Softball season is heating up across Ohio, and the postseason picture is now crystal clear for Divisions I and II. The district tournament draws were officially released on Sunday, May 10, setting the stage for an exciting run to the state championships.
The final seedings were locked in on Friday, May 8, using the MaxPreps RPI formula that the Ohio High School Athletic Association employs. Any regular season results after that date won't affect the seed order or postseason path—so teams know exactly where they stand as they prepare for the playoff push.
In a major change this year, the Southwest District is debuting a "super draw" format, approved back in March. Instead of splitting Dayton and Cincinnati schools into separate North and South districts, all squads in Division I and Division II will now compete in a single, unified bracket. This adds a fresh layer of intensity and rivalry to the tournament.
Action gets underway on Monday, May 11, with district finals scheduled for May 20 and 21. All games leading up to the finals will be played at the higher seed's home field, giving top teams a valuable home-field advantage. The district final sites are still to be determined, adding an element of suspense.
Regional finals are set for May 29, and the ultimate prize—the state finals—will be held at Akron's Firestone Stadium from June 3-7. It's a championship journey that every team dreams of.
Division I Highlights
Centerville has claimed the top overall seed, and it's easy to see why. The Greater Western Ohio Conference champions posted a stellar 20-6 record while facing the second-toughest schedule among the 21 teams in the Southwest District. That kind of competition has them battle-tested and ready.
Milford (21-3) earned the No. 2 seed, followed by Lakota East (20-5), Oak Hills (18-5), and defending state champion Lebanon (17-9). The defending champs might have a few more losses than last year, but they know how to win when it counts.
Rounding out the top ten: Hamilton (14-7) at No. 7, Springboro (16-10) at No. 8, Beavercreek (14-9) at No. 9, and Lakota West (12-10) at No. 10.
Centerville's path looks favorable—no team seeded above 10 sits in their district bracket. Meanwhile, a potential district final between Milford and No. 6 seed Mason (15-10) could be a must-watch showdown.
Four teams, including Oak Hills and Hamilton, will head to Region 1, while the rest compete in Region 4. Region 4 semifinals and finals will be played at Indian Hill High School, and Region 1's semifinals are at London High School, with the finals moving to Olentangy High School.
Division II Highlights
Kings (22-1) dominated the Eastern Cincinnati Conference and secured the top seed, proving they're a force to be reckoned with. Troy (23-2) grabbed the No. 2 seed, while Harrison (14-7) took the No. 3 spot.
Fairborn (17-5) and Little Miami (17-8) round out the top five, with Northmont (14-9) at No. 6. The top four seeds are separated until regionals, meaning we could see an epic district final between Fairborn and Little Miami if both advance.
Mason High School will host the Region 5 semifinals and finals, giving local fans a convenient spot to catch the action.
For the full brackets and a complete list of matchups, check the Southwest District Athletic Board website. It's time to grab your gear, cheer on your team, and enjoy the ride to Firestone Stadium!