NATCHEZ — Playoff season for softball and baseball is right around the corner, and four local teams from the LHSAA have already booked their tickets to the postseason.

Block, Vidalia and Delta Charter School and Monterey softball have received their first-round playoff softball pairings, and the Lady Storm lead the way with a bye as the No. 3 seed in Class 1A.

“This is the first time this has happened and the first time we have been ranked this high,” Delta Charter softball coach Jeannie Beach said. “The girls are excited.”

Beach said while the Lady Storm (14-13) doesn’t have the most impressive record this season, she has learned what works.

Delta Charter has played a handful of high-ranked teams this season, including Class B powerhouse Holden.

“We have played a good number of decent teams this year,” Beach said. “I have learned through the years it helps you with your ranking. The numbers usually work out in your favor, but you still want to pick teams you may have an opportunity to beat.”

Beach also said the Lady Storm has benefited greatly from seeing a variety of teams at six different tournaments this year.

“We did really well at tournaments this season,” she said. “At tournaments, you don’t always know who you are going to be playing, but we have always had good competition.”

Beach also said with such a high seed, she doesn’t want to underestimate what lies ahead. The Lady Storm would likely play its first game of the state tournament late this week.

“We’ve struggled defensively just about the whole year, so we are just continuing to work on that,” Beach said. “We are trying to mix it up in practice and try new things.”

In LHSAA Class B, the Monterey Lady Wolves received the No. 10 seed and are set to host No. 23 Doyline at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Monterey enters the playoffs with a record of 12-8.

Class 2A Vidalia and Class 1A Block will both be on the road today in the first round.

The No. 25 seed Lady Vikings are set to travel to No. 8 Lakeside at 6 p.m., while the No. 18 Lady Bears will play at 4 p.m. at No. 15 Grand Lake.