The postseason path in the state tournament series is known for area prep softball teams.
The IHSAA conducted the draw this afternoon for the 28th annual tourney.
Sectional play begins Monday, May 21 with finals slated for May 24 or 25. One-game regionals are Tuesday, May 29 at 7 p.m. with semi states on Saturday, June 2 with semifinals at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and the championship game at 7 p.m. The State Finals, featuring four title tilts, is Saturday, June 9 at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.
Area sectional hosts include Elkhart Memorial in Class 4-A, Fairfield and Norwell in 3-A and South Central in 1-A.
Warsaw (13-7) drew host Memorial (8-15) in the opener in Elkhart. The Tigers beat the Crimson Chargers 4-3 May 1 and the two NLC foes are scheduled to play again May 17 at EMHS.
Goshen is the defending champion at Memorial, while No. 6 and undefeated Northridge (19-0) headlines the field.
Wawasee (12-12) drew a first-round bye at Fairfield and will meet NLC opponent NorthWood (5-19) in a semifinal game. The Warriors beat the Panthers twice by 8-1 finals this spring.
Tippecanoe Valley will also play at Fairfield, facing Lakeland in the opener there. Whitko meets Heritage in a first-round game at Norwell and Triton plays Marquette in first-round action at South Central.
For regional play, the Memorial winner would play at the Penn Sectional winner in 4-A. The Fairfield champion would host the Leo Sectional winner and the Norwell winner would host the Blackford Sectional winner in 3-A and the South Central champion would host the Lakewood Park Christian Sectional winner in 1-A.
Semistate hosts for area teams who win regionals are Harrison in 4-A, Twin Lakes in 3-A and Clinton Prairie in 1-A.
The State Finals begin with the 1-A finale at 10:30 a.m. June 9. The 2-A title game is at 1:30, with the 3-A at 4:30 and the 4-A at 7:30.
Following are the sectional pairings for area teams.

Sectionals
Class 4-A
At Elkhart Memorial
May 21:  5:30: Warsaw vs. Memorial; 7:30: Northridge vs. Concord.
May 23: 5:30: Monday winners; 7:30: Elkhart Central vs. Goshen.
May 25: 7:00: Championship game.
Class 3-A
At Fairfield
May 21: 5:00: Lakeland vs. Tippecanoe Valley; 7:00: Fairfield vs. West Noble.
May 22: 5:00: Monday winners; 7:00: NorthWood vs. Wawasee.
May 24: 7:00: Championship game.

At Norwell
May 21: 5:00: Mississinewa vs. Eastbrook.
May 22: 5:00: Whitko vs. Heritage.
May 23: 5:00: Monday winner vs. Tuesday winner.
May 24: 5:00: Bellmont vs. Norwell.
May 25: 5:00: Championship game.

Class 1-A
At South Central
Times are CST
May 21: 4:30: Westville vs. Culver.
May 22: 4:30: Marquette vs. Triton.
May 23: 4:30: Monday winner vs. Tuesday winner.
May 24: 4:30: South Central vs. Argos.
May 25: 4:30: Championship game.