Nowhere to hide in Division II softball bracket

• Lakewood and Jonathan Alder likely will receive the top two seeds at Sunday%27s tournament draw.
• Licking Valley is the hottest team in Division II%2C having won 13 consecutive games.

The top seeds in Sunday's Division II Central District tournament draw will have nowhere to hide. Of course, the lower seeds will have no soft landing spot.

The district has sent two teams to the state tournament each of the past two seasons, and it certainly could happen again. Which two, however, are anyone's guess.

Lakewood, which was unbeaten until a loss to Licking Valley on Thursday, and twice-beaten Jonathan Alder likely are to receive the top seeds. Will they go in opposite brackets, or would the Pioneers follow the Lancers figuring on an easier path to a showdown in the district finals?

Licking Valley seems to be in an enviable position. The Panthers are on fire, having won 13 consecutive games. Do they want a rubber match with Lakewood, knowing both games were as close as can be, or do they have a score to settle with Alder, which ended Valley's hopes for a repeat state title?

Do not forget about Granville, which was a tight loss to Alder away from possibly making a run back to the state tournament. This season, the Blue Aces also have Abby Barker back on the rubber, and she was unhittable during the 2013 run to the state tournament.

Last but not least is Bishop Hartley, which has just four losses and eliminated Lakewood two of the past three seasons.

The thought of where to place their team on the bracket has given coaches sleepless nights. They toss and turn, thinking of contingency plans if the seeding is not what is expected or an opposing coach throws a curve ball.

Those sleepless nights will return a few weeks from now when the teams reach the end of their collision course in Pickerington.

Think about it from Lakewood's perspective. The Lancers rode the momentum of early-season wins against Valley and Granville to an unbeaten first month and a No. 1 ranking the state coaches poll.

Now, coach Criss Nadolson can do nothing but wear a shirt with a bulls-eye on the back to the draw.

It is true a champion should be willing to play anybody. No champion, however, looks forward to playing everybody.

Snyder is a sports writer for The Advocate. Tell him what you think at ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com.