By Garth Shanklin
Sports Editor

Today marked a key step on the path to Akron for Clermont County’s softball teams.

The sectional tournament draws were held earlier this afternoon, with all nine county teams finding their place in the bracket.

One Clermont County school acted as a host site for the tournament draws, with Clermont Northeastern hosting the Division III softball draw.

In Division III, Williamsburg was voted the top overall seed unanimously. They’ll face No. 18 seed Ripley in Williamsburg on Monday, May 6 at 5 p.m.

Should the Lady Wildcats advance, they would also host a game on Wednesday, May 8. That contest would be against No. 19 seed North College Hill, with the winner advancing to the district semifinal at Indian Hill on Monday, May 13.

Bethel-Tate was voted the No. 9 seed in Division III. They’ll host No. 13 Blanchester on May 6. With a win, the Lady Tigers would battle Clark Montessori in Bethel on May 13. The winner of that matchup would advance to Indian Hill.

Finally, CNE was selected as the No. 15 seed. The Lady Rockets have a familiar first-round foe, as they’ll travel to Georgetown to take on the No. 4 Lady G-Men on May 6. The winner of that game hosts Mariemont on May 8.

In Division I, West Clermont drew the No. 7 overall seed. They face Princeton at home on May 6 at 5 p.m. With a win, the Lady Wolves would host either No. 14 Ursuline or No. 15 Wilmington on May 8.

Milford was voted the No. 6 seed. The Lady Eagles took a first-round bye and will face either No. 9 Mercy-McAuley or No. 25 Mount Healthy at home on May 8.

Goshen earned the highest seed of any county team in Division II. The Lady Warriors are the No. 6 seed, and they’ll face either No. 3 McNicholas or No. 12 Batavia on Thursday, May 9.

The Lady Bulldogs face the Lady Rockets on Tuesday, May 7.

New Richmond earned the No. 8 seed in the bracket and a first-round matchup at home against Roger Bacon on Tuesday, May 7. With a win, the Lady Lions would advance to take on No. 2 Taylor on May 9.

Finally, the county’s lone Division IV squad drew the No. 2 seed in the sectional. The Felicity-Franklin Lady Cardinals host No. 8 Cincinnati Country Day on May 7. With a win, the team will face either No. 4 Lockland or No. 5 Middletown Christian in Felicity on May 9.

Baseball sectional tournament draws are scheduled for Sunday, May 5. Division I draws are scheduled to be held at Hamilton High School, while Division II will be held at Wyoming. Mariemont is the site for the Division III coaches meetings, with Reading hosting the Division IV draw. All meetings are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.