High School Softball: Power rankings for Chillicothe-area teams following Week 7

CHILLICOTHE — It's now officially playoff season.

Softball teams from around the area have spent the past week wrapping up their final regular season games. Now, playoffs are in full swing and the hopes for deep playoff runs are still high. Waverly broke the Division II bracket after upsetting No. 5-seeded Jackson on Wednesday. Chillicothe earned its first playoff win since 2012 over Dublin Jerome. Westfall has hung 19 runs or more on two separate teams this week.

With the playoffs underway, it's time to see for one final time how every area team stacks up against one another. Here is this season's final iteration of power rankings for all 10 Chillicothe-area teams:

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10. Paint Valley Bearcats (3-22, 1-13 Scioto Valley Conference)

The Bearcats' season may be over, but there were still a few bright spots after closing out the final week. Their win over Western, namely, gave them a bit of a boost last Thursday. Kasarah Cantrell had one of her best nights in the circle this year after striking out 10 and allowing only one run, while Sophia Stauffer and Kyla Littler put up big hits and helped keep the offense rolling.

9. Southeastern Panthers (3-22, 1-13 SVC)

Although it played close with South Point in the sectional semifinals, Southeastern fell just short of advancing toward a chance to face No. 1 seed Wheelersburg in the finals. Credit where credit is due, however, Lydia Williams and Ally Fisher got big hits when they were needed. A tough loss, but the Panthers can say they went out swinging.

8. Zane Trace Pioneers (9-11, 7-7 SVC)

Sure, the loss to Waverly on Monday gave the Pioneers a scuff heading into the playoffs, but that doesn't detract from their win over Westfall last week, nor does it diminish their performance against the Tigers. If anything, they know they have solid pitching to fall back on and can keep games within reach inside the Division III bracket.

7. Huntington Huntsmen (15-10, 6-8 SVC)

A walkoff win on Monday over Vinton County gives the Huntsmen a bit of a boost, especially following their strong end to SVC play last week. Mackenzie Paugh came in clutch in the circle with eight strikeouts, and Savannah Bushatz was the deciding factor at the plate with her double and game-winning single.

6. Waverly Tigers (11-14, 1-8 Southern Ohio Conference III)

The Tigers have to be riding high after this week. Aside from closing the week out on a four-game win streak, they also kept their playoff hopes alive after upsetting No. 5 Jackson in the Division II sectional finals on Wednesday. if they can knock off the Ironladies, who's to say they can't keep the run going? There's good reason to keep their district semifinal against No. 4 Logan Elm tabbed heading into next week.

5. Piketon Redstreaks (16-9, 9-5 SVC)

Before the Redstreaks entered the playoff picture, they closed out the regular season on a high note by dropping 15 runs on Lynchburg-Clay on Tuesday. Any game where over half the lineup gets at least two hits apiece is a good night, even if the Mustangs put up nine runs of their own.

4. Westfall Mustangs (9-11, 7-7 SVC)

If its last two games are any indication, Westfall is playing like it has something to prove. Perhaps its the renewed energy for the playoffs, but the Mustangs have decimated their last two opponents — Washington and Federal Hocking — by a 39-3 run differential. What makes it all the more impressive is that Westfall had an entire weekend away between dousing the Blue Lions and routing the Lancers in the sectional semifinals.

3. Chillicothe Cavaliers (15-11, 5-5 Frontier Athletic Conference)

As if winning their first Division I playoff game since 2012 wasn't enough, the Cavaliers also closed out their regular season with wins over both Waverly and Adena. Does the loss to Grove City in their true final regular season game sting? A little, but it sure didn't interrupt their rhythm. Their 10-0 win over Dublin Jerome made that clear.

2. Adena Warriors (19-6, 11-3 SVC)

The Warriors have had the better part of a week to rest following their loss to the Cavaliers, and as close as it was, they have a chance to rebound in the playoffs. On the positive, the Warriors' offense hasn't slowed down a bit. They've combined for 12 runs in their last two games, and the time away might do them some good rest-wise.

1. Unioto Shermans (21-3, 14-0)

Only two games for the Shermans over the past week, but that hasn't slowed them down. So far, they've been firing on all cylinders. The offense exploded in a 9-3 win over Fairfield last week, and SVC Player of the Year Hannah Hull recorded eight strikeouts in an 11-5 win over Miami Trace in the Division II sectional finals. Up next: a showdown with Fairland next Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: High School Softball: Week 7 power rankings for Chillicothe-area teams