Panthers earn top seed in upcoming tourney

PREBLE COUNTY — The road to the state tournament begins next week for the county’s five baseball teams. Tri-County North tops the list of seeded teams for the county as the Panthers (11-8) were awarded the No. 1 seed in the Division IV Dayton sectional.

North received a bye into the second round and will host the winner of the No. 13 Springfield Catholic Central/ No. 14 Emmanual Christian game on Wednesday, May 11. The winner will play either No. 2 Southeastern or No. 16 Ansonia in the Dayton 2 sectional final on Wednesday, May 18, at Newton High School.

In the D-IV Dayton 1 sectional, Twin Valley South (8-9) is the No. 7 seed and will travel to No. 6 Bradford (8-9) on May 11. The winner will advance to play No. 3 Newton/No. 12 Xenia Christian or No. 11 Middletown Christian in the sectional final on May 18 at Duke Park in Troy.

In the Division II Dayton 3 sectional, Eaton (10-7) is the No. 10 seed and will host No. 18 Thurgood Marshall (4-5) on Tuesday, May 10, in the lower half of the bracket. The winner will travel to No. 4 Waynesville (17-2) on Thursday. The sectional final is scheduled for Thursday, May 19, at Monroe, against either No. 9 Hamilton Ross/ No. 13 Franklin or No. 3 Clinton Massie.

In the Division III Dayton 1 sectional, Preble Shawnee (5-13) is the No. 14 seed will travel to No. 6 Springfield Northwestern (11-7) on Monday, May 9. The winner will play either No. 5 seed Springfield Northeastern or No. 16 Miami East on Wednesday in the sectional semifinal. The sectional final is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18, at Tecumseh, against either No. 3 Carlisle/No. 13 Northridge or No. 12 Dayton Christian.

In the D-III Dayton 2 sectional, No. 10 National Trail (8-7) will travel to No. 8 Bethel (9-9) on May 9. The winner will meet either No. 15 Greenon or No. 7 West Liberty-Salem on Wednesday. The sectional final is scheduled for May 18, at Northmont, against either No. 1 Anna/No. 19 Dixie or No. 20 East Clinton.

All games are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. There is a $5 admission price at the gate for all tournament games.

By Eddie Mowen Jr.

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Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4056 or on Twitter @emowen_RH