Despite the fact that the Class 3A state softball tournament bracket is still unknown, other area teams know exactly who they have.
State tournaments are slated to begin May 23 at various locations.
In Class 5A, the Pittsburg Purple Dragon baseball team — making their first appearance in the state tournament in three years.
That puts the Dragons at Lawrence Dumont Stadium in Wichita — former home of Royals baseball affiliate the Wichita Wranglers — for the state tournament.
After breezing through their regional tournament by putting up 36 runs in two games while just giving up two, the Dragons (17-1) captured the No. 2 seed in Wichita where they will take on Kapaun Mt. Carmel from the Greater Wichita Athletic League.
The Crusaders enter the state tournament with a 14-8 mark and are the No. 7 seed. The two will square off at 4 p.m.
Topeka-Seaman (21-1) is the No. 1-seed in Wichita and will take on No. 8 Newton (1-11). That game is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
No. 4-seeded St. Thomas-Aquinas (16-6) will take on No. 5 Valley Center (15-7) at 1:30 p.m. and No. 3 McPherson (17-5) will play No. 6 Shawnee Heights (14-7) in the nightcap at 6:30 p.m. on May 23.
The Girard Trojan softball team makes a return trip to the Class 4A state tournament after last year when the Trojans bowed to Eudora in the first round.
This year, Girard (21-0) is the top seed in the tournament and will take on No. 8-seeded Santa Fe Trail (10-12) at 5 p.m. Friday May 23 on Field A at the Bill Burke Complex in Salina.
The Trojans are the lone undefeated team in the bracket, however there are five teams with three or fewer losses.
Clay Center (20-1) is the No. 2 seed and takes on Andover Central (19-4) — another team that was at the state tournament last year — on Field B at 5 p.m.
Andale/Garden Plain (21-2) is the No. 3 seed and takes on No. 6 Paola (20-3) at 7 p.m. on Field B.
No. 4 seed Perry-Lecompton (20-2) takes on No. 5 Colby (18-2) on Field A at 7 p.m. Friday.
The St. Mary’s-Colgan Panther baseball team return to the state tournament at Soden’s Grove in Emporia where they are the top-seed with a 21-1 mark.
The Panthers draw No. 8-seeded Spearville (12-9) and will play at 11 a.m. Friday May 23.
Chase County-Cottonwood Falls (20-1) is the No. 2 seed and will square off with No. 7 St. Mary (15-8) at 4 p.m.
No. 3 seed Moscow (18-2) will play No. 6-seeded Canton-Galva (18-5) at 6 p.m. and No. 4 Plainville (17-2) will face No. 5 Sedan (19-4) at 1:30 p.m. in Emporia.
In Class 2-1A softball, the Colgan Panthers enter the state tournament with a 19-4 mark and the No. 6 seed. They will take on No. 3 Humboldt (20-2) in the first round at 7 p.m. Friday May 23 at Field B of the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia.
Sylvan Grove (15-0) is the top seed in Class 2-1A softball and take on No. 8 seed Sedan (17-5) at 5 p.m. on Field A.
Udall, from the South Central Border League, will be the No. 2 seed with a 22-1 record and they will take on No. 7-seeded Kismet-Southwest Heights (17-4) at 5 p.m. on Field B. The last game on Field A will feature No. 4 Spearville (19-2) taking on No. 5 St. Mary (17-3) at 7 p.m.
Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140
