Checking out potential matchups for Chillicothe-area teams in the statewide baseball tournament

CHILLICOTHE — May is here, and so is tournament baseball.

Next week, teams from around the area will enter their first-round matchups, as set by the OHSAA's tournament draw on Sunday.

Of course, half the fun of a bracket is seeing what potential matchups might lay in store as the tournament plays out. Unpredictability is a part of the postseason. The chances for two teams to meet, while not guaranteed, is still what makes the postseason so entertaining.

There's plenty of ways that a bracket can play out. With that said, let's take a look at some potential games involving area teams we'd like to see in the postseason baseball tournament:

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Division II District Semifinals: No. 7 Waverly vs. No. 2 New Lexington

The Tigers have been cruising as of late after winning eight of their last 10 games. That momentum could propel them to a potential meeting with the Panthers, who've finished second in the Muskingum Valley League with an 18-3 overall record. There might be an early challenge in facing No. 10 Gallia Academy, but the Blue Devils have lost four of their last five and their only win in that span came against Chesapeake.

But Waverly presents a good case for an upset should it get a shot in the district semifinals. New Lexington, while formidable, isn't without its weak points. It recently dropped a game against an 8-13 Amanda-Clearcreek, and one of its losses was against Licking Valley, which totes a similar record to Waverly.

The Tigers have a benefit of a strong rotation that can back it up should the offense not get rolling. A potential matchup between them and the Panthers is one to keep on the radar.

Division III District Finals: No. 2 Zane Trace vs. No. 5 Huntington

The Huntsmen have a bone to pick with the Pioneers after dropping both regular season meetings back during their Scioto Valley Conference schedule. While the Pioneers have lost a pair of games to conference teams right at the tail end of the regular season, they're still the squad that's posted the best record in the area.

Huntington hasn't been a slouch either. Its win over Unioto was key heading into the seeding over the weekend, plus its only loss came against Washington. Aside from a hurdle to clear in a potential meeting with Ironton in the district semifinals, the Huntsmen can carve a clear line to Round 3 with Zane Trace.

Division III District Semifinals: No. 10 Southeastern vs. No. 3 Portsmouth

Southeastern, while struggling to break into the top half of the SVC standings, has found a bit more success lining against nonconference opponents this year. While it should have little trouble dispensing Oak Hill — it won 8-1 in their regular season meeting — that leaves a massive challenge in the district semifinals against the 17-4 Trojans.

Don't count out the Panthers yet, though. Portsmouth had to take Valley to eight innings in late April and gave up six runs to South Point this past weekend. Southeastern can put up runs when necessary, and Carson McWhorter has been throwing heat on the mound lately. There's good reason to give the Panthers more than a nod should they take on the Trojans.

Division IV Sectional Finals: No. 12 Paint Valley vs. No. 5 Southern

Paint Valley has a lot to prove out the gate. Its road out of the sectionals is stonewalled by Southern, which has only lost one game in the past two weeks. Those two losses, however, came against Wellston and Ravenswood, and the Tornadoes have hovered near an even record outside of the Tri-Valley Conference.

It's also hard to ignore Paint Valley's stellar nonconference record, which stood at 7-2 as of Tuesday morning. Only Lynchburg-Clay and Fairfield, both strong programs in their own right, have gotten one up on the Bearcats outside the SVC.

The Bearcats will be tested almost out the gate once they reach the tournament, but the Tornadoes seem like the perfect litmus test for them in the sectional finals.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: A look at potential area matchups in the statewide baseball tournament