Who's playing who? IHSAA releases 2024 softball sectional pairings

Given the busy nature of the end of the school year, the IHSAA released the softball sectional pairings Sunday, more than two weeks before actual postseason games begin. This helps with schools planning other events in May, like graduation.

A lot of eyeballs will be on the South Bend area this postseason, as Penn is the defending Class 4A state champion and New Prairie the defending Class 3A winners. South Bend Saint Joseph also bolsters one of the top one-two duos in sisters Riley and Berkley Zache, both of which are committed to the University of Oklahoma.

More: Premier pitcher Berkley Zache powering Saint Joseph

Below are the South Bend area sectional pairings released by the IHSAA, with games set to start Monday, May 20. Sectionals will run that entire week, with one-game regional championships scheduled for Tuesday, May 28. The four-team, three-game semistate round will be played Saturday, June 1, with the four state championship games happening Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8, at Purdue University.

Note: the web version of this story will be updated with game times and dates once those become official. Team records will be added before the sectionals begin as well.

CLASS 4A

At South Bend Adams

Game 1: Saint Joseph vs. Plymouth

Game 2: Mishawaka vs. Michigan City

Game 3: Adams vs. Game 1 winner

Game 4: LaPorte vs. Game 2 winner

Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner

At Northridge

Game 1: Penn vs. Concord

Game 2: Elkhart vs. Warsaw

Game 3: Northridge vs. Game 1 winner

Game 4: Goshen vs. Game 2 winner

Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner

CLASS 3A

At Mishawaka Marian

Game 1: South Bend Clay vs. Jimtown

Game 2: New Prairie vs. South Bend Riley

Game 3: Marian vs. Game 1 winner

Game 4: South Bend Washington vs. Game 2 winner

Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner

At Kankakee Valley

Game 1: Knox vs. Tippecanoe Valley

Game 2: John Glenn vs. Kankakee Valley

Game 3: Rensselaer Central vs. Game 1 winner

Game 4: Culver Academies vs. Game 2 winner

Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner

At Fairfield

Game 1: East Noble vs. Lakeland

Game 2: Fairfield vs. West Noble

Game 3: Wawasee vs. Game 1 winner

Game 4: NorthWood vs. Game 2 winner

Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner

CLASS 2A

At South Central (Union Mills)

Game 1: LaVille vs. Bremen

Game 2: South Central vs. Hebron

Game 3: Wheeler vs. Game 1 winner

Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner

CLASS 1A

At Westville

Game 1: Westville vs. Marquette Catholic

Game 2: Oregon-Davis vs. Argos

Game 3: Triton vs. Game 1 winner

Game 4: Culver Community vs. Game 2 winner

Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner

At Fremont

Game 1: Lakewood Park Christian vs. Hamilton

Game 2: Fremont vs. Elkhart Christian

Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: IHSAA releases 2024 softball sectional pairings