Monroeville among three first-time state semifinalists

COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association softball state tournament begins Thursday morning at historic Firestone Stadium in Akron, when four schools in each of four divisions will compete for a state championship. Three schools will make their first state tournament appearance in the softball state tournament (Monroeville, South Webster and Bryan), while two teams are back to defend their state title from last year (Austintown-Fitch and Strasburg-Franklin). The Eagles (23-6) take on No. 8 Vienna Mathews (23-8) at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday in the second of two Division IV games. Monroeville joins Ashland Crestview in 1992 as the only two Firelands Conference programs to reach the state semifinals. Locally, Edison also reached the Final Four in 2012 and 2016. All 12 state tournament games will be live on the NFHS Network and the OHSAA Radio Network. Tickets are available at www.OHSAA.org/tickets. Next year, Firestone Stadium will turn 100 years old. The brick stadium has hosted the OHSAA softball state tournament since 2008. Last year the City of Akron purchased and installed a new surface of artificial field turf that covers the entire playing field. Tickets for all state tournament games are available at OHSAA.org/tickets. All 12 games from the softball state tournament will be broadcast live on the NFHS Network (subscription) and the OHSAA Radio Network. David Wilson, Ryan Baker, Bill Morgan, Tim Alcorn, Karen Linder, Jeff Kurtz and Melissa Basil will have the call. -------------------------------OHSAA state softball pairingsAKRON — Home team listed first. All games at Firestone Stadium. Pairings shown with final state rank by Ohio Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association. DIVISION IVMay 30No. 1 Strasburg-Franklin (28-3) vs. No. 2 Minster (29-1), 10 a.m.No. 8 Vienna Mathews (23-8) vs. Monroeville (23-6), 12:30 p.m.Championship: 10 a.m. Saturday DIVISION IIIMay 30No. 6 Oak Harbor (27-2) vs. Baltimore Liberty Union (23-6), 3 p.m.South Webster (25-3) vs. No. 2 Canfield South Range (28-3), 5:30 p.m.Championship: 12:45 p.m. Saturday DIVISION IIMay 31No. 3 Springfield Kenton Ridge (28-4) vs. No. 1 Canfield (25-3), 10 a.m.Bryan (21-5) vs. Circleville Logan Elm (21-8), 12:30 p.m.Championship: June 1, 3:30 p.m. Saturday DIVISION IMay 31No. 4 Austintown-Fitch (21-1) vs. Fairfield (23-3), 3 p.m.No. 3 Whitehouse Anthony Wayne (29-1) vs. No. 2 Pataskala Watkins Memorial (30-1), 5:30 p.m.Championship: 6:15 p.m. Saturday