Derrick Webb, Reporter8:45 p.m. EDT May 1, 2016
CHILLICOTHE - Time really does fly by.
Seemingly yesterday, the area was just diving into the start of the 2016 spring sports season. Now, postseason match-ups have been announced and the time to 'do or die' is coming quicker than expected.
The Southeast Ohio District Athletic Board released first round match-ups Sunday afternoon. The only team out of the Scioto Valley Conference to be awarded a No. 1 seed was Westfall's softball team, while two were awarded No. 2 seeds — Adena baseball and Unioto softball.
Here's a full breakdown of each first-round OHSAA tournament match-up.
SOFTBALL
In Division II, the No. 2 Unioto Shermans (16-4) have been matched with No. 7 Vinton County (10-12) at home on May 11. The Vikings are no strangers to SVC opponents as they've faced Zane Trace, Paint Valley, Huntington and Southeastern already this season. In those games, Vinton County is 5-2.
The No. 4 Chillicothe Cavaliers (12-4) will have a chance at revenge as they host the No. 5 Waverly Tigers (13-8) on May 11. The Tigers ended the Cavaliers' 2015 season in a Division II sectional semifinal in a 14-5 contest.
If both Chillicothe and Unioto win their first two tournament contests, they would meet each other in a district semifinal. The No. 1 seeds in Division II's Southeast District are Meigs (17-3) and Fairfield Union (17-0).
Postseason play in Division III will begin on May 10 as the No. 9 Adena Warriors (4-19) travel to Lynchburg-Clay (5-7); a No. 8 seed.
On May 13, the tournament will continue as multiple sectional final contests get under way. The No. 1 seeded Westfall Mustangs (14-8) will await the winner of Adena and Lynchburg-Clay that night as Southeastern, a No. 5 seed, travels to No. 6 Gallia Academy (8-13).
Also playing on May 13 will be the No. 4 seeded Piketon Redstreaks (7-13) and the No. 3 seeded Zane Trace Pioneers (10-9). Piketon will host No. 5 North Adams (7-5) as Zane Trace welcomes No. 6 River Valley (7-10) to Kinnikinnick. Huntington (6-15), a No. 6 seed, will travel to No. 3 Northwest (5-14) the same evening.
Aside from Westfall, the No.1 seeds in Division III are Wheelersburg (16-2) and Alexander (13-5).
The lone area team in Division IV — the Paint Valley Bearcats — earned a No. 3 seed. The Bearcats (12-6) also earned a bye and will await the winner of No. 6 Sciotoville (6-11) and No. 11 Manchester (2-10) on May 12. That contest will be played with a sectional title on the line.
No. 1 seeds in Division IV are Fairfield (14-4) and Symmes Valley (16-3).
BASEBALL
The Chillicothe Cavaliers (5-12) have been slotted as a No. 9 seed in Division II and will travel to No. 8 Athens (10-11) on May 9 in a sectional semifinal. Lower down the bracket, the No. 5 Unioto Shermans (12-7) will travel to No. 4 Waverly (13-6) on May 12 in a sectional final. The Shermans and Tigers split a doubleheader earlier this season.
The No. 1 seeds in Division II are Jackson (14-4) — who Chillicothe would play if it was to win — and Sheridan (14-6).
In Division III, a total of seven area teams will be in postseason action on May 11.
No. 9 Huntington (8-12) travels to No. 8 Portsmouth West (9-8) with a trip to a sectional final and a date with No. 1 Minford (12-2) on the line. The No. 3 Zane Trace Pioneers (18-5) will host No. 14 Portsmouth (4-12) as SVC foes square off in Bainbridge in a meeting between No. 4 Paint Valley (15-6) and No. 13 Westfall (7-15).
Also in action will be the No. 2 seeded Adena Warriors (14-5), who host No. 15 West Union (3-14). The Piketon Redstreaks (6-14), a No. 10 seed, will travel to No. 7 North Adams (9-4) while the No. 6 Southeastern Panthers (11-9) stay at home and face No. 11 Oak Hill (9-12).
No. 1 seeds — aside from Minford — in Division III are as follows: Alexander (12-6) and Wheelersburg (13-4).
Full tournament brackets are posted on the Southeast Ohio District Athletic Board's website.
Twitter: @dw1509
