It’s time to take the field.
Local high school softball teams hit the diamonds this weekend, and the action starts today when Liberty County High School travels to Claxton at 6 p.m.
The Lady Panthers are 2-0 against the Claxton Tigers. In 2008 the Lady Panthers defeated Claxton, 13-5. Liberty County repeated the feat in 2010 by throttling Claxton 15-3.
The battle against Claxton’s Tigers will get the Liberty girls prepared to face off against another Tiger squad — Bradwell Institute’s Lady Tigers.
Coach Sharyl Eastlake and the Lady Tigers host the Lady Panthers at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Liberty County coach Jerome Standard led his team to a 12-2 victory in 2010, but the Lady Tigers went 2-0 in 2011, winning 8-6 on Aug. 13 and 8-4 on Aug. 27.
The Lady Tigers will pounce right into a subregion game next Tuesday, traveling to Waycross to face Ware County High School at 6 p.m.  Next Thursday they host their home opener in a region matchup against the Lady Rebels of Groves High at 4:30 p.m.
The Lady Panthers will travel to Ludowici to play Long County’s Blue Tide girls at 5:30 p.m. next Tuesday. Standard’s squad is 2-6 against the Lady Tide the past four seasons.
By the time the Lady Panthers face the Blue Tide, the Ludowici girls will have at least three games under their belts as they travel to Waycross today and tomorrow for the Summer in the Swamp Tournament.
First Presbyterian Christian Academy opens diamond action at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at Memorial Day.
Next weekend, Bradwell, Long County and Liberty will travel to Tattnall County’s Warriors Blast Tournament.
Depending on the outcome of pool play, the three teams could end up facing off again for the tournament title.