By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

The 2016 WIAA softball playoff brackets have been released.

Play begins with regional quarterfinals in Divisions 2, 3 and 4 on Tuesday, May 24. Regional semifinals in all four divisions will be Wednesday, May 25, with regional finals on Friday, May 27.

Sectionals are set for May 31 and June 2, with the survivors moving on to 2016 WIAA State Softball Tournament in Madison on June 9-11.

Locally, Marshfield is the No. 7 seed in the Division 1 Sectional 1 bracket and will host New Richmond in a regional semifinal on May 25.

In Division 3, Spencer, Stratford and Auburndale are all in the Sectional 2 bracket.

Stratford is the No. 4 seed in the top half of the bracket and will play No. 13 Wittenberg-Birnamwood in a regional quarterfinal on May 24 at Hilgemann Field in Stratford.

In the bottom half, No. 7 Auburndale will host No. 10 Loyal/Granton in a regional quarterfinal on Tuesday, with the winner playing at No. 2 Spencer on Wednesday in a regional semifinal.

Columbus Catholic is the No. 9 seed in the Division 4 Sectional 2 bracket and will play at No. 8 Rib Lake in a regional quarterfinal. The winner plays at No. 1 Thorp in a regional semifinal.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

Here is a look at the regional matchups:

2016 WIAA State Softball Playoffs
Division 1
Sectional 1
Regional semifinals, May 25
No. 9 Wisconsin Rapids at No. 8 Eau Claire Memorial
No. 12 Menomonie at No. 5 Superior
No. 13 River Falls at No. 4 D.C. Everest
No. 14 Wausau East at No. 3 Hudson
No. 11 Wausau West at No. 6 Eau Claire North
No. 10 New Richmond at No. 7 Marshfield
Regional finals, May 27
Wisconsin Rapids-Eau Claire Memorial winner at No. 1 Stevens Point
Marshfield-New Richmond winner at No. 2 Chippewa Falls
Sectional 8
Regional semifinals, May 25
No. 9 Franklin at No. 8 Greendale
No. 12 Milwaukee Reagan at No. 5 Kenosha Tremper
No. 13 Racine Park at No. 4 Muskego
No. 14 Milwaukee Bay View at No. 3 Kenosha Indian Trail
No. 11 Racine Horlick at No. 6 Kenosha Bradford
No. 10 Racine Case at No. 7 South Milwaukee
No. 15 Milwaukee Pulaski at No. 2 Oak Creek
Regional finals, May 27
Franklin-Greendale winner at No. 1 Greenfield
Sectional 2
Regional semifinals, May 25
No. 9 De Pere at No. 8 Green Bay east
No.1 2 Appleton West at No. 5 Bay Port
No. 13 Green Bay Southwest at No. 4 Ashwaubenon
No. 14 Green Bay West at No. 3 Green Bay Preble
No. 11 Neenah at No. 6 Appleton North
No. 10 Menasha at No. 7 Appleton East
Regional finals, May 27
De Pere-Green Bay East winner at No. 1 Pulaski
Appleton East-Menasha winner at No. 2 Hortonville
Sectional 7
Regional semifinals, May 25
No. 9 Milwaukee Pius XI at No. 8 Glendale Nicolet
No. 12 Milwaukee Riverside at No. 5 Whitefish Bay
No. 13 Milwaukee Madison at No. 4 Mequon Homestead
No. 11 Milwaukee Vincent at No. 6 Brookfield East
