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The Pike Liberal Arts Patriots and Ariton Purple Cats are the lone teams in The Messenger’s coverage area that have qualified for the AHSAA State Baseball Playoffs.

Pike Lib comes into the Class 2A Playoffs as the No. 2-ranked team in the state and Area 5 Champions with a 23-5 record. Pike will face off with the Area 2 runner-up JU Blacksher, coming into the playoffs with a 12-10 record. Pike and Blacksher will face off in a doubleheader on Friday, April 19, in Troy at 4 and 6:30 p.m. If a game three is needed to decide the series it will be played on Saturday, April 20, at 1 p.m.

Ariton is the reigning and defending 2A State Champions and comes into the playoffs as the No. 1-ranked team in the state. However, Ariton was swept by GW Long in an Area 4 series last week that gave Long the Area Championship.

Ariton is 20-7-1 and will have to travel in the first round as the Area 4 runner-up to face Tuscaloosa Academy. Tuscaloosa Academy comes into the playoffs as Area 7 Champion with a record of 20-10. The two sides will play in a doubleheader on April 19 at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. If a third game is needed it will be played at 1 p.m. on Saturday.