Spring is in full swing, and the postseason is heating up across Ohio high school softball. Sunday marked a pivotal day for teams statewide as the OHSAA released the official Southeast District brackets, setting the stage for an exciting playoff run.
Leading the charge are three powerhouse programs that earned coveted No. 1 seeds: Wheelersburg in Division V, Valley in Division VI, and Notre Dame in Division VII. These top seeds signal strong regular-season performances and set high expectations for deep tournament runs.
Division V: Wheelersburg leads a competitive field
In the Southeast 1 Bracket, Portsmouth (10-11) enters as the No. 10 seed and will host No. 15 New Lexington (7-16) in a district quarterfinal on Wednesday, May 13 at 5 p.m. The winner advances to face either No. 3 Piketon or No. 22 West Union in a district semifinal on Wednesday, May 20 at Ohio University in Athens. That game tips off at 4 p.m., with the championship round set for Saturday, May 22.
Over in the Southeast 2 Bracket, No. 12 Northwest (12-12) welcomes No. 13 Westfall (8-10) in another quarterfinal on May 13 at 5 p.m. A win for the Lady Mohawks would set up a semifinal showdown against top-seeded Wheelersburg (15-4) on Monday, May 18 at 4 p.m. Both semifinal and championship games will be played at Ohio University, with the district final scheduled for Friday, May 22.
Division VI: Valley and West earn key byes
Valley (13-6) secured the No. 1 seed in Division VI, while West grabbed the No. 3 spot, earning both teams automatic byes into the district semifinals. That means they’ll watch the quarterfinal action from the sidelines before stepping into the spotlight.
South Webster (4-13), seeded No. 8, will host No. 9 Nelsonville-York on Tuesday, May 12 at 5 p.m. in the quarterfinals. The winner moves on to face Valley in the first district semifinal on Tuesday, May 19 at 4 p.m. at Unioto High School in Chillicothe. Meanwhile, West awaits the winner of No. 6 Lynchburg-Clay and No. 11 Ripley, with that semifinal set for Wednesday, May 20 at 6 p.m. The two semifinal winners will clash for the district title on Friday, May 22 at Unioto.
Division VII: Notre Dame headlines a stacked bracket
Notre Dame (20-2) earned the top seed and a first-round bye into the district semifinals, which will be held Monday, May 18 at Wellston High School. The Lady Titans will face the winner of No. 8 Miller versus No. 9 Whiteoak at 4 p.m.
Clay (17-7), seeded No. 4, will host No. 13 South Gallia (2-20) in the quarterfinals, while No. 7 Green (11-11) welcomes No. 10 Sciotoville East (2-13). Both quarterfinal games are scheduled for Wednesday, May 13 at 5 p.m. The Lady Panthers will then face either No. 5 Eastern Pike or No. 12 Western in the next round.
With the brackets set, teams now shift focus to execution on the diamond. For players and fans alike, this is the most exciting time of the year—where every pitch, hit, and catch can make the difference between an early exit and a championship run. Gear up and get ready for some unforgettable postseason softball.