The double-elimination state tournaments on the softball and baseball diamonds that start this week feature four local softball teams and one local baseball team.
Fairhope (Class 7A), Baldwin County (Class 6A) and Orange Beach (Class 2A) all won their regional championship brackets and Robertsdale took runner-up in Class 6A to punch a ticket to the state bracket in Oxford.
The Class 6A representatives will kick things off first Tuesday morning where the South champion Tigers draw the No. 2 seed from the Central region, Calera. The second-seeded Golden Bears drew Central champion Helena.
The Fairhope Pirates and Mary Montgomery Vikings will get their first-round game started Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. in the Class 7A bracket. The defending Class 2A champion Orange Beach Makos are set to open against the Luverne Tigers Friday at 9 a.m.
On the baseball diamond, the Bayshore Christian Eagles will begin the defense of their Class 1A state championship against the Lindsay Lane Christian Academy Lions Thursday at 4 p.m. in Oxford. Game 2 – and 3, if necessary – are set for Friday at Jackson State University.