Nine high school softball teams open postseason play Thursday, May 22.
Waupaca and New London will host Division 2 regional contests, while Clintonville will be on the road; Weyauwega-Fremont and Iola-Scandinavia will host Division 3 contests, while Amherst will be on the road; and Manawa, Wild Rose and Marion will host Division 4 games, with Almond-Bancroft getting a first-round bye.
Here’s a rundown of first-round matchups:
Division 2
Freedom Sectional: No. 2 Waupaca will host No. 7 Berlin at 5 p.m. May 22. If Waupaca wins, the Comets will host No. 3 Ripon or No. 6 Omro Tuesday, May 27. No. 3 New London, the defending Division 2 state champion, will host No. 6 Little Chute May 22. If New London wins, the Bulldogs will play at No. 2 Fox Valley Lutheran May 27. No. 7 Clintonville will open tournament play May 22 at No. 2 Green Bay Notre Dame. If Clintonville wins, the Truckers will play at No. 3 Shawano or No. 6 Seymour May 27. Waupaca will also host a sectional final at 5 p.m. Waupaca will also host a sectional semifinal at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 3.
Division 3
Stevens Point Pacelli Sectional: No. 3 Iola-Scandinavia will host No. 6 Menasha St. Mary Central and No. 4 Weyauwega-Fremont will host No. 5 Amherst May 22. The Weyauwega-Fremont/Amherst winner will play at top-seeded Stevens Point Pacelli Tuesday, May 27. The Iola-Scandinavia/St. Mary Central winner will play at No. 2 Shiocton or host No. 7 Auburndale May 27.
Division 4
Almond-Bancroft Sectional: No. 3 Manawa will host No. 6 Bowler, No. 4 Wild Rose will host No. 5 Pittsville and No. 2 Marion will host No. 7 Gresham. If Manawa wins, the Wolves will play at Marion or host No. 7 Gresham May 27. If Wild Rose wins, the Wildcats will play at No. 1 Almond-Bancroft May 27. If Marion wins, the Mustangs will host the Manawa/Bowler winner. Almond-Bancroft will also host a sectional final Thursday, June 5.
Sectionals are set for Tuesday, June 3, and Thursday, June 5, while state will be held Thursday to Saturday, June 12-14, at Madison’s Goodman Diamond.