Every year during football season, the question is posed: How would the best 4A teams in the state stack up against the best in 5A?

This past season, for instance, no one truly knows how two-time defending 4A-I champion Scottsdale Saguaro would have done against Chandler Hamilton or Phoenix Brophy.

In softball, though, the proof is on the diamond.

The state's premiere tournament, the Desert Mountain tournament (Wolves Invitational), began on Tuesday and ends Saturday.

The top eight seeds from the 20-team field will face off on Saturday in the championship bracket, with the title game set for 7 p.m. at Horizon Park.

Top entrants from 5A-I include defending champion and current No. 1 Phoenix St. Mary's, Tempe Corona del Sol and Mesa Red Mountain.

Four of 4A-I's best are participating, too.

Defending champion Tucson Canyon del Oro, defending state runner-up Scottsdale Chaparral, current No. 1 Paradise Valley and Glendale Cactus are all in the tournament.

Through Wednesday, the four 4A-I powers were a combined 4-2 in the tournament against 5A competition.

Last year, Chaparral knocked off St. Mary's in the tournament.

Is this a foolproof system to show that Chaparral was better than St. Mary's last season?

And in turn, that 4A-I champ CDO was the state's best?

No, it was only one game. But it does give an indication of how close the talent level is across the classifications.

This is something to be expected in softball. If a team can find one dominant pitcher and it has the ability to scratch out just a run or two, it will be in contention no matter the classification.

There is a long way to go until the state tournament - teams have just begun their region schedules - but the teams that have success in this tournament can usually be counted on to be in the mix for the state title come May.

TURNING IT UP

It took some time, but Cave Creek Cactus Shadows is beginning to resemble the type of baseball team it has been the past three years.

The Falcons won the 4A-II state title in 2006 and went to the semifinals in 2005 and 2007. A number of players returned from last year's potent lineup, but it was slow going at first.

A 20-1 loss to Chaparral on March 8 dropped Cactus Shadows to 5-5, but the team has since reeled off eight straight wins.

On Wednesday, Jackson Goulder tossed a no-hitter and hit a grand slam in a 10-0 win over Apache Junction. It was the Falcons' first Desert Sky Region victory after moving up to 4A-I this year.

Top-ranked Chaparral is 2-0 in region - with both wins coming against Cactus Shadows - and the Firebirds could be hard to beat for the region title, but a state tournament berth is a definite possibility for the Falcons.

Chris Manship leads the Cactus Shadows offense with a .525 average, nine homers and 30 RBIs. Goulder is 4-2 and the go-to guy on the mound, although Cactus Shadows does have five different pitchers sporting ERAs under 4.00.