5 Greater Canton high school softball teams who could make a run in the OHSAA tournament

The Ohio High School Athletic Association softball tournament arrives this week and every area team will be looking to make its mark in the postseason with the start of sectional play.

The competition in Greater Canton has been as fierce as ever and there are plenty of teams with the ability to make a run during the OHSAA tournament. Here's a look at five teams who may have the best chance of reaching a regional tournament this season. Beware, though. The road is not easy for any of these teams.

North Canton Hoover Vikings

Hoover is one of the most well-rounded and battle-tested teams in the area. The Vikings have two pitchers in Summer McCaw and Ella Letosky who could start for many of the teams in the area. It's impossible to put a price on that kind of pitching depth in the postseason. Hoover also has plenty of players who can swing the bat well, led by Sadie Carroll. Delaney Shannon, Sienna Koosh, McCaw and Josie Westfall. The road to the regional tournament will be difficult for Hoover as part of the Division I, Northeast 1 district. The No. 4-seeded Vikings will face the winner of No. 5 Eastlake North and No. 7 Mentor in a possible district semifinal. No. 3 Louisville, No. 8 Riverside and No. 9 Perry lurk in the other half of the district bracket.

Louisville Leopards

The Leopards have arguably the area's best player in University of Maryland recruit Matti Benson. She is far from the only source of offense for the Leopards. Addy Campbell, Katilyn Twinem, Bailee Griffith and Kenzi Denzer are also hitting above .400 this season for the Leopards. Taylor Schneider and Katelyn Miller are strong pitching options. A tough district as part of the Division I, Northeast 1 district could be the only thing that stops the third-seed Leopards. They likely will see either No. 8 Riverside or No. 9 Perry in a district semifinal. No. 4 Hoover is also in the top half of the bracket. More than one talented team is headed home early in this district.

Jackson Polar Bears

Jackson is a team that can be easy to overlook because of its 12-12 record. Look below the surface and you will see a team capable of competing with and beating some of the best teams in the tournament. Jackson holds wins over Manchester, Tuslaw, Louisville and Ellet. Freshman Gabbi Williamson and senior Alexis Sin are dangerous hitters at the top of the lineup. Pitcher Courtney Helle has also improved throughout the season. Things won't be easy for the No. 11-seeded Polar Bears in the Division I, Northeast 3 district. Jackson likely plays No. 12 Willoughby South in a sectional final and could face No. 10 Boardman or No. 16 Lake in a district semifinal. No. 2 Walsh Jesuit also is in the top half of the bracket. It's not outside the realm of possibility, though, that things click for Jackson and the Polar Bears make a run.

Marlington Dukes

One thing that is never in question is Marlington's ability to hit the ball. This year is no exception. Maria Walder, Chelsea Miller and Audrey Miller are all hitting above .400 for the Dukes. Much may rely on the arms of pitchers Justine Doringo and Lydia Duncan for Marlington. A tough district draw in Divison II, Northeast 2 also is a concern. The No. 3-seeded Dukes are likely to meet No. 6 Lake County Perry or No. 8 Gilmour Academy in a district semifinal. No. 2 Canfield is on the other side of the district bracket. Marlington is in the same situation as Louisville and Hoover. If they are able to survive the gauntlet in this district, the Dukes may be able to play all the way to Akron for the state tournament.

Tuslaw Mustangs

Tuslaw is in the unfortunate position of having two other teams in the PAC-7 with legitimate state title aspirations in Triway and Manchester. Going a combined 0-4 against those two hurt their overall record in the regular season, but should prepare the Mustangs for the postseason. The Mustangs are no pushover, though. They have a one-run loss to Manchester and an extra-innings loss to Triway, in addition to going 1-1 vs. Jackson. Camryn Kiefer is a talented pitcher who also does plenty of damage with her bat. She broke the school's career home run record in April. Annebelle Liebig, Danica Crescenze and Kylie Johnson also each are hitting over .400 for Tuslaw. The Mustangs are in an absolutely loaded Division III, Northeast 4 district. The No. 6 seed, the Mustangs face a potential sectional final against No. 4 Loudonville, and if they survive that, No. 3 Manchester looms as the likely district semifinal opponent. No. 2 seeded-Hillsdale is in the top half of the bracket. Still it's hard to ignore the potential of a team with a player as good as Kiefer on the roster.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: 5 Canton-area high school softball teams to watch in OHSAA tournament