The road to Akron just got a whole lot clearer. The baseball district tournament brackets for all divisions were released Sunday, May 10, and Monday, May 11, setting the stage for an exciting postseason. While some teams locked in No. 1 seeds as expected, a few surprises kept things interesting.
Unlike many other Ohio High School Athletic Association sports that use the MaxPreps RPI formula, these final seeds were determined by a coaches' vote. Season records closed on Wednesday, May 6, at midnight, meaning any games played after that date—including regular season results—won't affect the final seed order or postseason determination. Seed voting took place throughout the remainder of the week.
District play kicks off Monday, May 18, with finals scheduled for May 28 and 29. All games leading up to the district final round will be held at the higher seed's field, while district final games will take place at sites yet to be determined. Regional finals are set for June 3 or 4, and the ultimate prize—the state finals at Akron's Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium—will be held June 11-14. Exact dates for state semifinals and finals in each division will be announced later by the OHSAA.
Here's a breakdown of the notable seeds, matchups, and game locations across all seven divisions (records are as of Sunday, May 10):
Division I
Centerville (19-2) earned the No. 1 seed in the super bracket, edging out Moeller (15-5) for the top spot. Interestingly, Moeller is ranked No. 1 in the OHSBCA state rankings, while Centerville sits at No. 3. Both teams opted into Region 3, setting up a potential regional final showdown. They'll also face off in a regular season game on May 18 at Centerville. St. Xavier (16-4) is the No. 3 seed, followed by No. 4 Oak Hills (16-6) and No. 5 Mason (14-9). Beavercreek (16-5) and Springboro (15-6) round out the top seven. Most top seeds are separated until the regional round, but Oak Hills and Springboro could meet in a potential district final. Eight teams enter Region 3, with the remaining 17 in Region 4. Region 3 semifinals and finals will be played at Wright State University's Nischwitz Stadium, while Region 4 heads to Miami University's Hayden Park.
Division II
Troy (19-1) claimed the No. 1 seed in the 12-team district, followed by Loveland (17-4) at No. 2, Anderson (16-5) at No. 3, Edgewood (15-7) at No. 4, and Northmont (13-7) at No. 5. Anderson enters Troy's district as a potential district final opponent, with the winner advancing through the Central District. All teams will compete in Region 8, though the host site for regional rounds has yet to be announced.
Division III
Butler (18-3), the state's top-ranked team, was voted the No. 1 seed, setting the stage for a deep postseason run.
With brackets set and the path to Akron mapped out, teams across Ohio are gearing up for what promises to be an unforgettable postseason. Whether you're a player, coach, or fan, now's the time to gear up and get ready for the action.