Baseball, softball playoff action begins
Apr. 19—Local student athletes will take to the mounds this weekend as playoff action for the 2024 fast pitch softball and baseball championships get underway.
Softball action began Friday with Lauderdale County teams looking to climb their first rung in the bracket. West Lauderdale, which enters the playoffs with a 25-2 season record, hosted New Albany (5-14) for the first game in the best of three match at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Knights will square off against the Bulldogs in their second game beginning at 2 p.m. with New Albany hosting.
The Northeast Lauderdale Trojans (11-11) headed to Ecru Friday where they faced the North Pontotoc Vikings (14-8) for their first round of playoff games. The Trojans are set to host the second game Saturday, with the action starting at 7 p.m.
Southeast Lauderdale (10-13) also faced its first playoff opponent Friday hosting South Pike (5-5-1) at 4:30 p.m. The next match of the series had yet to be scheduled.
Clarkdale's Lady Bulldogs are set to play a double header Saturday after foregoing Friday play. The team, which is 16-9 on the season, will take on Amite County (0-12) at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at home.
Baseball
In baseball, the Trojans (6-13) will host the New Albany Bulldogs (18-9) for a 6 p.m. matchup after traveling into Bulldog territory Friday for the first of a three game series.
West Lauderdale (20-5) will head to Senatobia for a 7 p.m. game Saturday against the Senatobia Warriors (10-16) following a home game Friday. A tie-breaker is set for 7 p.m. Monday in Collinsville if needed.
Southeast Lauderdale, boasting a 20-7 season record heading into playoffs, will take on the South Pike Eagles (8-10) Saturday in Magnolia following a home game Friday night.
Lastly, the Clarkdale Bulldogs (13-10) will host Amite County (1-15) Saturday for a double header, with games beginning at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Softball and baseball brackets for the 7A division, which includes the Meridian High Wildcats, have yet to be finalized. Both teams traveled to Pearl for a regional matchup Friday.
Contact Thomas Howard at thoward@themeridianstar.com
