By Jacob Heid

Sports Editor

PORTAGE COUNTY – With the high school baseball playoffs starting this week, the WIAA recently released the seedings for divisions one through four. 

The SPASH baseball team competes in D1, grabbing a No. 1 overall seed in its sectional. 

Almond-Bancroft, Rosholt and Pacelli all compete in D4 for baseball, while Amherst looks to make another state run in D3. 

With a balanced attack throughout the batting order, it’s been tough to keep up with the scoring of the Panthers. 

An upperclassmen-led SPASH team has one loss on the season, rolling through the rest of the schedule with ease. 

SPASH hosts a regional final contest vs. No. 9-seeded Marshfield or No. 8-seeded Wausau West on Thursday, June 1. 

Amherst is back with a top-three seed in D3 after finishing 28-1 and taking a trip to the state semifinals last season. 

The Falcons finished third in the Central Wisconsin-East (10-4) this year and face No. 14-seeded Menominee Indian in the regional quarterfinals on May 25.

For Pacelli, this season has been about getting ready for the playoffs. 

The Cardinals went one-and-done last year in the playoffs as a No. 1 seed. Everyone returning is hungry for revenge. 

Pacelli got the No. 2 seed and starts its playoff push against either No. 7-seeded Lena or No. 10-seeded Wild Rose in the regional semifinals on Tuesday, May 30.

Rosholt and Almond-Bancroft are the last two teams and are scheduled to play each other for a third time this season.

The Hornets went 2-0 against the Eagles, outscoring them 12-6 in the wins.  

The No. 6-seeded Hornets host the No. 11-seeded Eagles on Thursday, May 25, with the winner facing No. 3-seeded Gibraltar/Washington Island on Tuesday, May 30. 

The state tournament is at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute from Monday, June 12, through Thursday, June 15.