News File Photo Hillman’s Nicole Barbeau fires a pitch during a 2020 regional softball game in this file photo.

ALPENA — Win or go home.

With the regular season and pre-district games out of the way, that’s the situation local baseball and softball teams find themselves in as they play in districts around the area today.

In Mt. Pleasant (baseball)and in Traverse City (softball), Alpena’s teams hope to emerge from tough brackets to put together an extended postseason run.

Both the baseball and softball teams had early exits last year and will play Mt. Pleasant in their respective brackets today during Division 1 districts.

The Alpena baseball team lost to Mt. Pleasant earlier this season, but the Wildcats ended the regular season strong with a five-game winning streak. Alpena’s softball team also played well late in the season and has a solid mix of pitching and strong bats to contend with even the toughest of teams.

Should either Alpena team advance, they’ll face either Traverse City West or Traverse City Central in their respective district finals.

Softball fans in Hillman are in for a treat first thing this morning as the first of two Division 4 semifinals pits Hillman against Rogers City.

The Tigers won their first district title since 2015 last year and ultimately played their way to a regional title. With several players back from that team, Hillman hasn’t missed a step on the way to a 28-7 regular season record.

The Hurons, winners of nine consecutive districts entering today, hope to extend that streak to double digits. The two teams famously met in a 2019 district final that saw Rogers City prevail in extra innings and they were pitted on opposite ends of the regional that Hillman won last year.

The winner of today’s game will face either Atlanta or Johannesburg-Lewiston in the district final.

On the baseball diamond in Hillman, both Onaway and Rogers City are hoping for an all-Presque Isle County district final.

The Hurons won a district title last year before losing in a regional semifinals and are determined to make another run. With a 25-6 record, the Hurons have one of the area’s strongest hitting lineups and a solid pitching staff to back it up.

The Hurons play Atlanta and noon and that winner will play either Onaway or Joburg in the district final. Onaway is searching for its first district title since 2018.

In Lincoln, Alcona opens up against Hale and hopes to secure a district title on its own field. Alcona’s baseball team plays at Mio in a district at Whittemore-Prescott.

Alcona’s baseball team last won a district in 2019 while Alcona’s softball team last captured a district crown in 2015.