Poplar Bluff to host inaugural spring softball final four in 2014

Kennett softball coach Kevin McCaig has a new motivational tool that will be available to 81 high school softball coaches in Missouri entering the 2014 spring season.

The playoffs

High school spring softball programs that do not participate in the fall softball state playoffs will no longer have to settle for end-of-the season conference tournaments being the highlight of their spring season.

Starting this spring the Missouri High School Activities Association will hold a spring softball state tournament.

"We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to participate in the spring playoffs this year," McCaig said. "For schools like ours who only offer softball in the spring it gives the girls a chance to experience everything that comes with participating in a district championship bracket. Many of the girls returning from our team last year have a renewed excitement with what possibilities this could hold for them and they have been very enthused about the chance to play for a district championship. This new excitement has really added to our winter strength and conditioning workouts with an increased level of commitment to build a foundation for the upcoming season."

Spring softball district tournaments are scheduled to take place Apr. 28-30 in 2014. Schools are currently voting on which team will host their respective district tournament. All 81 spring softball teams will compete in Class 1.

"We are very excited about getting to participate in districts this year," Dexter first-year softball coach Christopher Bolin added. "Having spring districts makes our season a lot more meaningful as well as competitive. I know the girls are excited about the opportunity to compete in a district tournament this spring."

Spring softball sectionals will be hosted May 5 by even numbered district winners.

Spring softball quarterfinals will take place May 8. If both quarterfinal qualifiers hosted or did not host a sectional the team on the bottom of the bracket will host its quarterfinal. If one team hosted its sectional round and the other team did not, then the team that did not host its sectional will host its quarterfinal.

The state semifinals and state championship will take place May 16 and May 17 at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

"The district alignments are pretty much what we had expected this year with one class," McCaig said. "I would not be surprised if in the next few years more teams join the spring championships and we could possibly see two classes develop. The spring is going to be an exciting time for girls all over the state who have never had a chance to play for a state championship in softball. I think everyone of those girls who love the sport will be eager to start working on achieving what most have always wanted, just a chance to be a state champion, which they now have."

Multiple local programs will have a realistic chance to advance past their district tournament in 2014.

16 district tournaments will be held in Missouri. 13 of the districts will have five teams, two districts will have six teams and Class 1, District 4, will have four teams.

Four Stoddard County schools will have the luxury of competing in the only four-team district in Missouri. Bernie, Bloomfield, Dexter and Richland will compete in Class 1, District 4.

"I think our district will be very competitive," Bolin said. "We all play each other during the regular season as well as in the county tournament. Being familiar with each other should make the district very interesting."

The Stoddard County team that wins Class 1, District 4, will have the opportunity to host a sectional against the winner of Class 1, District 3. Campbell, Gideon, Malden, Risco and traditional spring softball powerhouse New Madrid County Central are slated to compete for the Class 1, District 3, title.

Class 1, District 1, will include Cooter, Delta C-7, Hayti, North Pemiscot and South Pemiscot. Class 1, District 2, will feature Clarkton, Holcomb, Kennett, Senath-Hornersville and Southland.

Advance, Bell City, Charleston, Scott City and Scott County Central will compete in Class 1, District 5. Leopold, Meadow Heights, Oak Ridge, Woodland and Zalma will compete in Class 1, District 6.

According to officials at the Missouri High School Activities Association, the postseason will be held one or two weeks later in the 2015 spring season.

View district alignments for all 16 softball district tournaments below:

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Class 1, District 1: Cooter, Delta C-7, Hayti, North Pemiscot, South Pemiscot

Class 1, District 2: Clarkton, Holcomb, Kennett, Senath-Hornersville, Southland

Class 1, District 3: Campbell, NMCC, Gideon, Malden, Risco

Class 1, District 4: Bernie, Bloomfield, Dexter, Richland

Class 1, District 5: Advance, Bell City, Charleston, Scott City, Scott County Central

Class 1, District 6: Leopold, Meadow Heights, Oak Ridge, Woodland, Zalma

Class 1, District 7: Clearwater, Ellington, Eminence, Greenville, Summersville

Class 1, District 8: Arcadia Valley, Bismarck, Crystal City, Kingston, West County

Class 1, District 9: Blue Eye, Bradleyville, Forsyth, Niangua, Sparta, Spokane

Class 1, District 10: Clever, Crane, Exeter, Galena, Hurley

Class 1, District 11: Billings, Golden City, Lockwood, Mt. Vernon

Class 1, District 12: Bronaugh, Lakeland, Liberal, Northeast Vernon County, Osceola, Sheldon

Class 1, District 13: Cole Camp, Green Ridge, Lincoln, Smithton, Windsor

Class 1, District 14: Crest Ridge, LaMonte, Northwest, Sacred Heart, Sweet Springs

Class 1, District 15: Drexel, Hume, Kingsville, Lone Jack, Rich Hill

Class 1, District 16: Concordia, Santa Fe, South Holt, St. Paul Lutheran, Wellington-Napoleon