Six of Santa Cruz County’s 10 high schools with varsity baseball programs qualified for the Central Coast Section playoffs.

Soquel will compete in Division I, Santa Cruz in D-III, Scotts Valley and St. Francis in D-IV, Harbor in D-V, and Monte Vista Christian in D-VI. The quarterfinals for all six divisions begins Saturday.

Soquel (25-1 overall) was rewarded for its sensation regular season — one of the best in local history — with a tough match up.

The No. 7 seed Knights, champion of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League for the first time since 2015, play No. 2 Valley Christian (23-6-1), an 11-time section champion since 2000, at the Warriors’ hilltop campus San Jose at noon.

The Knights, who have five seniors and 11 juniors on their roster, are embracing the challenge.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to play in Division I against a great team like Valley Christian,” said TJ Moran, the Knights’ second-year head coach.

The Warriors, who have more than eight players committed to play at four-year universities next season, including Stanford-bound Brock Ketelson of Scotts Valley, took second to Junipero Serra in the prestigious West Catholic Athletic League.t

If the Knights upset the Warriors, they’ll face either No. 6 Bellarmine (17-13) of San Jose or No. 3 Los Gatos (23-4) in the semifinals.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 5 Saint Francis (19-9) of Mountain View plays at No. 4 St. Ignatius (17-9-2) in San Francisco, and No. 8 Palma (21-6), the Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division champion, plays at No. 1 Serra (23-6) in San Mateo.

Santa Cruz (15-11), the SCCAL runner-up, earned the No. 8 seed in D-III and a road quarterfinal at No. 1 Carmel (17-10) at noon. The Padres, led by Stanford-committed pitcher/outfielder Matthew Maxon, tied Hollister for second place in the PCAL’s Gabilan Division.

“Gotta play where you are placed,” Cardinals coach Bubba Trumbull said. “We will work hard this week and go to Carmel ready to go on Saturday. They are a good team but everyone is, it’s the playoffs.”

If the Cardinals upset the Padres, they’ll face either No. 5 Christopher (15-10) or No. 4 Palo Alto (14-13) in the semifinals.

In other quarterfinals, No. 6 The King’s Academy (13-11) plays at No. 3 Willow Glen (21-6), and No. 7 Los Altos (19-8) plays at No. 2 Sequoia (15-12).

In D-IV action, Scotts Valley (12-15), the third-place finisher in the SCCAL, is No. 3 and St. Francis (13-14), the fourth-place finisher in the PCAL’s Gabilan Division, is No. 2, meaning they would meet in the semifinals if they both win their postseason openers.

Scotts Valley hosts No. 6 Homestead (12-15), the sixth-place finisher in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League’s De Anza Division, in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m.

“I’m really proud of our guys for making it to CCS,” said Kevin Taylor, the Falcons’ first-year head coach. “The division is going to be a tough test. All of the teams in our bracket are very talented and earned their way. I’m excited that we are a No. 3 seed and get to host a CCS game. Homestead is very talented and well coached it will be a tough matchup. An exciting rematch of last year’s semifinal.”

St. Francis hosts No. 7 Hillsdale (12-13), the sixth-place finisher in the Peninsula Athletic League’s Bay Division, at 3 p.m.

Some of the Sharks have a extra busy Saturday. Seven seniors will take part in St. Francis’ graduation ceremony at 10 a.m.

“Any time you get a first round home game you like your chances,” said coach Ken Nakagawa, who guided the Sharks to a CCS title in ’22. “I think we got a good seed. Hillsdale played a great schedule; I understand they have two quality arms. I like our chances at home and our seniors have done this four times, so it’s not new to them. How often do you get to graduate and play a baseball game in the same day?”

In quarterfinals on the other side of the bracket, No. 5 Branham (13-10) of San Jose plays at No. 4 Mountain View (16-11), and No. 8 Santa Clara (24-3) plays at No. 1 Carlmont (13-14) in Belmont.

Harbor (15-12), the fourth-place finisher in the SCCAL, hosts No. 6 Santa Teresa (10-15) of San Jose, the sixth-place finisher in the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s Mount Hamilton Division, at 1 p.m. The Pirates, under longtime coach Joseph Allegri, are making their fourth straight CCS appearance, a program record.

If the Pirates get past the Saints, they’ll face either No. 7 Lincoln (22-5) of San Jose or No. 2 Monterey (9-17) in the semifinals.

“I’m excited to make CCS again and think we placed in a good spot to compete,” Allegri said. “I’m stoked that we got a home game and I like our chances.”

In other quarterfinals, No. 5 Piedmont Hills (18-9) plays at No. 4 Terra Nova (18-6-1) in Pacifica, and No. 8 Soledad (10-16) plays at No. 1 Menlo (18-8) in Atherton.

MVC (21-6), the runner-up to Stevenson of Pebble Beach in the PCAL’s Mission Division, is the No. 3 seed in D-VI. The Mustangs host No. 6 Fremont (21-7) of Sunnyvale in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. The Firebirds took second place behind Santa Clara in the SCVAL’s El Camino Division.

“We just need to hit,” said coach Johnny Ramirez, who led the Mustangs to CCS and NorCal titles in 2022. “My saying is, ‘Pitch, play defense, and hit a little and you’ll be fine.’ But we need to take care of the first two and then the third will come.”

If the Mustangs win their opener, they’ll face either No. 7 North Salinas (19-5) or No. 2 South San Francisco (21-5) in the semifinals.

In other quarterfinals, No. 5 Thomas More (18-9) plays at No. 4 Sobrato (19-6) in Morgan Hill, and No. 8 Design Tech (13-8) plays at No. 1 Stevenson (16-8).