Area teams earn top seeds in baseball tournament draw

Several area baseball teams received favorable tournament draws, including three No. 1 seeds, as postseason play begins soon.

Division III

New Philadelphia shared the top seed in East District 1 with Indian Creek, but bracket placement favored the Quakers. New Philadelphia will open tournament play at 5 p.m. May 26 at home against either No. 5 Dover or No. 6 Zanesville. Dover hosts Zanesville at 5 p.m. May 18.

The district final is scheduled for May 28 at a site to be determined.

Division IV

Indian Valley earned the No. 1 seed among 14 teams and selected the East 1 District bracket. The Braves received a bye and will face either No. 7 Meadowbrook or No. 10 John Glenn at 5 p.m. May 27 at Indian Valley. The district final is set for May 29.

Claymont is the No. 9 seed in the East 2 District and will open at No. 5 Beaver at 5 p.m. May 19. A win would send the Mustangs either to No. 4 Cambridge or home against No. 14 East Liverpool May 27. No. 2 Carrollton is the top seed on that side of the bracket.

Division V

Sandy Valley and Tusky Valley are both in the East 2 District field.

No. 6 Sandy Valley will host No. 7 St. Clairsville at 5 p.m. May 19. The winner advances to face either No. 3 Ridgewood or No. 13 Morgan May 26.

No. 11 Tusky Valley will travel to West Muskingum at 5 p.m. May 19. The winner advances to Harrison Central May 26.

The district final is scheduled for May 28.

Division VI

Newcomerstown is seeded eighth in an 11-team district field. The Trojans host No. 9 Crooksville at 5 p.m. May 18. The winner advances to Fort Frye for a sectional final May 20.

The district final is set for May 29, with Hiland and Buckeye Trail the top seeds in the upper bracket.

Division VII

Strasburg-Franklin earned the top seed in the East District. The Tigers will host either No. 8 Steubenville Catholic Central or No. 9 Tuscarawas Central Catholic in a sectional final at 5 p.m. May 20.

Tuscarawas Central Catholic travels to Steubenville Catholic Central for a first-round game May 18.

A Strasburg win would likely set up a district semifinal at home against either No. 4 Shadyside or No. 5 Conotton Valley May 26.

The district final is scheduled for May 28.