Lowndes’ David Wortham throws to first base in a game against the Colquitt County Packers. Wortham and the Vikings face Valdosta tonight at 6 p.m.

For the second time this season, Lowndes and Valdosta will meet on the baseball diamond.

First pitch between the crosstown rivals is set for 6 p.m. tonight at Noel George Field.

“It is big, no matter what the sport is,” Lowndes head coach Danny Redshaw said. “It has always been a big time, traditional rival. They want to beat up on us and we want to beat up on them.”

The meeting will serve as the second of three meetings between the two clubs, but the only matchup that will take place at Lowndes High School.

“We are going to have to play defense,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “(Lowndes has) good hitters. They are going to put the ball in play and we are going to have to make routine plays. We have to play the game the right way.”

Lowndes won the previous meeting between the two schools, 8-2, at Valdosta’s Bazemore Field. The Vikings overcame an hour-long lightning delay, and pounded out eight hits in the win, while holding the Wildcats to just four hits on the night.

“We pitched real well and played better defense,” Redshaw said. “We were fortunate to get some timely hits. That game was closer than the score indicated. But, we got a few breaks and took advantage of them.”

Lowndes’ pitching was indeed good. Starter Logan Hutchinson took the win on the hill, allowing no runs on one hit, while striking out four batters in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Valdosta’s Trey Haygood took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits in five innings. He struck out five Viking batters.

“Lowndes had some timely hits,” Shuman said. “I think it was two home runs. It was a 2-0 ball game and they got a home run or two and we made some key errors, and then it got out of hand.”

The Vikings enter tonight’s contest looking to build their lead in Region 1-AAAAA. Currently, the Vikings hold a 1 1/2 game lead over Colquitt County in the region standings, while Valdosta sits in last place with a 1-5 record.

Following tonight’s contest, both teams will have just five region contests remaining, with two games versus Colquitt County looming.

“(For us), it is one game at a time,” Redshaw said. “Players know where we are at. It is not something we discuss a lot. We just want to win the next region game.”

Lowndes beat Coffee last Friday night, while the ’Cats earned their first region victory of the season, beating Tift County.

“I think Trey Haygood, he definitely had his best game of the year,” Shuman said of the win. “When things don’t go well, it is hard to stop and I think Trey just settled down, and when he gave up a walk or a hit, he was able to bounce back and regain his composure.”