INDIANAPOLIS – Pairings for the 33rd annual IHSAA softball state tournament were released Friday evening. A record number of 378 teams will compete in this year’s tournament, with sectionals being played May 22-27 at 64 sites. The tournament features 96 teams in both Class 4A and 3A, 97 teams in 2A and 89 in 1A. Among teams in the Times-Union coverage area, the Triton Lady Trojans are vying for their fifth straight sectional title. Triton will play in the five-team 1A sectional at Bethany Christian, where Hamilton will play the hosts in Game 1. The Lady Trojans will open defense of their title against Lakewood Park Christian in Game 2. Elkhart Christian Academy will play the winner of Game 1. In the six-team Class 4A sectional at Elkhart Central, city rivals Central and Memorial will play in Game 1, while Game 2 will feature Northridge and Concord. Game 3 will feature the winners of the first two games, while Warsaw and Goshen will meet in Game 4. Two local teams will compete in the Class 3A sectional at Lakeland, where Wawasee drew the host?Lakers in Game 1. NorthWood and West Noble will play in Game 2, with the winners of the first two games meeting in Game 3. Tippecanoe Valley and Fairfield will square off in Game 4. The Class 2A sectional at Oak Hill will also feature two area teams. Manchester and Wabash will square off in Game 1, while other first-round matchups include Northfield and North Miami, and Southwood and Oak Hill. Whitko will play either Manchester or Wabash. Exact dates and times of tournament games will be determined by the host school.
