AHSAA Baseball playoffs begin this week

The AHSAA baseball playoffs begin this weekend, with two local teams hosting first-round series. 

Hartselle will be making its 33rd consecutive appearance in the playoffs, not counting the 2020 COVID season. The Tigers have one goal for the playoffs: to make it back to the state finals after the disputed runner-up finish this past season. 

The Tigers won state championships in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2009 and 2013. The eight titles are sixth-most in AHSAA history. In addition, the Tigers have finished runner-up five times. 

Falkville will be making its eighth consecutive trip to the playoffs, not counting the 2020 COVID season. The Blue Devils have made it to the third round twice and the second round three times in their seven playoff appearances. 

2022 FIRST ROUND 

Hartselle vs. Huffman 

The Hartselle Tigers (29-4) will be hosting the Huffman Vikings (6-15) in a three-game series starting Friday.  

The Vikings finished runner-up to Shades Mountain in Area 11. They enter the series having won three times in their past 11 games.  

Game one will start at 4:30 p.m., and game two will begin at 6:30 p.m., Friday. Game three will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday if needed. 

The winner of this series will face the winner of the Mountain Brook/Scottsboro series starting April 29. 

Falkville vs. Spring Garden 

Falkville (10-9) will be hosting a familiar foe in Spring Garden (13-14) in a three-game series. The Panthers have eliminated the Blue Devils the previous two seasons.  

Game one will start at 4:30 p.m., and game two will begin at 7 p.m., Friday. Game three will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday if needed. 

The winner of this series will face the winner of the Lamar County/Mars Hill series starting April 29.