Area baseball, softball teams learn postseason fate

JACKSON – As each area softball and baseball team's 2015 journeys flow towards the home stretch of the regular season, players can now look toward their first postseason match-up as well.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) announced tournament seeds and first-round opponents Sunday at Jackson High School.

Seeds awarded to area baseball teams are as follows:

The Chillicothe Cavaliers, who entered the tournament draw with an overall record of 8-9, were awarded a 31 seed in Division I. The Cavs will host Licking Heights at 5 p.m. May 11 in a sectional semifinal.

In Division II, Unioto (8-9) grabbed an eighth seed and the right to host a sectional semifinal contest against Vinton County (3-13), where the Tanks will be heavily favored. That game will take place at 1 p.m. May 9.

Minford (12-1) and Miami Trace (17-2) both grabbed the top seeds in the division.

The highlight in Division III was the No. 1 seed awarded to the Adena Warriors (16-3). Adena also was awarded a first-round bye and will host the winner of Southeastern (8-8) and Huntington (7-12), who will play in a sectional final May 13 at Southeastern. The Panthers are seeded eighth, whereas the Huntsmen are ninth.

Also in Division III, Zane Trace (10-13) was awarded a No. 3 seed and will host the winner of No. 6 Portsmouth (7-10) and No. 11 Piketon (5-12) in a sectional final May 16. The Trojans and Redstreaks will meet in their sectional semifinal at 5 p.m. May 13.

Westfall (9-14), a seventh seed, will meet with No. 10 Portsmouth West (7-12) on May 13 while Waverly (10-9) will take on Eastern (3-10) the same day. Both of those match-ups are slated as sectional semifinals.

Wheelersburg (15-1) grabbed the remaining first seed in Division III after the Warriors.

The Paint Valley Bearcats (16-4) grabbed a No. 1 seed in Division IV and earned themselves a bye in round one. They'll host a sectional final game on May 12 against the winner of Leesburg (3-9) and Manchester (3-7).

In the bottom half of Division IV's bracket, Trimble (12-1) is the second number one seed.

Seeds awarded to area softball teams are as follows:

Bud Lytle's Chillicothe team (7-12) is a No. 7 seed and will face No. 2 Waverly (11-5) in a Division II sectional semifinal, May 13.

Also in D-II, Brooke Blevins and Unioto (13-4) were awarded a No. 1 seed and drew a match-up with Vinton County (5-8) on May 13 in a sectional semifinal.

Fairfield Union (11-4) also was awarded a No. 1 seed.

In Division III, Westfall (14-5) is a No. 1 seed as well as Alexander (15-1). The Mustangs will start their defense of their 2014 state championship against the winner of McClain and Lyncburg-Clay, May 15.

The Piketon Redstreaks (10-4) drew a No. 2 seed and will also enjoy a first-round bye while awaiting the winner of Valley and Northwest. The Redstreaks will compete for a sectional title, May 15.

Number four Zane Trace (9-8) will take on a familiar foe in No. 5 Huntington (13-7) for a sectional title at 5 p.m. May 15 at Zane Trace.

Also in D-III, Adena (6-7) — a sixth seed — will face West Union (1-9) in a sectional semifinal May 12, while Southeastern (2-13) — a 10th seed — drew No. 7 Oak Hill (3-18) in a sectional semifinal May 12 at Oak Hill.

Joining Westfall as a No. 1 seed in Division III is Alexander (15-1) and Wheelersburg (15-0).

Division IV features Paint Valley (2-13) drawing a No. 8 seed but also the right to host a sectional semifinal against Glenwood (4-6) at 5 p.m. May 11.

No. 1 seeds in Division IV are Fairfield (13-2) and Eastern Meigs (13-1).