Watch out for Milford
Year in and year out, no softball sectional is as bitterly contested as Division 1 South.
This season is no different as a variety of teams are more than capable of running the table. Start with Milford, which lost its season opener but not since while fueled by a vaunted lineup.
Milford is just one three contenders from the Hockomock League. Defending state champion King Philip and perennial power Taunton are loaded with difference makers.
Silver Lake went undefeated and can score runs with the best of them, while Hopkinton was the only team to defeat Norton this season. Yet another solid team in the field is Bishop Feehan.
In the North, Newton North lurks as one of the favorites, an experienced team with good tournament success. Concord-Carlisle turned in another impressive season and will be in the mix.
Lowell, Central Catholic and Methuen took turns beating each other in the Merrimack Valley Conference, and those battles should serve them well in the postseason.
Woburn captured the Middlesex League Liberty title and will make its presence felt in the postseason along with Lynn Classical and Revere.
Undefeated Abington and once-beaten Norton appear to be on a collision course to meet in the Div. 2 South final. It would be a classic matchup between a stout Green Wave lineup and Lancers ace Kelly Nelson.
As has been stated in the past, any team with 20 wins coming out of the South Coast Conference has to be considered a major player, and Dighton-Rehoboth hit that number. Archbishop Williams and Fairhaven possess top-notch pitching capable of causing problems.
In Div. 2 North, Dracut is a team to watch with a shutdown ace in Ryley White. Burlington and Tewksbury have strong hitting lineups, while Wilmington turned in a solid season.
Arlington proved its worth throughout the season, and North Reading and Danvers are two more teams to keep an eye on.
Div. 3 North looks to be top-heavy with contenders. Catholic Central Large rivals Austin Prep and St. Mary’s are slated to bump heads once again in the semifinals. Whittier rolled through the Commonwealth Athletic Conference and should be a factor along with Boston City League power Latin Academy.
One of the best games in Div. 3 South might very well be the opening-round contest between defending sectional champion Greater New Bedford and a dangerous Millis squad. Undefeated Bristol Aggie lurks on the same side of the draw.
On the other side, rivals West Bridgewater and East Bridgewater are slated to meet in the quarterfinals if the seeds hold true.