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H.S. Softball Tourney: Lancaster looking to take the next step is one of the top 3 storylines

tom wilson, lancaster eagle-gazette
·4 min read
The Lancaster softball team waits for head coach Allie Kinnard after the Lady Gales defeated state-ranked Teays Valley 8-0 during a recent game. Lancaster is hoping to make another deep tournament run after reaching the Division I regional finals a year ago.
The Lancaster softball team waits for head coach Allie Kinnard after the Lady Gales defeated state-ranked Teays Valley 8-0 during a recent game. Lancaster is hoping to make another deep tournament run after reaching the Division I regional finals a year ago.

COLUMBUS – Regardless of your team’s record, tournament time is always exciting, and while there wasn’t a lot of suspense during Sunday’s Central District and Southeast District tournament draws for area high school softball teams, it is still compelling to find out exactly where teams will be seeded.

Several area teams have high expectations heading into the postseason and it should be an interesting tournament across all four divisions.

Here are three storylines involving area softball teams.

1. Lady Gales set to make another deep tourney run

A year after earning the No. 1 seed in the Central District, which was a first in the school’s history, Lancaster looks primed to make another deep tournament run with a deep and talented team.

The Gales earned the No. 5 seed in Division I behind top-seeded Watkins Memorial, followed by Gahanna, Teays Valley, and Marysville. Lancaster will host Marion Harding at 5 p.m. May 8, and if the seeds hold true, the Gales will face Marysville in a district final.

Seedings can be tricky sometimes because while Lancaster is seeded No. 5, the Gales just defeated No. 3 seed Teays Valley 8-0 last week. A year ago, the Gales made it all the way to the regional final before losing to Watkins Memorial.

Lancaster junior pitcher Reese Poston has been stellar all season and helped lead the Lady Gales to a regional final appearance a year ago. Lancaster seems primed to make another long tournament run this season.
Lancaster junior pitcher Reese Poston has been stellar all season and helped lead the Lady Gales to a regional final appearance a year ago. Lancaster seems primed to make another long tournament run this season.

This season, Lancaster may have a few more blemishes on their record than they did a year ago, but they will head into the tournament more battle-tested, thanks to playing a rugged non-conference schedule.

Three of the Gales’ losses came against teams that have a combined 54-1 overall record. Earlier this season, Lancaster lost 1-0 to Holland Springfield, which is ranked No. 2 in the state, 10-6 against unbeaten Athens, which is No. 1 in the state in Division II, and 6-3 against Whiteford, the No. 3-ranked team in the state in Michigan.

Lancaster has quality wins over Teays Valley, which is ranked No. 7 in the state in Division I, defeated Lebanon, ranked No. 10 in the state in Division I, and Heath, the No. 10-ranked team in the state in Division II.

With the bulk of the lineup returning and a group of talented freshmen, the Gales are starting to come together at the right time. The only question that remains is can they take the next step and reach the state tournament after coming up one game short a year ago?

2. Teams in Division II-III looking for upsets

In Division II, in Central District, Bloom-Carroll has a young team that is capable of surprising some teams. The Bulldogs will open the tournament on the road at Bishop Hartley at 5 p.m. May 9, while Fairfield Union will play in the Southeast District and will travel to face Mid-State League-Buckeye Division foe Circleville at 5 p.m. May 10.

Liberty Union is also a young team, but the Lions enter the tournament with a respectable record and have beaten some solid teams along the way, so they are one of those teams that could jump up and surprise a few higher-seeded teams.

Liberty Union earned a No. 5 seed in the Central District in Division III and will host either Lakewood or Harvest Prep at 5 p.m. May 10.

Amanda-Clearcreek will host Madison Plains at 5 p.m. on May 9.

Fairfield Christian Academy pitcher Addison Stem delivers a pitch to Berne Union's Baylee Mirgon during during a recent Mid-State League-Cardinal Divison game. They are two of the top players in the state in Divison IV entering the tournament.
Fairfield Christian Academy pitcher Addison Stem delivers a pitch to Berne Union's Baylee Mirgon during during a recent Mid-State League-Cardinal Divison game. They are two of the top players in the state in Divison IV entering the tournament.

3. Division IV is wide open with one district winner

With only one district winner coming out of the Central District Division IV tournament, it becomes a fight to the finish to win a district title. The top four seeds are Mechanicsburg, followed by Danville, Berne Union and Newark Catholic.

Fairfield Christian Academy earned the No. 6 seed. The Knights, who won their first-ever district championship a year ago, are certainly capable of making it back to the district title game.

For that to happen, the Knights will be tested early. They drew a first-round bye, and then would more than likely face Newark Catholic at 5 p.m. May 11 in a second-round game and then would have to beat top-seeded Mechanicsburg in a district semifinal game.

The Lady Rockets have played a tough schedule and are on the verge of winning another Mid-State League-Cardinal Division title, will enter the tournament battle-tested. They feel like they have a team that can win a district championship.

Berne Union opens the tournament at home against Shekinah Christian at 5 p.m. May 9. The Rockets would more than likely face Danville in a district semifinal if the seeds hold true.

Fisher Catholic is another team that has shown some promise this season, even though they are a young team. The No. 8 seeded Irish will host Mount Gilead at 5 p.m. May 11, while Millersport will travel to Ridgedale at 5 p.m. May 9.

Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on Twitter @twil2323.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: H.S. Softball Tournament: Lancaster looking to take the next step is one of the top 3 storylines