Central District Division I Seeding Notes

By Chris Valentine
PBR Ohio Scouting Director

If you don't know the process for forming brackets, it is pretty simple.

Prior to the coaches' meeting, coaches rank the teams in their respective division from highest to lowest. Then, the numbers are added together to provide cumulative numbers. So, the team with the highest numerIcal total earns the top seed, and so on.

At the meeting, an open bracket is provided to all of the coaches. The top seed is given the opportunity to select their place on the bracket, then the second seed, and so on. If a team elects to pass at any point, they forfeit their turn allowing the next highest seed to select. Then, the team that forfeited their turn comes up immediately afterwards. 

This year, Pickerington North was awarded the top seed. To view the full listing of seeds, please click here.

After a 45 minute process, the coaches made their choices and finalized the Central District Division I bracket.

During the course of the selection process, coaches attempt to avoid certain teams or "go after" certain teams. 

This year provided a host of interesting selections.

+ After the top four seeds (Pickerington North, Olentangy Orange, Watkins Memorial, and Thomas Worthington) made their selections in different district brackets, No. 5 Olentangy decided to go after No. 4 Thomas Worthington. 

+ Then, No. 6 Gahanna Lincoln went after No. 2 Olentangy Orange, who beat the Lions 8-0 early in the season.

+ Next, in a surprising twist, No. 7 Grove City went after No. 5 Olentangy by creating a potential district semifinal matchup.

+ Afterwards, No. 8 Olentangy Liberty, who had many open spots to choose from, created a potential district semifinal matchup with No. 3 Watkins Memorial. This will likely create a pitching matchup between 2014 RHP Jacob Niggemeyer (OSU recruit) and one of Watkins talented arms, senior LHP Tony Winters (OU recruit), senior LHP Daniel Sexton (Tiffin recruit), or sophomore RHP Chandler Day, who was up to 93 mph last week. 

+ No. 9 Dublin Jerome proceeded to go after No. 4 Thomas Worthington by creating a potential district semifinal matchup with the Cardinals.

+ No. 10 St. Charles followed by selecting a spot in the bottom half of No. 3 Watkins Memorial bracket.

+ Lastly, No. 12 Pickerington Central turned down open spots in the other three brackets and instead elected to go after rival No. 1 Pickerington North. The two schools split their season series. Similarly, No. 34 Newark elected to go after familiar opposition by creating a sectional championship against No. 12 Pickerington Central. Earlier in the season, Newark was able to handle Pickerington North it's first loss.