By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton softball team was seeded fifth in the 11-team Div. III sectional/Lima district drawing Sunday.

The Pirate girls (8-9) will host local rival Allen East (6-9), who was seeded sixth, in the sectional semifinals May 9.

The winner advances to play at Coldwater (12-6) May 12 at 5 p.m.

Bluffton (3-3 NWC) is also slated to host AE (2-3 NWC) in a Northwest Conference battle Thursday, May 4.

Seventh seed Fort Recovery (4-9) hosts ninth seed Paulding (6-9) in the first semifinal on the same half of the bracket as Bluffton. The winner plays at Van Buren (12-3).

Undefeated Sherwood Fairview (15-0) was seeded first, with Van Buren second. Wayne Trace (8-9) was voted fourth.

Bluffton’s scheduled game at Columbus Grove (9-7, 1-4 NWC) Monday was rained out and rescheduled for Wednesday, May 3.