Here's when area softball teams are set to play in this week's IHSAA Sectional tournament

Auston Matricardi and Jeff Bartlett, The Times-Mail
·3 min read

After months of waiting, the 2022 Indiana High School Athletic Association State Softball Tournament is finally upon us.

Sectional play will begin around the state on Monday and each of our local teams will enter the fray either then or shortly after. With a few open fields among the area sectionals, there are multiple local teams with a chance to lift a trophy.

Here's what you need to know, including full schedules, as the Bedford North Lawrence Stars, Mitchell Bluejackets, Orleans Bulldogs, Paoli Rams and Springs Valley Blackhawks gear up for state tournament play:

Sectional 15, Floyd Central

BNL freshman Ava Ratliff uncoils with a home run swing during her varsity debut Thursday.
BNL freshman Ava Ratliff uncoils with a home run swing during her varsity debut Thursday.

Tuesday, May 24

G1 — New Albany vs. Jeffersonville 5:30p

G2 — Floyd Central vs. Seymour 7:30p

Wednesday, May 25

G3 — Jennings County vs. G1 Winner 5:30p

G4 — Bedford North Lawrence vs. G2 Winner 7:30p

Friday, May 27

G5 — G3 Winner vs. G4 Winner 6p

Sectional 46, Mitchell

Avery Southern leaps toward home plate and the swarm of teammates waiting for her there after a fifth-inning home run at West Washington.
Avery Southern leaps toward home plate and the swarm of teammates waiting for her there after a fifth-inning home run at West Washington.

Monday, May 23

G1 — Crawford County vs. Providence 5:30p

G2 — Clarksville vs. Eastern (Pekin) 7:30p

Tuesday, May 24

G3 — Mitchell vs. G1 Winner 5:30p

G4 — Paoli vs. G2 Winner 7:30p

Thursday, May 26

G5 — G3 Winner vs. G4 Winner 6:30p

This one is a true toss-up, as there's no real favorite in this group. Mitchell's the defending champion, but needed extra innings to dispatch Paoli earlier this season and dropped both halves of a doubleheader to Eastern (Pekin) back on April 30. Expect the Bluejackets to be fired up at home, but anything could happen as Paoli showed back in 2019.

More: Sisters Caitlyn and Page Mullis fueling each other to big seasons for Mitchell softball

Sectional 61, West Washington

Brooklyn Underwood jogs back to the infield after making a catch against the fence of the Mitchell dugout.
Brooklyn Underwood jogs back to the infield after making a catch against the fence of the Mitchell dugout.

Monday, May 23

G1 — Lanesville vs. Orleans 5p

G2 — Christian Academy vs. West Washington 6:30p

Tuesday, May 24

G3 — Borden vs. G1 Winner 5p

G4 — South Central vs. G2 Winner 6:30p

Wednesday, May 25

G5 — G3 Winner vs. G4 Winner 6p

The Bulldogs have gotten hot lately, winning three of their final five regular-season games, but face a tough road in this cluster of teams. They lost to Lanesville 10-0 early this season and also have losses against Borden and West Washington on their resume. The Senators are defending champions and should probably be considered the favorites given their Class 1A No. 6 ranking.

More: Orleans softball team honors senior Brooklyn Underwood before game against Shoals

Sectional 64, Northeast Dubois

Lily Hickman (1) celebrates with infielders Kaitlyn Eastridge, Brynne Buchanan (22), Ashlyn Bonta (2) and Tynley Kluesner (23) after a strikeout against Mitchell.
Lily Hickman (1) celebrates with infielders Kaitlyn Eastridge, Brynne Buchanan (22), Ashlyn Bonta (2) and Tynley Kluesner (23) after a strikeout against Mitchell.

Monday, May 23

G1 — Cannelton vs. Springs Valley 6:30p

Tuesday, May 24

G2 — Tecumseh vs. Wood Memorial 6:30p

G3 — Northeast Dubois vs. G1 Winner 8:15p

Thursday, May 26

G4 — G2 Winner vs. G3 Winner 6:30p

There are some quality teams in this group as Tecumseh, Springs Valley and Northeast Dubois all received votes in the latest Softball Coaches Association of Indiana Class 1A poll and any of them could realistically lift the trophy. The Blackhawks' fate will likely rely on whether or not they can muster enough runs to complement their strong defensive game.

More: Mitchell, Springs Valley softball teams go head to head in Patoka Lake Conference classic

This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Here's when area softball teams play in IHSAA sectionals this week