Six Greater Akron softball teams turned Sweet 16 last week. Can they turn into the Elite Eight?
Those questions will be answered in the regional semifinals, and at least one team will advance to a regional final in an area head-to-head matchup.
Here’s what to look for from Hoban, Mogadore, Revere, Twinsburg and Walsh Jesuit in regional semifinals on May 27 and Green on May 28.
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OHSAA Division II, Region 6 semifinals
Where: Boehm Athletic Complex in Berea
Who/When: Twinsburg (21-8) vs. Amherst (18-10), 2 p.m.; Walsh Jesuit (21-1) vs. Perry (10-18), 5 p.m.
How they got here: Twinsburg beat Cleveland Heights by forfeit and Brecksville 2-1 to win the Northeast 7 District. Amherst topped Massillon 4-1 and Shaker Heights 11-0 to win the Northeast 5 District.
Walsh beat North 16-0 and North Royalton 13-2 to win the Northeast 6 District. Perry beat Olmsted Falls 18-0 and North Ridgeville 1-0 to win the Northeast 4 District.
What to know: Twinsburg won its first district title in program history. Amherst is in its third straight regional semifinal. The Comets’ only state semifinal appearance came in 2016.
Walsh has won a district title five years in a row. The Warriors were last in a state semifinal in 2016. They won titles in 2002, 2004 and 2016. Perry returns to regional for the second season in a row. Last year, the Panthers lost to Riverside in the state final. Perry has been to six state semifinals and won it all in 2010, 2018 and 2021.
What’s next: The winners play each other in a regional final at 5 p.m. Friday, May 29.
OHSAA Division II, Region 8 semifinals
Where: Clear Fork High School
Who/When: Avon (14-13) vs. Riverside (24-4), 5 p.m. May 27; Green (17-5) vs. Mount Vernon (25-4), 5 p.m. May 28
How they got here: Avon beat Nordonia 11-1 and Mayfield 2-1 to win the Northeast 1 District. Riverside beat Cuyahoga Falls 11-0 and Solon 11-1 to win the Northeast 2 District.
Green beat Warren Harding 19-1 and Hudson 11-0 to win the Northeast 3 District. Mount Vernon beat Franklin Heights and Teays Valley by 18-1 identical scores.
What to know: Avon is in its first regional since 2022 and has never reached the state semifinals. Riverside is the reigning state champion in its one and only trip to Akron.
Green won its first district title last season and has never been in the state semifinals. Mount Vernon was Division II runner-up to Riverside last season in its only trip to state.
What’s next: The winners play each other in a regional final at 5 p.m. May 30.
OHSAA Division III, Region 9 semifinals
Where: Firestone Stadium in Akron
Who/When: Holy Name (21-7) vs. Louisville (15-13), 2 p.m.; Hoban (22-6) vs. Revere (16-14), 5 p.m.
How they got here: Holy Name beat Willoughby South 7-0 and Gilmour Academy 3-0 to win the Northeast 4 District. Louisville beat Youngstown Ursuline 11-3, St. Vincent-St. Mary 11-1 and Buckeye 7-0 to win the Northeast 5 District.
Revere beat Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 4-2, Midview 2-0 and Boardman 4-3 in extra innings to win the Northeast 2 District. Hoban beat Madison 21-0 and Warren Howland 4-0 to win the Northeast 6 District.
What to know: Holy Name, which won its first district title since 2002, has never reached the state semifinals. Louisville has won back-to-back district titles. The Leopards reached the state semifinal last season and won a state title in 2019. Revere’s last appearance at the regional level was 2021.
Hoban has made it to regional in back-to-back seasons. The Knights finished second in 2017. They won titles in 1983, 1984, 1987, 1991 and 1992 and are looking for their 11th state semifinal appearance. The Minutemen have never reached the state semifinals.
What’s next: The winners play each other in a regional final at 5 p.m. May 29.
OHSAA Division VI, Region 21 semifinals
Where: North Ridgeville High School
Who/When: Dalton (21-5) vs. Hillsdale (20-7), 2 p.m.; Mogadore (14-6) vs. Columbia (15-6), 5 p.m.
How they got here: Dalton beat Smithville 13-0 and LaBrae 3-2 to win the Northeast 2 District. Hillsdale beat Medina Christian 19-0, Newton Falls 21-1 and United 10-2 to win the Northeast 1 District.
Mogadore beat East Canton 5-2, Loudonville 7-6 and Black River 4-2 to win the Northeast 3 District. Columbia beat Brookfield 4-1, New Middletown Springfield 5-4 and McDonald 2-0 to win the Northeast 4 District.
What to know: Dalton won district for the second consecutive season after a state final four appearance in 2025. The Bulldogs won state titles in 2006 and 2007 in their other state appearances. Hillsdale won a district title for the second straight season. The Falcons last went to the state semifinals in 2022. They’ve been to the final four 17 times. Hillsdale won state in 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2010 and 2018. It was second in 1978 ,1986 and1992.
Mogadore has been to regional three of the last four seasons but has never made the state semifinals. Columbia has won back-to-back district titles and was state runner-up in its only final state appearance in 2013.
What’s next: The winners play each other in a regional final at 5 p.m. May 29.
Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.com and is on X at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 6 Akron area softball teams will battle in OHSAA regional semifinals
Reporting by Brad Bournival, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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