Henry Daily Herald

Photo by Brian Paglia / Woodland coach Kelli Poff (left) and Lady Wolfpack freshman Lexee Emmanuel will host a state playoff series for the first time ever today against Albany.

And so it begins.

The drama of state playoffs begin today with softball as seven Henry County teams get set for a best-of-three series. Class A schools Eagle’s Landing Christian and Strong Rock start their state playoffs next week in the split public and private Class A tournament.

Woodland and Union Grove enter the Class AAAA and AAAAA tournaments, respectively, as No. 1 seeds by winning their region tournaments. For the Lady Wolfpack, it’s the first time in school history. Union Grove is a No. 1 seed for the fourth time in school history.

Among the more notable teams that qualified are Locust Grove and Ola. Both reached Columbus last season, where the tournament reaches it apex of the final eight teams. Ola finished third in the state.

Albany at Woodland

When, where: Today, 4 and 6 p.m., in Stockbridge. ‘If’ game Thursday, 4 p.m.

Records, rankings, seedings: Albany is 7-15, unranked and the No. 4 seed from Region 1-AAAA; Woodland is 17-11, unranked and the No. 1 seed from Region 4.

Winner plays: Winner of the South Effingham-Perry game.

What to know: Woodland is making it first playoff appearance since 2009 and first ever as a No. 1 seed. The Lady Wolfpack is led by a core group of seniors Caitlin Creech (SS), Taesha Duboise (OF), Erika Flippen (C) and Bethany Osif (P). But freshman Lexee Emmanuel leads the team in home runs with three and sophomore second baseman Danielle Castleberry has a team-high 10 walks and is third in RBI with 14.

Cairo at Locust Grove

When, where: Today, 3 and 5 p.m., in Locust Grove. ‘If’ game Thurs., 3 p.m.

Records, rankings, seedings: Cairo is 11-15, unranked and the No. 3 seed from Region 1-AAAA; Locust Grove is 21-8-1, unranked and the No. 2 seed from Region 4.

Winner plays: Winner of the Wayne County-Veterans game.

What to know: Locust Grove is making its second straight state playoff appearance. The Lady Wildcats advanced to Columbus and the Elite Eight last season where they lost a pair of one-run games to Allatoona (4-3) and Cross Creek (5-4). Locust Grove has just one senior (Tina Dexter) on its roster and was just one run away from beating Woodland in the Region 4-AAAA region finals.

Eagle’s Landing at Crisp County

When, where: Today, 5 and 7 p.m., in Cordele. ‘If’ game Thurs., 5 p.m.

Records, rankings, seedings: Eagle’s Landing is 13-15, unranked and the No. 4 seed from Region 4-AAAA; Crisp County is 20-9, unranked and the No. 1 seed from Region 1.

Winner plays: Winner of the West Laurens-Cross Creek game.

What to know: Eagle’s Landing is making its first state playoff appearance since 2007, when it came within a game of making the Elite Eight. The Lady Golden Eagles had a four-game stretch this season without giving up a run.

Henry County at Dodge County

When, where: Today, in Eastman, Ga. ‘If’ game Thurs.

Records, rankings, seedings: Henry County is 5-12, unranked the No. 4 seed from Region 2-AAA; Dodge County is 20-9-1, unranked and the No. 1 seed from Region 3.

Winner plays: Winner of the Chapel Hill-Southeast Bulloch game.

What to know: Henry County returns to the state playoffs for the first time since 2008 and just the second since 2004. The Lady Warhawks made it with a veteran team that has six seniors. Dodge County will be a tough challenge; the Lady Indians have gone 16-3 since August 25.

Luella at Newnan

When, where: Today, 5 and 7 p.m., in Newnan. ‘If’ game Thurs., 5 p.m.

Records, rankings, seedings: Luella is 14-11-1, unranked and the No. 3 seed from Region 2-AAAAAA; Newnan is 17-13, unranked and the No. 2 seed from Region 3.

Winner plays: Winner of the Kennesaw Mountain-Coffee game.

What to know: The Lady Lions are making their eighth-straight state playoff appearance. Luella hasn’t advanced past the second round since an Elite Eight appearance in 2004. Luella is usually as good as junior pitcher Bre Washington, who’s been the Lady Lions’ go-to pitcher since she her freshman season.

Northside-Columbus at Union Grove

When, where: Today, at 4:30 and 6:15 p.m., in McDonough. ‘If’ game Thursday, at 4:30 p.m.

Records, rankings, seedings: Northside is 8-14, unranked and the No. 4 seed from Region 1-AAAAA; Union Grove is 23-5-2, ranked No. 1 and the No. 1 seed from Region 4.

Winner plays: Winner of the Ware County-Houston County game.

What to know: Opposing batters just need to worry about Lady Wolverines senior pitcher Megan Betsa. The Michigan verbal commitment pitched ELCA to a Class A state title in 2009 and has come close since transferring to Union Grove the following season. Opposing pitchers need to worry about a Lady Wolverines lineup that’s one of their more balanced in years.

Ola at Lee County

When, where: Today, at 5 and 7 p.m. in Leesburg. ‘If’ game Thursday, at 5 p.m.

Records, rankings, seedings: Ola is 18-7-2, ranked No. 8 and the No. 3 seed from Region 4-AAAAA; Lee County is 18-14, unranked and the No. 2 seed from Region 1.

Winner plays: Winner of the Greenbrier-Richmond Hill game.

What to know: The Lady Mustangs are coming out of arguably the toughest region in Class AAAAA, which features three of the top four ranked teams. Ola is ranked No. 8, though it had to replace six seniors who are now playing college softball. With the luxury of two capable starting pitchers in junior Savannah McHellon and sophomore Raya Moncus and a formidable heart of the lineup in Haylee Hester, McHellon and Jurie Joyner, the Lady Mustangs can’t be taken lightly.