High school sports athletes, coaches and fans all know that weather is a major factor in their sports and that could be the case this weekend as Ohio student-athletes in softball and track & field finish their seasons with state competition.
In addition, baseball in Ohio is scheduled to play out its Sweet 16 regional rounds of competition with state semifinals and finals planned for next week.
Expected stormy weather today could change things this weekend, but barring postponements, five Mahoning Valley baseball teams are scheduled to play in regional semifinals today.
Canfield and Salem meet in a Division II semifinal at 2 p.m. at Canton Glen Oak, South Range faces Gilmour Academy at 5 at Massillon in Division III, and John F. Kennedy and Mathews are both involved in a Division IV doubleheader at Strongsville. Kennedy faces Columbia Station at 1:30 and Mathews meets Tiffin Calvert at 4:30.
All of those winners — if the games are played — advance to the regional finals on Friday. The Canfield-Salem winner faces Akron Hoban or Chagrin Falls at 5 p.m. and South Range would meet Burton Berkshire or Canton Central Catholic also at 5. In Division IV, the regional title game is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Earlier on Friday, at 10 a.m. to be precise, South Range plays in the Division III state semifinals in softball at Akron’s Firestone Stadium. The Raiders face Johnstown-Monroe and, should they win, would play in the state title game on Saturday at 4 against Sherwood Fairview or Wheelersburg.
Also on Friday, the state track & field meets are scheduled to begin. Half of the field events will be completed on Friday and most running events will have preliminary races. The rest of the field events are scheduled Saturday, when the running events will be finalized.
This year’s state competition will be conducted at three separate locations. Division I will be at Hilliard Darby, Division II at Pickerington North and Division III at Westerville North, all in the Columbus area.
The state baseball tournament next week is scheduled at Canal Park in Akron.