MANSFIELD — Crestview softball coach Aaron Goon toughened up the non-conference schedule to prepare the Cougars for a rugged postseason journey.
The Division III New Riegel sectional/district promises to be rocky.
The Cougars (16-4) earned the No. 4 seed in a 12-team field that includes top seed Huron (13-4), No. 2 seed Edison (14-4) and No. 3 Colonel Crawford (16-4).
The Cougars took an opening-round bye and will host either No. 6 Margaretta (13-7) or No. 12 Western Reserve (0-18) in the sectional championship at 5 p.m. May 14.
Colonel Crawford also opted for a bye in the opening round and will host either No. 7 Upper Sandusky (12-7) or No. 9 Kansas Lakota (4-8) in the sectional final at 5 p.m. May 14. Upper Sandusky and Kansas Lakota meet in the sectional semifinals at 5 p.m. May 11 at Upper Sandusky.
No. 5 seed Bucyrus (14-2) hosts No. 8 Carey (7-11) at 5 p.m. May 11. No. 11 Wynford (3-17) visits No. 10 Willard (5-10) at 5 p.m. May 11.
In the Division III Creston sectional/district, No. 9 Mapleton (8-2) hosts No. 20 Orrville in a sectional semifinal at 5 p.m. May 11.
Division I
Ashland is the area’s lone representative in the Division I Fostoria sectional/district. The Arrows earned the No. 5 seed and will host No. 12 Toledo Notre Dame Academy in the sectional final at 5 p.m. May 12.
Division II
Lexington (16-4) earned the top seed in the Division II Willard sectional/district and will host either No. 4 Ontario (9-9) or No. 11 Galion (0-17) in the sectional final at 5 p.m. May 14. The Warriors and Tigers will meet at Ontario at 5 p.m. May 11.
No. 5 seed Madison will host crosstown rival and 10th-seeded Mansfield Senior in the sectional final at 5 p.m. May 14.
In the bottom half of the bracket, No. 6 Shelby hosts No. 9 Vermilion at 5 p.m. May 11 in the sectional semifinal. No. 3 seed Clear Fork has an opening-round bye and will host either No. 7 Tiffin Columbian or No. 8 Norwalk in the sectional final at 5 p.m. May 14.
Division IV
Plymouth (11-7) picked up the No. 3 seed in the Division IV Shelby sectional/district and will host either No. 6 Crestline or No. 9 Buckeye Central at 5 p.m. May 13 in the sectional final. The Bulldogs will play the Buckettes at Crestline at 5 p.m. May 10 in the sectional semifinals.
In the bottom half of the bracket, No. 5 Lucas will host No. 8 Seneca East at 5 p.m. May 10 in the sectional opener. No. 12 St. Peter’s is at No. 7 South Central at 5 p.m. Feb. 10.
In the Division IV Richfield sectional/disrtrict, No. 2 seed Hillsdale and No. 4 seed Loudonville both took first-round byes. The Falcons will host No. 5 Dalton or No. 10 Canton Central Catholic in the sectional final at 5 p.m. May 12. The Redbirds will host No. 7 Columbia or No. 8 Kidron Central Christian at 5 p.m. May 12.
