The softball teams cranked up practice for the first time last Friday and it was the local baseball teams that opened up practice on Friday.

The Bridge City Cardinals, Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears, Orangefield Bobcats and the West Orange-Stark Mustangs will look to make big statements this season as they chase postseason dreams.

The Bobcats, led by Coach Tim Erickson, had the deepest run last season.

Orangefield certainly shined in District 22-3A play. The Bobcats claimed the second-place berth behind district champion Kirbyville.

Orangefield went 10-2 in 22-3A action and was the only district team to hand Kirbyville a loss.

The Bobcats then zipped three rounds into the postseason, reaching the 3A Region III quarterfinals before falling to Central Pollok in the regional quarterfinals.

Bridge City, led by long-time coach Chad Landry, put together yet another 20-win season to zip to the postseason yet again.

Bridge City was on its way to winning yet another district title before it was ruled that they used an ineligible player late in district play and they had to forfeit three games.

However, the Cardinals kept on churning out the victories as they had an 11-game winning streak before they fell to a powerful Sweeny team in the area round.

LC-M will have a new head coach this season as former assistant coach Hunter Hagler replaces legendary Bear coach Steve Griffith.

The Bears notched another 20-victory season and a playoff berth last season, sending Coach Griffith out with style as he wrapped up his final year with more than 600 wins.

West Orange-Stark will look to turn the corner this year and will look to be in the hunt and they will get to utilize and amazing new all-turf field.

The teams will go through numerous scrimmages with the first games slated for Feb. 24.

There will be three tournaments across the area this year. Bridge City will host its early tournament Feb. 27-29. WO-S will have a tourney Mar. 5-7 and their will be an Orange County Classic Mar 12-14.

Here are the schedules for the 2020 season:

BRIDGE CITY

Feb. 24: Kelly

Feb. 27-29: Bridge City Tournament

Mar. 2: Buna

Mar. 5-7: at Cameron Yoe Tournament

Mar. 12-14: at Jasper Tournament

Mar. 17: at Hamshire-Fannett*

Mar. 20: Silsbee*

Mar. 24: at Hardin-Jefferson*

Mar. 27: LC-M*

Mar. 31: at Lumberton*

Apr. 6: WO-S*

Apr. 9: Hamshire-Fannett*

Apr. 14: at Silsbee*

Apr. 17: Hardin-Jefferson*

Apr. 21: at LC-M*

Apr. 24: Lumberton*

May 1: at WO-S*

LC-M

Feb. 24: Vidor

Feb. 27-29: at Whitehouse Tournament

Mar. 5-7: at WO-S Tournament

Mar. 10: at Nederland

Mar. 12-14: Orange County Classic

Mar. 17: at Hardin-Jefferson*

Mar. 24: Lumberton*

Mar. 27: at Bridge City*

Mar. 31: WO-S*

Apr. 3: at Hamshire-Fannett*

Apr. 6: Silsbee*

Apr. 9: Hardin-Jefferson*

Apr. 17: at Lumberton*

Apr. 21: Bridge City*

Apr. 24: at WO-S*

Apr. 28: Hamshire-Fannett*

May. 1: at Silsbee*

ORANGEFIELD

Feb. 24: Lumberton

Feb. 27-29: at Bridge City Tournament

Mar. 3: at Tarkington

Mar. 5-7: at West Trojan Tournament

Mar. 10: at WO-S

Mar. 12-14: at Silsbee Tournament

Mar. 17: at Kirbyville*

Mar. 20: East Chambers*

Mar. 24: at Warren*

Mar. 27: Kountze*

Mar. 31: at Hardin*

Apr. 3: at Buna*

Apr. 7: Anahuac*

Apr. 9: Kirbyville*

Apr. 14: at East Chambers*

Apr. 17: Warren*

Apr. 21: at Kountze*

Apr. 24: Hardin*

Apr. 28: Buna*

May 1: at Anahuac*

WO-S

Feb. 27-29: at Anahuac Tournament

Mar. 3: Beaumont United

Mar. 5-7: WO-S Tournament

Mar. 10: Orangefield

Mar. 12-14: Orange County Classic

Mar. 20: Hamshire-Fannett*

Mar. 24: at Silsbee*

Mar. 27: Hardin-Jefferson*

Mar. 31: at LC-M*

Apr. 3: Lumberton*

Apr. 6: at Bridge City*

Apr. 14: at Hamshire-Fannett*

Apr. 17: Silsbee*

Apr. 21: at Hardin-Jefferson*

Apr. 24: LC-M*

Apr. 28: at Lumberton*

May 1: Bridge City*