JEROMESVILLE — The Division III postseason in northeast Ohio is going to be a war of attrition.
Local heavyweights Hillsdale and Loudonville both moved up to Division III from Division IV, while defending Division II state champion Triway and five-time Division II state champ Keystone both dropped a division. Nine-time state champ Warren Champion, defending Division III state runner-up Tuslaw and perennial power South Range all will be in the mix as well.
Hillsdale (12-4) earned the No. 3 seed in the 11-team Wellington district field. The Falcons took a first-round bye and will play either No. 14 Columbia or No. 21 Warrensville Heights for a sectional title at 5 p.m. May 11 at Hillsdale.
Fifth-seeded Northwestern, which split with Hillsdale in Wayne County Athletic Legue action early in the season, will host either No. 9 Cuyahoga Heights or No. 22 Garfield Heights Trinity in a sectional final at 5 p.m. May 11 A win would likely send the Huskies into a district semifinal showdown against top-seeded Keystone
Both Loudonville and Mapleton are in the 11-team Creston district field. The Redbirds picked up the No. 4 seed and will host No. 10 Black River at 5 p.m. May 11. The 11th-seeded Mounties host No. 19 Orrville at 5 p.m. May 9 in the sectional semifinals.
Crestview is the No. 6 seed in the Division III Shelby district field. The Cougars (10-6) will visit No. 5 Clear Fork at 5 p.m. May 9 for a sectional semifinal game.
Division I
Ashland earned the No. 11 seed in the Clyde district and will host No. 17 Sandusky at 5 p.m. May 8 in the sectional semifinals. A win would send the Arrows into the sectional final against No. 3 Perrysburg at 5 p.m. May 10 at Perrysburg.
