VALDOSTA — March is entering like a lion to Region 1-6A baseball teams. Region gets started Tuesday and its six teams all have a shot of going to the state tournament later this spring, but also winning the 1-6A championship.

Lowndes likely pencils in as the region favorite. The Vikings are two-time defending state champions of the now-former Class 7A and are coming off a 35-6 campaign and went 11-1 in region play a year ago.

The Vikes finished last week by splitting with Thomas County Central and Lincoln (Florida) and are currently 5-4. Matthew Kerrigan had three RBIs in those last two games, and the leaders in that department this season have been Derrick Carter and Coleman Lewis.

Lowndes throws many arms, with some of the early-season winners being Garrett Moon, Drew Inman and Brinson Rountree.

Though hit hard by graduation, Lowndes remains a very senior-heavy team with 10 more listed on the roster.

Valdosta brings a 7-3 record and three-game winning streak into their region debut at Tift County today. The season is already looking rosier for the Wildcats; they won only 10 games last year.

Turner Samples has had a hot bat lately, but VHS is also getting plenty of production from Stephen Little, Braeden Lampkin and Noah Roberts.

Sophomore Kyler Davis threw a one-hit complete game 1-0 shutout over Florida State University High on Friday.

Tift will also be expected to finish high in the region. The Blue Devils are coming off back-to-back elite-eight finishes in 6A. Like Lowndes, Tift will be extremely deep with pitching. The Devils are 8-1 and have won eight straight after dropping their opener.

Colquitt County enters region 3-6 after a tough schedule to start the year. Saturday, they fell in extra innings to one of Florida’s best in Buchholz.

Richmond Hill, the only team in the region to beat Lowndes last year, has also jumped out to a 7-3 mark. Two of their wins are over Jeff Davis, one of Georgia’s top smaller classification schools. They fell to Norcross Saturday, 7-1.

Camden County is 4-5, though the Wildcats have won their last two games. Stats input to MaxPreps show Camden hitting .243 as a team with an ERA of 4.27.

Each team will play each region opponent three times. Early in the week will be a single game between teams, followed by a doubleheader between the same two, but at the opposite location. Listed below are the doubleheaders.

Most series are scheduled to be Tuesday/Friday, but could be altered for rain.

Week of March 3: Camden County at Colquitt County; Lowndes at Richmond Hill; Tift County at Valdosta

Week of March 10: Colquitt County at Lowndes; Richmond Hill at Tift County; Valdosta at Camden County

Week of March 17: Lowndes at Camden County; Richmond Hill at Valdosta; Tift County at Colquitt County

Week of March 24: Camden County at Richmond Hill; Colquitt County at Valdosta; Lowndes at Tift County

Week of April 7: Richmond Hill at Colquitt County; Tift County at Camden County; Valdosta at Lowndes

There are gaps in the schedule to allow rained-out games to be made up. Besides the one at the end of the month, there will also be an open week region-wise before state begins.