No. 10 Milwaukee Bradley Tech/Carmen South at No. 7 Milwaukee King
Regional finals, May 26
Milwaukee Pius-Nicolet winner at No. 1 Milwaukee Divine Savior Holy Angels
Regional finals, May 27
Milwaukee Vincent-Brookfield East winner at No. 3 Brookfield Central
Milwaukee King-Milwaukee Bradley winner at No. 2 Germantown
Sectional 3
Regional semifinals, May 24
No. 13 Tomah at No. 4 Middleton
Regional semifinals, May 25
No. 9 Madison La Follette at No. 8 Madison East
No. 12 Madison Memorial at No. 5 La Crosse Central
No. 14 Madison West at No. 3 Sun Prairie
No. 11 Monona Grove at No. 6 Holmen
No. 10 Waunakee at No. 7 Baraboo
Regional finals, May 27
Madison La Follette-Madison East winner at No. 1 Verona
Baraboo-Waunakee winner at No. 2 DeForest
Sectional 6
Regional semifinals, May 25
No. 9 Waukesha North at No. 8 Sussex Hamilton
No. 12 Wauwatosa West at No. 5 Hartland Arrowhead
No. 13 West Allis Central at No. 4 Kettle Moraine
No. 14 Milwaukee Hamilton at No. 3 Oconomowoc
No. 11 Waukesha South at No. 6 West Allis Hale
No. 10 Wauwatosa East at No. 7 Waukesha West
Regional finals, May 27
Waukesha North-Hamilton winner at No. 1 Watertown
Waukesha West-Wauwatosa East winner at No.2 Menomonee Falls
Sectional 4
Regional semifinals, May 25
No. 9 Sheboygan South at No. 8 Beaver Dam
No. 12 Manitowoc at No. 5 Oshkosh West
No. 13 West Bend East at No. 4 Slinger
No. 14 Cedarburg at No. 3 Kimberly
No. 11 Fond du Lac at No. 6 West Bend West
No. 10 Hartford at No. 7 Sheboygan North
Regional finals, May 27
Sheboygan South-Beaver Dam winner at No. 1 Oshkosh North
Sheboygan North-Hartford winner at No. 2 Kaukauna
Sectional 5
Regional semifinals, May 25
No. 9 Beloit Memorial at No. 8 Milton
No. 12 Janesville Parker at No. 5 Stoughton
No. 13 Oregon at No. 4 Burlington
No. 14 Lake Geneva Badger at No. 3 Janesville Craig
No. 11 Waterford at No. 6 Wilmot
No. 10 Mukwonago at No. 7 Fort Atkinson
Regional finals, May 27
Beloit Memorial-Milton winner at No. 1 Union Grove
Fort Atkinson-Mukwonago winner at No. 2 Westosha Central
Division 2
Sectional 1
Regional quarterfinals, May 24
No. 9 Somerset at No. 8 Altoona
No. 12 Hayward at No. 5 Bloomer
No. 13 St. Croix Central at No. 4 Northwestern/South Shore
No. 14 Ashland at No. 3 Prescott
No. 11 Barron at No. 6 Osceola
No. 10 Amery at No. 7 Ellsworth
No. 9 Onalaska at No. 8 Black River Falls
No. 12 Lakeland at No. 5 Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau
No. 13 Northland Pines at No. 4 Merrill
No. 11 Sparta at No. 6 Medford
No. 10 West Salem at No. 7 Tomahawk
Regional semifinals, May 25
Somerset-Altoona winner at No. 1 Rice Lake
Ellsworth-Amery winner at No. 2 Baldwin-Woodville
Onalaska-Black River Falls winner at No. 1 Mosinee
Medford-Sparta winner at No. 3 Rhinelander
Tomahawk-West Salem winner at No. 2 La Crosse Logan
Sectional 3
Regional quarterfinals, May 24
No. 9 Mount Horeb at No. 8 Dodgeville
No. 12 Mauston at No. 5 Portage
