baseball (gasp!) preseason tournaments also begin later this week.
Here’s a quick rundown of baseball tournaments that get underway:
Paradise Valley Preseason Tournament: Runs Feb. 22-27, is held at Paradise Valley H.S. and Phoenix Cortez H.S. and features Paradise Valley, Cortez, Tempe and Phoenix Washington.
Scottsdale Invitational Tournament:  Runs Feb. 22-March 3; This features some of the best in the Scottsdale (and the state) at Chaparral H.S. and Desert Mountain H.S.  Features …

Brian Bolitho, the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s director of business media, responded to the Tribune’s claims that there could be a flaw in the power points system with a guest blog post on ArizonaSports.com Wednesday.
Although the AIA has failed to acknowledge an error and refused to meet with local engineer John Carrieres about the problem, Bolitho said that ‘to say the AIA is ‘ignoring’ an error is incorrect.’
He goes on to say that ‘the current system does not present an error as the formula is working as created by the committee …

Mountain View boys basketball coach Gary Ernst returned to practice on Saturday and expects to be on the sidelines for the team’s next game on Wednesday against Desert Mountain, he said.
He missed three games last week because of a blood clot in his leg.
Ernst was on hand at the MLK Basketball Classic on Monday at Arizona State and had a parade of well-wishers check on him, including Basha coach Brad Pinter and ASU coach Herb Sendek.
Ernst said he originally felt pain in his calf during a timeout in a …

The championship game is set for the Lady Titan Winter Hoops classic, a girls basketball tournament at Arcadia.
The host Titans have advanced to the title game, where they will take on Saguaro at 6:30 p.m.
Arcadia defeated Cibola, 43-32, in the quarterfinals and Buena, 51-41, in the semis to make the championship. Saguaro beat Liberty, 53-38, and Horizon, 47-40, to get there.
Horizon and Buena will face off in the third place game at 5 p.m.

Former Marcos de Niza outfielder Kendall Konopka transferred to Arizona Christian University this fall. He spent last year at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, where he hit .230 (14-61) in 34 games as a freshman for the Sea Lions, with 4 doubles, 15 runs scored and nine RBI.
As a high school senior in 2009, Konopka hit .606 with 18 doubles, 6 triples, 10 home runs, 49 RBI and 49 runs scored and led Marcos de Niza to the State 5A-II semifinals. Konopka was named State 5A-II Player of …

The signing deadline for those selected in Major League Baseball’s June amateur draft came and went on Monday night without much action for local high school players.
Mesquite’s Zach Davies was the big late sign, getting a reported $575,000 from the Orioles to forgo a scholarship to Arizona State and turn professional. Davies joined Hamilton’s Malcolm Holland (Dodgers), Notre Dame’s Tayler Scott (Cubs) and Horizon’s Nick Valenza (Mariners) as the East Valley high schoolers who opted for the minor leagues over college.
Mountain Pointe catcher Kevin Cron, who was the highest local …

Today is the deadline for players taken in June’s Major League baseball draft to turn professional, and after months of posturing, the big league clubs know they can’t lowball any more.
The Orioles showed just how much they wanted Mesquite right-hander Zach Davies, as he accepted the team’s signing bonus of $575,000 to forgo college and enter the minor leagues, according to Baseball America.
Davies was an Arizona State commit, and with his polished arsenal, he likely could have made an impact right away. Instead, Davies will take his game to the …

Former Gilbert High star shortstop Drew Stankiewicz will play for Arizona State this season after de-committing from Cal State Fullerton following a coaching change.
Titans coach Dave Serrano left to take over the program at Tennessee in mid-June, leaving Stankiewicz to re-assess his options. He considered the Volunteers and looked closely at Vanderbilt, but ultimately chose the Sun Devils because of the team’s long track record of success.
“I want to win,” Stankiewicz said. “I want to go to the College World Series.”
Stankiewicz hit .397 with seven homers and 25 RBIs this …

McClintock boys basketball coach Jase Coburn is leaving to coach at Howard College, a junior college in Big Springs, Texas, Chargers athletic director Susan Edwards said.
Coburn has coached McClintock since 2007, compiling a record of 74-39 in four seasons. He led the team to the 4A Division I state championship in 2010, as the Chargers defeated Royce Woolridge and Phoenix Sunnyslope in the title game.
Coburn coached McClintock this summer and was on hand at the Desert Duel summer club basketball tournament last week to watch former player Cameron Forte. He …

Desert Ridge right-hander Scott Hoffman is currently pitching in summer league games, and he still isn’t quite sure where he will be playing baseball in about a month.
He was the Tribune’s Player of the Year as a junior, and despite a down senior year, Hoffman was selected by the New York Yankees in the 29th round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft.
Hoffman said the team hasn’t made him an offer yet, but he has a dollar figure in mind that would get him to turn professional.
“If it’s close, I …