Alvirne, Bedford, Wilton-Lyndeborough softball get high seeds

The high school softball teams from Alvirne, Bedford and Wilton-Lyndeborough are among nine area teams to make the postseason, and all three are seeded second or better in their respective divisions.

Nashua North, Nashua South, Merrimack and Bishop Guertin join the Broncos in the Division I field, while Bedford, Souhegan and Hollis/Brookline are in the Division II tournament.

Division I

Alvirne (16-3) is the No. 2 seed and will host No. 15 Timberlane (4-14) in the preliminary round Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Hudson. The Broncos won the regular-season meeting between the two 11-0 on May 9. The winner will face either No. 7 Pinkerton (9-9) or No. 10 Merrimack (8-10) in the quarterfinals on June 4. The Tomahawks lost to the Astros on April 14, 6-5, and the two will meet in Derry Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Also on that side of the bracket, No. 11 Nashua South (7-11) will travel to face No. 6 Manchester Central (15-4) Wednesday at 4 p.m. The Little Green defeated the Panthers during the regular season, winning 7-5 on April 22. The winner will take on the winner of No. 3 Londonderry (15-4) and No. 14 Exeter (4-14) in the quarterfinals.

No. 9 Bishop Guertin (8-10) goes on the road to face No. 8 Dover (8-10) in the preliminary round at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The Cardinals lost to the Green Wave 11-4 on May 2 in a game that was also in Dover. The winner takes on either No. 1 Salem (18-1) or No. 16 Keene (3-16) in the quarterfinals.

Nashua North (7-11) is the No. 12 seed and will face No. 5 Spaulding (14-4) at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Red Raiders defeated the Titans 6-0 during the regular season. The winner will face either No. 4 Concord (14-4) or No. 13 Manchester Memorial (6-13) in the quarterfinals.

All quarterfinal games are scheduled for June 4, while the semifinals will be held June 9 at Southern New Hampshire University. The final is set for June 11, also at SNHU.

Division II

After going 14-2 in the regular season, Bedford is the No. 2 seed and will host No. 15 Merrimack Valley (7-9) at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The teams did not meet during the regular season. The winner will face either No. 7 Con-Val (12-4) or No. 10 St. Thomas (9-7) in the quarterfinals on June 4.

Souhegan (12-4) is the sixth seed and will play host to No. 11 John Stark (9-7) Wednesday at 4 p.m. The Generals won the regular-season matchup between the two on May 14, 7-2. The winner will take on either No. 3 Laconia (14-2) or No. 14 Sanborn (8-8) in the quarterfinals.

Hollis/Brookline (12-4) lost three of its final five games to fall to the eighth seed and will host No. 9 Coe-Brown (11-5) at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The teams played on May 25, with the Cavaliers winning 6-4. The winner gets either No. 1 Kennett (16-1) or No. 16 Trinity (6-10).

Finishing out the bracket, No. 4 Goffstown (14-3) hosts No. 13 Plymouth (9-7) in the preliminary round, with the winner taking on the winner of No. 5 Portsmouth (13-3) and No. 12 Lebanon (9-7).

All quarterfinal games are scheduled for June 4, while the semifinals will be held June 7 at SNHU. The final is scheduled for June 11 at SNHU.

Division IV

Wilton-Lyndeborough (16-0) enters the tournament once again as the undefeated top seed and will be looking to make its seventh-straight championship game appearance. The Warriors open the playoffs by hosting No. 16 Nute (3-13) at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The teams didn't play in the regular season.

The winner will get either No. 8 Colebrook (9-7) or No. 9 Pittsfield (8-8) in the quarterfinals.

Also on that side of the bracket, No. 4 Profile (13-3) host No. 13 Hinsdale (6-10) while No. 5 Portsmouth Christian (10-4) host No. 12 Sunapee (6-10). The winners of each game will meet in the quarterfinals.

Woodsville (15-1), last year's champion, is the No. 2 seed and will host No. 15 Pittsburg (4-12) at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The winner of that game get the winner of No. 7 Lin-Wood (10-6) and No. 10 Moultonborough (7-9).

No. 3 Groveton (14-2) will host No. 14 Epping (4-12), and the winner will face either No. 6 Newmarket (10-6) or No. 11 Littleton (7-9).

All quarterfinal games are scheduled for June 4, while the semifinals will be held June 7 at Plymouth State University. The final is scheduled for June 11 at PSU.