VIP - AREA D5 SOFTBALL TEAMS HAVE PLAYOFF SEEDS DECIDED
Updated: May 14, 2022
By Jason Zaleski
It's that time of year when we get to start thinking about playoffs. Playoffs!
Unlike football and basketball, no WIAA supercomputer to decide postseason rankings. Instead, humans only in the form of coaches gathering 'round telephones and Zoom video conference calls to decide playoff seeds. I prefer the supercomputer.
Starting in Sectional 1, Group A:
The Athens Fighting Bluejays are the top seed in Group A. The Jays played a tough schedule and even after a rough last week that saw coach Craig Diedrich's girls lose four of five prior to Tuesday, they are still the group's top seed.
Athens is the second place team in the Marawood North, behind an extremely tough and talented Phillips squad. Phillips, currently ranked five in D4, swept the season series with Athens and will be its group top seed. Athens has a first round bye and its May 24th home playoff opponent will be known after opening round play on May 17th.
Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran is the two seed, followed by Mc Donell Central as the three, Thorp the four, and Marshfield Columbus Catholic the five. It will be Columbus Catholic at Thorp on May 24th, a playoff game featured live on Zaleski Sports.
Sectional 2, Group B:
The Pacelli Cardinals coached by Ann Molski are the number one seed. The Cardinals won a timely and key game on Tuesday night at home against Almond-Bancroft 6-5. With the win, coach Molski was able to argue in her seed meeting that Pacelli was once again Central Wisconsin South champs (things humans are impressed by, me and computers not so much). Even without a conference title, it was likely Pacelli would have been voted by the group as the one seed even if it would have experienced a second place conference finish as the rest of the group is rather unimpressive.
Edgar is the two out of the Marawood South (2nd place), Three Lakes/Phelps gets the three, Newman Catholic the four seed.
Pacelli will play the winner of No. 8 Rosholt and No. 9 Northland Lutheran/Wisconsin Valley Lutheran at home on May 24th. Edgar plays Bowler/Gresham, and Newman hosts Marion, all on 5/24.
Sectional 3, Group B:
Much intrigue here as I can image the human intervention really grinding on the phone call in this seed meeting. With Assumption and Almond-Bancroft both able to claim conference championships in their non-computer bias, the rest was likely a popularity contest with the rest of the voting members. The advantage likely going to Assumption based on strength of schedule, even in the absence of a common sense and mathematically inclined supercomputer, the mere humans likely deciphered one team has earned the top spot over the other.
Assumption Catholic is the one seed, with myself and the supercomputer in agreement. The Royals play a mix of D3, D4, and D5 in the Marawood South and have beat them all on their way to an undefeated conference season thus far.
Assumption is also ranked No. 2 in the latest coaches poll and in my humble opinion has the best pitcher in the area regardless of division in the way of Ava Schill. Schill has pitched 58 innings, striking out 77, and boasts an ERA of 1.69.
Almond-Bancroft checks in as the two seed and you can already plan on a sectional-semi final at Robinson Park in Wisconsin Rapids between the Eagles and the Assumption Royals on May 31st. A must see game that will be watched live on Zaleski Sports.
Wild Rose is the three, Port Edwards the four, and Pittsville rounds out the group as the nine seed.
Assumption will play the winner of No. 8 Royall and No. 9 Pittsville at home on May 24th. Almond-Bancroft takes on Tri-County at home on May 24th.
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