High School Softball: Tournament best bets and bracket busters

Here’s who we think are the best bets in the Southwest District high school softball postseason. The sectional is up first beginning today, followed by a one-game district. The two-game regional is on deck and the state final four in the hole.

BASEBALL: Sectional best bets, bracket busters

The higher seeded teams host first- and second-round games. Sectional finals and district finals are at various fields throughout the area. The regional sites are at Centerville High School (Division I), Mason (D-II), Wright State University (D-III) and Greenville High School (D-IV).

Division I: Lebanon (20-3) hasn't lost to an area team, beat Greenville 2-1 in a season opener and also owns a 10-4 defeat of No. 2 seed Lakota East. Besides, the Warriors have a ton of recent final four history in their side. Strong stuff. East and rival Lakota West are the 2-3 seeds and join Mason (Cincinnati bracket) as worthy GMC powers.

Bracket buster: Franklin (16-4) couldn't overcome SWBL rival Monroe, but the Wildcats are capable of advancing to a sectional final showdown vs. Edgewood.

D-I PAIRINGS: High school softball SW District

Division II: Monroe (20-1) and Greenville (21-3) are solid 1-2 seeds. Monroe lost only to an out-of-state team and Greenville has D-II final four history in its side.

Bracket buster: Tippecanoe (15-8) could do no better than a No. 5 seed, but that's likely because the Red Devils began the season 2-6. Since then the GWOC American North newbies are 13-2 and have won seven straight.

D-II PAIRINGS: High school softball SW District

Division III: Top-seeded Badin (22-2) has lost only to Monroe and Williamsburg. Northwestern (19-2) has won 12 straight games and also received a No. 1 seed out of the Northmont bracket. The Warriors also are an established CBC postseason heavyweight.

Bracket buster: Arcanum, out of the CCC, traditionally fields a strong softball program. Don't be surprised if the Trojans match up with Northwestern in a Northmont lower bracket sectional final.

D-III PAIRINGS: High school softball SW District

Division IV: The area is loaded with outstanding small-ball teams, including Sidney top seed Newton, also out of the CC.

Bracket buster: Don't be surprised if Russia of the SCL lands in a district final.

D-IV PAIRINGS: High school softball SW District

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