Defending champion Mount Carmel only top softball seed from New Orleans area

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With 12 classifications, there is ample opportunity to win a state softball championship in the watered down version of the state playoffs in Louisiana to be decided in Sulphur on April 28.

While there are definite contenders for state honors from the New Orleans area, there is only one team from the metropolitan area to secure a top-seed.

The dynamite dozen of top-seeds includes defending state champion Mount Carmel Academy in Division I. Other top-seeds include Ouachita Parish, Morgan City, Brusly, Many, Oak Grove, Holden, Evans, Parkview Baptist, Calvary Baptist, Cedar Creek and Northside Christian.

The Cubs (18-5) earned the top seed in Division I over District 9-5A rival John Curtis Christian (19-7), the second seed. The two are seeded to meet in the finals after splitting a pair of regular season contests. Mount Carmel whipped John Curtis 10-3 in the Division I semifinals a year ago. The Division I bracket remains just an eight-team bracket, with all eight teams advancing directly to Sulphur.

Mount Carmel will face McKinley, the No. 8 seed, in the quarterfinals. The Lady Panthers have not won a game (0-13). The Lady Patriots will face St. Joseph’s Academy (7-24).

In Division II, defending state champion Parkview Baptist (26-5) is the top seed in a 16-team bracket. The Lady Eagles will host Vandebilt Catholic (6-17) in the regional round. Archbishop Hannan (23-5) is the No. 2 seed and the Lady Hawks will host St. Michael The Archangel (10-15). Always tough St. Charles Catholic (22-5) is the third seed. The Lady Comets will entertain 14th-seed Ursuline (8-9). The Lady Comets blasted the Lions 15-0 in LaPlace on April 3.

Defending state champion Calvary Baptist (26-2) is the top-seed in Division III in a 14-team bracket. The Lady Cavs get a bye into the quarterfinals in Sulphur and will meet the winner of the regional matchup of ninth-seed Country Day (8-9) at Northlake Christian (12-8). Notre Dame (18-4) is the second-seed and the Lady Pios get a bye into the quarterfinals where they will face the winner of the regional round game pitting 10th-seed Episcopal (9-8) at seventh seed Patrick Taylor (13-9).

St. Thomas Aquinas (26-6) is a dangerous third seed. The Lady Falcons will open in the regional round against winless St. Katherine Drexel (0-6).

In Division IV, defending state champion Cedar Creek (22-8) opens with 16th seed St. Edmund (13-14) in the regional round of a 16-team bracket. False River (22-7) is the second-seed and will open with 15th-seed Ascension Christian (11-9). Central Catholic (20-5) is the third-seed and will host 14th-seed Ecole Classique (13-4).

In Division V, Northside Christian (16-6) is the top seed in a minuscule seven-team bracket – like Division I, all teams advance directly to Sulphur. Northside Christian will not play until the semifinals against the winner of fifth-seed Family Christian (11-5) and fourth-seed and defending state champion Claiborne Christian (11-11). Runnels (17-6) is the second-seed will host seventh-seed Grace Christian (4-16) in the quarterfinals.

On the non-select side, there are real brackets.

In Class 5A, Ouachita Parish (24-3) is the top seed. The Lady Lions will host No. 32 seed John Ehret (12-10) Monday at 5:30 p.m. Hahnville (29-3) is the second seed and the Lady Tigers will entertain Comeaux (11-15) Tuesday at 4 p.m. Sam Houston (27-3) earned the third seed and the Lady Broncos await 30th-seed Zachary (12-20) Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Among other area teams, Mandeville (22-5) is the fifth-seed and the Lady Skippers will host 28th-seeded Haughton (14-12) Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Defending state champion Central (20-6) is seeded ninth and plays host to 24th-seeded Slidell (13-12).

In 4A, Morgan City (21-4) earned the No. 1 seed and will host 32nd-seed Karr (11-8) Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Second-seed and defending champion North DeSoto (16-9) will host 31st-seed Breaux Bridge (5-10) Monday at 6 p.m. DeRidder (21-10) is the third-seed and will host 30th-seed Westgate (12-21) Monday at 5:30 p.m. Among other area teams, Belle Chasse (23-7) is the sixth-seed and the Lady Cardinals will host 27th-seed South Lafourche.

In 3A, Brusly (26-7) is the top seed and the Lady Panthers will host 32nd-seed Benton (7-12) Tuesday at 5 p.m. Pine Prairie (29-4) is the second-seed and will entertain 31st-seed Wossman (11-8) Sunday at 6 p.m. Third-seed Sterlington (26-7) will host 30th-seed Loranger (6-18) Tuesday at 5 p.m. Defending state champion North Vermilion (25-5) is the fourth-seed and will entertain 29th-seeded Church Point (6-20) Monday at 4 p.m.

In 2A, Many (24-4) is the top seed and will host 32nd-seed Red River (11-13) Monday at 4 p.m. No. 2 seed Kinder (23-4) will host 31st-seeded Lakeview (7-8) Monday at 4 p.m. Doyle (18-12) is the third-seed and will entertain 30th-seed Rayville (9-8) Monday at 4 p.m. at Sartwell Park. Defending state champion Mangham ( 19-11) is the fourth-seed and the Lady Dragons will play 29th-seed Pine (12-9) at home Monday at 5 p.m.

In 1A, Oak Grove (20-8) is the top seed in a 24-team bracket and gets a first-round bye before meeting the winner of 17th-seeded West St. John (7-9) at 16th-seed Ringgold (8-11). LaSalle (22-7) is the second-seed and defending state champion and gets a bye before facing the winner of 18th-seed Block (2-18) at 15th-seeded Grand Lake (7-14). Delta Charter (14-13) is the third-seed and gets a bye before squaring off against the winner of 19th-seed Northwood-Lena (4-23) and 14th-seeded Delhi (5-10).

In Class B, defending state champion Holden (28-3) is the top seed and the Rockets get a bye in a 26-team bracket before facing the winner of 17th-seeded Weston (9-13) at 16th-seeded Quitman (10-9). Florien (20-2) is the second seed and gets a bye before playing the winner of 18th-seed Stanley (10-16) at 15th-seed Zwolle (9-12). Choudrant (19-4) is the third seed and gets a bye before squaring off with the winner of 19th-seed Negreet (10-12) at 14th-seeded Simsboro (14-9).

In Class C, Evans (19-4) is the top-seed in an 18-team class and gets a bye before facing the winner of 17th-seed Epps (0-17) at 16th-seeded Reeves (1-15). Calvin (16-4) is the second seed and has a bye before meeting the winner between 18th-seed Kilbourne (5-9) at 15th-seeded Dodson (1-16). Simpson (16-10) is the third seed and will host 14th-seeded Pleasant Hill (0-21) Monday at 5 p.m. in the regional round. Defending state champion Plainview (13-13) is the fourth seed and will host 13th-seeded Singer (3-12) in the regional round.

For the record, there are five teams with no wins and two teams with one victory seeded to compete in the playoffs.