North Union’s Jada Davis rips a base hit. The Lady Cats are seeded fourth for the upcoming Division III tournament.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Lilly Walker of Jonathan Alder slides safely into third base. The Lady Pioneers have secured the No. 1 seed for the Central District Division II tournament.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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MHS shortstop Avery Henry prepares to throw to first after getting a force out at second against Thomas Worthington. Pictured to the left is Lady Monarch second baseman Maya Segner. Marysville is the third-seeded team for the Division I Central District tournament. More photos may be found at marysvillejt.com
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
All three local teams ranked in state coaches poll
The 2022 high school girls softball tournament season will begin next week.
It will do so with four local teams hosting sectional games.
The Lady Pioneers of Jonathan Alder earned the highest seed among area squads.
Jonathan Alder has been ranked as the No. 1 seed in Division II.
The Lady Pioneers (16-1) will host No. 18 Columbus Linden McKinley on Wednesday, May 11.
Barring an upset, Jonathan Alder will play its second post-season contest on Monday, May 16.
The location of that game has yet to be determined.
Possible opponents for that contest include No. 9 London, No. 10 Columbus Bishop Hartley and No. 13 Hamilton Township.
JA is currently ranked second in the weekly state poll, as voted on by Ohio high school coaches.
Wooster Triway is at the top of the D-II rankings.
Alder is followed by Greenville, LaGrange Keystone, New Concord John Glenn, Unioto, Heath, Springfield Shawnee, Buckeye Valley and Mansfield Madison.
Marysville’s squad earned the third seed in Division I.
The Lady Monarchs (20-1) will play on their home diamond against the winner of the No. 33 Reynoldsburg and No. 36 Westerville South contest.
The Reynoldsburg-Westerville South game will be played on Tuesday, May 10 in Reynoldsburg.
MHS will host one of those squads on Thursday, May 12.
The Lady Monarchs, with a victory, will then play on Tuesday, May 17 at an as-yet disclosed location.
Potential second-game opponents include No. 14 Dublin Jerome, No. 24 Groveport-Madison and No. 39 Central Crossing.
Marysville is fifth in the state D-I poll, behind Anthony Wayne, Lancaster, Watkins Memorial and Austintown Finch.
Brecksville-Broadville Heights is sixth, followed by Lakota West, Teays Valley, North Ridgeville and Lenbanon.
North Union and Fairbanks respectively earned the fourth and fifth seeds in Division III.
The Lady Cats (13-3) will host No. 12 Johnstown Northridge on May 12.
On that same day, Fairbanks (13-5) will host No. 11 Columbus Bishop Ready.
The two local schools are not in the same D-III bracket.
North Union is in the Central District 2 bracket.
An opening game victory would send NU into another post-season game on May 17 at a location to be determined.
The Lady Cats could play either No. 3 Johnstown, No. 14 Mt. Gilead or No. 16 Pleasant at that time.
NU is ranked eighth in the Division III state poll.
Wheelersburg is first, followed by Cardington, West Jefferson, Leesburg Fairfield, South Range, Otsego, Carlisle, NU, Margaretta and Colonel Crawford.
Fairbanks is in the Central District 1 bracket.
The Lady Panthers would also play a second tournament contest on May 17 if they win their post-season opener.
They would play the winner of the game between No. 6 Elgin and No. 8 Centerburg at a location to be announced.
Triad was seeded No. 15 in the Southwest district tournament.
The Lady Cardinals (3-15) will be the first local softball squad to begin post-season play.
Triad will travel to play at No. 9 Riverside on Tuesday, May 10.
A victory by the Lady Cardinals would send them to play against No. 4-seeded Covington on May 12.
The location of that game has not yet been determined.
All tournament softball games are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.