No. 13 Richland Center at No. 4 Platteville
No. 11 Lodi at No. 6 Madison Edgewood
No. 10 Reedsburg at No. 7 Wisconsin Dells
No. 9 Big Foot at No. 8 East Troy
No. 12 Watertown Luther Prep at No. 5 Evansville
No. 13 Whitewater at No. 4 Monroe
No. 14 Clinton at No. 3 Columbus
No. 11 Lake Mills at No. 6 Jefferson
No. 10 Elkhorn at No. 7 Edgerton
Regional semifinals, May 25
Mount Horeb-Dodgeville winner at No. 1 McFarland
Edgewood-Lodi winner at No. 3 Sauk Prairie
Wisconsin Dells-Reedsburg winner at No. 2 River Valley
Big Foot-East Troy winner at No. 1 Delavan-Darien
Edgerton-Elkhorn winner at No. 2 Beloit Turner
Sectional 2
Regional quarterfinals, May 24
No. 9 Sturgeon Bay at No. 8 Antigo
No. 12 Green Bay Notre Dame at No. 5 Peshtigo
No. 13 Two Rivers at No. 4 Shawano
No. 14 Clintonville at No. 3 Marinette
No. 11 West De Pere at No. 6 Seymour
No. 10 Oconto Falls at No. 7 Southern Door
No. 9 Appleton Xavier at No. 8 Wautoma
No. 12 Omro at No. 5 Adams-Friendship
No. 13 Nekoosa at No. 4 Freedom
No. 11 Waupaca at No. 6 Fox Valley Lutheran
No. 10 Little Chute at No. 7 Berlin
Regional semifinals, May 25
Sturgeon Bay-Antigo winner at No. 1 Luxemburg-Casco
Southern Door-Oconto Falls winner at No. 2 Denmark
Xavier-Wautoma winner at No. 1 New London
Waupaca-Fox Valley Lutheran winner at No. 3 Winneconne
Berlin-Little Chute winner at No. 2 Wrightstown
Sectional 4
Regional quarterfinals, May 24
No. 9 Sheboygan Falls/Kohler at No. 8 Kettle Moraine Lutheran
No. 12 Kiel at No. 5 Campbellsport
No. 13 Ripon at No. 4 Mayville
No. 11 Plymouth at No. 6 Chilton
No. 10 North Fond du Lac at No. 7 Port Washington
No. 9 Milwaukee School of Languages at No. 8 St. Francis
No. 12 Brown Deer at No. 5 Cudahy
No. 13 Milwaukee St. Thomas More at No. 4 Waukesha Catholic Memorial
No. 11 Shorewood at No. 6 Wisconsin Lutheran
No. 10 Milwaukee Lutheran at No. 7 Pewaukee
Regional semifinals, May 25
Sheboygan Falls/Kohler-Kettle Moraine Lutheran winner at No. 1 Waupun
Chilton-Plymouth winner at No. 3 Kewaskum
Port Washington-North Fond du Lac winner at No. 2 Grafton
School of Languages-St. Francis winner at No. 1 Whitnall
Shorewood-Wisconsin Lutheran winner at No. 3 New Berlin Eisenhower
Pewaukee-Milwaukee Lutheran winner at No. 2 New Berlin West
Division 3
Sectional 1
Regional quarterfinals, May 24
No. 9 St. Croix Falls at No. 8 Spooner
No. 12 Washburn/Bayfield at No. 5 Chetek-Weyerhaeuser
No. 13 Ladysmith at No. 4 Chequamegon
No. 14 Webster/Siren at No. 3 Phillips
No. 11 Unity at No. 6 Cameron
No. 10 Frederic/Luck at No. 7 Cumberland
No. 9 Osseo-Fairchild at No. 8 Glenwood City
No. 12 Stanley-Boyd at No. 5 Fall Creek
No. 13 Cornell/Lake Holcombe at No. 4 Boyceville
No. 11 Whitehall at No. 6 Mondovi
No. 10 Colfax at No. 7 Cadott
Regional semifinals, May 25
St. Croix Falls-Spooner winner at No. 1 Clayton/Turtle Lake
Frederic/Luck-Cumberland winner at No. 2 Grantsburg
