Change the format, change the year, the Hampshire Regional softball team will find a way to earn the top seed in the Western Massachusetts tournament.
The defending champion Raiders (16-2) are No. 1 in Class B and will host Monument Mountain (11-6) at 5 p.m. Monday. That winner will play either No. 4 Pittsfield (10-8) or No. 5 Southwick (14-4) in the semifinals.
Just up Route 10, Easthampton is the No. 3 seed. The Eagles (14-4) will host No. 6 South Hadley (15-2) in the quarterfinals at 5 p.m. Monday at Nonotuck Park.
That winner gets either No. 2 Wahconah (17-1) or No. 7 Chicopee (5-11) in the semifinals.
CLASS D — No. 4 Hopkins Academy will welcome No. 5 Lee at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Either the Golden Hawks (8-7) or Tigers (13-5) will face either No. 1 Turners Falls (10-8) or No. 8 Gateway in the semifinals. The Gators (9-5) travel to Turners Falls at 7 p.m. Monday.
No. 3 Smith Academy (6-10) is at No. 3 Monson (14-2) at 4 p.m Monday. No. 2 Hoosac Valley (11-4) and No. 7 Ware (5-8) are on the other side.
CLASS C — No. 6 Frontier Regional (4-14) will take a short trip to No. 3 Franklin Tech (16-2) at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The Redhawks fell 5-3 in their regular season meeting.
The winner is headed for a Berkshire County foe in the semifinals, facing either No. 2 Mount Greylock (11-6) or No. 7 Drury (9-9).
Greenfield (12-6) earned the top seed.
CLASS A — Amherst Regional is in the postseason for the first time since 2014. The No. 7 Hurricanes (14-2) are at No. 2 Agawam (14-4) at 5 p.m. Monday. The winner will face either No. 3 Minnechaug (9-9) or No. 6 West Springfield (6-12) in the semifinals.
Westfield (14-2) is the No. 1 seed.
Granby is the Class D No. 1 overall seed, the second year in a row the Rams (14-4) received top billing. They fell in the sectional semifinals last year. Granby hosts No. 8 Palmer (4-13) at 4 p.m. Monday. The Rams swept two regular season meetings with two shutouts.
Either No. 4 Mount Everett (12-6) or No. 5 Smith Academy (9-7) awaits in the semifinals.
Defending state champion and three-time defending sectional champion Hopkins Academy (9-9) is the No. 3 seed and is hosting No. 6 Ware (9-9) at 4:30 p.m. Monday in a championship game rematch.
Whoever advances gets either No. 2 Pioneer Regional (14-1) or No. 7 Turners Falls (9-7) in the semifinals.
CLASS C — No. 2 Frontier Regional (14-4) is receiving a visit from No. 7 Westfield Tech (15-2) at 4 p.m. Monday. Either the Redhawks’ arch rival No. 3 Greenfield (11-7) or No. 6 Lenox (9-8) awaits in the semifinals. They meet at 6 p.m. Monday.
No. 5 Smith Vocational (15-1) is making the long drive to No. 4 McCann Tech (10-6) for the quarterfinals at a time and place to be determined. No. 1 Mount Greylock (14-4) and No. 8 Franklin Tech (10-8) will meet in the opposite quarterfinal.
CLASS B — No. 5 Easthampton (9-9) will open at No. 4 Southwick (13-5) at a time and place to be determined. No. 1 Taconic (16-1) is hosting No. 8 Hampshire Regional (10-8) in the other quarterfinal.
No. 7 Belchertown (8-8), who played in the final last year, is at No. 2 Pittsfield (9-8) at 4 p.m. Monday. That side of the bracket will remain in the Berkshires, as the winner will face either No. 3 Monument Mountain (15-3) or No. 6 Wahconah (8-10).
CLASS A — Defending champion Northampton (9-8) is the No. 7 seed and will face No. 2 West Springfield (12-6) at 4 p.m. Monday. That winner will get either No. 3 Pope Francis (10-8) or No. 6 Minnechaug (9-9) in the semifinals.
Westfield (11-4) is the bracket’s No. 1 seed.
The Blue Devils bested the Terriers 3-1 in their regular season meeting.