Now that the brackets have been set, the quest for postseason success begins in earnest today for baseball and softball teams around the state of Michigan.

That includes more than a dozen local baseball and softball teams who will competing in the postseason for the first time since 2019, after the coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 season last April.

Alpena will be looking to win district championships on its home fields today. The Wildcats host Traverse City West, Traverse City Central and Mt. Pleasant in a Division 1 district.

The Alpena softball team will open against West in a district semifinal at 10 a.m. and Alpena’s baseball team will play West at noon. District championships in both sports will follow at 2 p.m.

The Alcona softball team will also be in action today in Au Gres. The Tigers will play Au Gres at noon in the second of two semifinals in a Division 4 district that also includes Mio and Hale.

In Gaylord, the Onaway baseball needs just one win to win a district title.

The Cardinals already have a bye into a Division 4 district championship game and will play either Gaylord St. Mary or Wolverine at 2:30 p.m., today.

The district playoffs will continue Saturday with local districts at Rogers City and Johannesburg-Lewiston.

The Rogers City softball team will play Posen and Inland Lakes plays Onaway in the second of two semifinals.

The Hurons baseball team will also play Posen in a semifinal and Hillman will take on Johannesburg-Lewiston in the other semifinal.

Joburg will host a softball district on Saturday with Atlanta and Hillman vying for a district final matchup with the host Cardinals.