Osseo-Fairchild-Glenwood City winner at No. 1 Elk Mound
Whitehall-Mondovi winner at No. 3 Eau Claire Regis
Cadott-Colfax winner at No. 2 Durand
Sectional 3
Regional quarterfinals, May 24
No. 9 Boscobel at No. 8 Prairie du Chien
No. 12 River Ridge/Cassville at No. 5 Cuba City
No. 13 Lancaster at No. 4 Mineral Point
No. 14 Melrose-Mindoro at No. 3 Arcadia
No. 11 Westby at No. 6 Viroqua
No. 10 Brookwood at No. 7 Iowa-Grant
No. 9 Cambridge at No. 8 Belleville
No. 12 Pardeeville at No. 5 Deerfield
No. 11 Brodhead at No. 6 Parkview
No. 10 New Glarus at No. 7 Waterloo
Regional semifinals, May 25
Boscobel-Prairie du Chien winner at No. 1 Onalaska Luther
Iowa-Grant-Brookwood winner at No. 2 La Crosse Aquinas
Cambridge-Belleville winner at No. 1 Marshall
Deerfield-Pardeeville winner at No. 4 Palmyra-Eagle
Brodhead-Parkview winner at No. 3 Lakeside Lutheran
Waterloo-New Glarus winner at No. 2 Poynette
Sectional 2
Regional quarterfinals, May 24
No. 9 Crandon at No. 8 Menominee Indian
No. 12 Gillett/Suring at No. 5 Bonduel
No. 13 Wittenberg-Birnamwood at No. 4 Stratford
No. 11 Colby at No. 6 Neillsville
No. 10 Loyal/Granton at No. 7 Auburndale
No. 9 Amherst at No. 8 Markesan
No. 12 Montello at No. 5 Oshkosh Lourdes
No. 13 Necedah at No. 4 Shiocton
No. 11 Neenah St. Mary Catholic at No. 6 Westfield
No. 10 Manawa at No. 7 Iola-Scandinavia
Regional semifinals, May 25
Crandon-Menominee Indian winner at No. 1 Oconto
Colby-Neillsville winner at No. 3 Marathon
Auburndale-Loyal/Granton winner at No. 2 Spencer
Amherst-Markesan winner at No. 1 Laconia
Neenah St. Mary-Westfield winner at No. 3 Weyauwega-Fremont
Iola-Scandinavia-Manawa winner at No. 2 Stevens Point Pacelli
Sectional 4
Regional quarterfinals, May 24
No. 9 Valders at No. 8 Algoma
No. 12 Gibraltar/Washington Island at No. 5 Brillion
No. 13 Oostburg at No. 4 New Holstein
No. 11 Howards Grove at No. 6 Manitowoc Lutheran
No. 10 Cedar Grove-Belgium at No. 7 Manitowoc Roncalli
No. 9 Kenosha St. Joseph at No. 8 Shoreland Lutheran
No. 12 Racine St. Catherine’s at No. 5 Racine Lutheran
No. 13 Whitefish Bay Dominican at No. 4 Kenosha Christian Life
No. 11 Dodgeland at No. 6 Winnebago Lutheran
No. 10 Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs at No. 7 Greendale Martin Luther
Regional semifinals, May 25
Valders-Algoma winner at No. 1 Random Lake
Howards Grove-Manitowoc Lutheran winner at No. 3 Kewaunee
Roncalli-Cedar Grove-Belgium winner at No. 2 Mishicot
Kenosha St. Joseph-Shoreland Lutheran winner at No. 1 Lomira
Winnebago Lutheran-Dodgeland winner at No. 3 Horicon
Martin Luther-St. Mary’s Springs winner at No. 2 Lake Country Lutheran
Division 4
Sectional 1
Regional quarterfinals, May 24
No. 9 Northwood at No. 8 Drummond
No. 11 Prentice at No. 6 Birchwood
No. 10 Mellen at No. 7 Solon Springs
No. 9 Pepin/Alma at No. 7 Blair-Taylor
No. 12 Prairie Farm at No. 5 Elmwood
No. 13 Spring Valley at No. 4 Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran
