The MHSAA baseball and softball playoffs begin today with all six area teams taking part.

Five of them will get started this weekend. Oxford’s baseball team earned a first-round bye in the Class 5A playoffs after repeating as the Region 2 champion and will begin its quest to defend its state championship next Friday against either Center Hill or Canton.

All playoff series are best of three.

Oxford’s softball team, fresh off its playoff-clinching win over West Point, will host Region 4-5A runner-up Vicksburg tonight at 6. Game 2 will be played in Vicksburg on Saturday at 4 p.m. with a third game to be played immediately after if necessary. Lafayette softball will face Region 4-4A runner-up West Lauderdale tonight at 6 at the LHS softball field with a second and third game, if needed, at West Lauderdale on Saturday.

Lafayette baseball will open against Pontotoc, the No. 3 seed out of Region 1-4A, today at W.V. Brewer Field. Game 2 will be played in Pontotoc on Saturday with an if-necessary game scheduled for Monday back in Oxford. Each game will start at 7 p.m.

In Class 3A, Water Valley baseball, which won the Region 2 title, will square off against Booneville, the No. 4 seed out of Region 1. Game 1 is today at Blue Devil Field, Game 2 will be Saturday in Booneville, and an if-necessary game would be played Monday in Water Valley with first pitch for all three set for 6 p.m.

Water Valley softball opens with Region 4 runner-up Hatley tonight at 6 at the WVHS softball field. The Blue Devils will make the trip to Hatley for the second game Saturday at 2 p.m. with a third game to follow if necessary.

The state championships for softball will be played May 12-14 at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland. Baseball’s championships will be held May 17-21 at Trustmark Park in Pearl.