No. 14 Eleva-Strum at No. 3 Lincoln
No. 11 Plum City at No. 6 Augusta
No. 10 Independence/Gilmanton at No. 7 Clear Lake
Regional semifinals, May 25
Northwood-Drummond winner at No. 1 Shell Lake
No. 5 Flambeau at No. 4 Bruce
Birchwood-Prentice winner at No. 3 Gilman
Solon Springs-Mellen winner at No. 2 Hurley
Pepin/Alma-Blair Taylor winner at No. 1 Cochrane-Fountain City
Clear Lake-Independence/Gilmanton winner at No. 2 Chippewa Falls McDonell
Sectional 3
Regional quarterfinals, May 24
No. 9 La Farge at No. 8 Royall
No. 12 North Crawford at No. 5 New Lisbon
No. 13 Wonewoc-Center at No. 4 Seneca
No. 11 Weston at No. 6 Bangor
No. 10 Kickapoo at No. 7 Hillsboro
No. 9 Fennimore at No. 8 Black Hawk
No. 12 Darlington at No. 5 Riverdale
No. 13 Pecatonica at No. 4 Highland
No. 14 Monticello at No. 3 Southwestern
No. 11 Benton/Shullsburg at No. 6 Wauzeka-Steuben
No. 10 Argyle at No. 7 Potosi
Regional semifinals, May 25
La Farge-Royall winner at No. 1 De Soto
Bangor-Weston winner at No. 3 Ithaca
Hillsboro-Kickapoo winner at No. 2 Cashton
Black Hawk-Fennimore winner at No. 1 Juda/Albany
Potosi-Argyle winner at No. 2 Belmont
Sectional 2
Regional quarterfinals, May 24
No. 9 Marshfield Columbus Catholic at No. 8 Rib Lake
No. 11 Port Edwards at No. 6 Edgar
No. 10 Northland Lutheran/Wisconsin Valley Lutheran at No. 7 Pittsville
No. 9 Florence at No. 8 Crivitz
No. 12 Elcho at No. 5 Wausaukee
No. 13 Pembine/Goodman at No. 4 Three Lakes/Phelps
No. 11 White Lake at No. 6 Gresham
No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas/Lena at No. 7 Bowler
Regional semifinals, May 25
Columbus Catholic-Rib Lake winner at No. 1 Thorp
No. 5 Wausau Newman Catholic at No. 4 Greenwood
Edgar-Port Edwards winner at No. 3 Wisconsin Rapids Assumption
Pittsville-Northland Lutheran winner at No. 2 Athens
Florence-Crivitz winner at No. 1 Wabeno/Laona
Gresham-White Lake winner at No. 3 Coleman
Bowler-St. Thomas Aquinas/Lena winner at No. 2 Niagara
Sectional 4
Regional quarterfinals, May 24
No. 9 Sheboygan Area Lutheran at No. 8 Almond-Bancroft
No. 12 Green Bay NEW Lutheran at No. 5 Marion
No. 11 Sevastopol at No. 6 Tri-County
No. 10 Stockbridge/Hilbert at No. 7 Wild Rose
No. 9 Fall River at No. 8 Randolph
No. 12 Princeton/Green Lake at No. 5 Williams Bay
No. 13 Living Word Lutheran at No. 4 Cambria-Friesland
No. 11 Faith Christian at No. 6 Johnson Creek
No. 10 Hustisford at No. 7 Barneveld
Regional semifinals, May 25
Sheboygan Area Lutheran-Almond-Bancroft winner at No. 1 Rosholt
Marion-NEW Lutheran winner at No. 4 Tigerton
Tri-County-Sevastopol winner at No. 3 Reedsville
Wild Rose-Stockbridge/Hilbert winner at No. 2 Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah
Fall River-Randolph winner at No. 1 Oakfield
Johnson Creek-Faith Christian winner at No. 3 Wisconsin Heights
Barneveld-Hustisford winner at No. 2 Burlington Catholic Central