Two local teams were invited to the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association state softball tournament.

Unfortunately, number three seed Lawrence Academy will entertain number six-seed Ridgecroft School today (Tuesday) in the opening round of the eight-team tournament which will decide the state’s number one squad.

“We’re feeling good about being seeded third considering the up-and-down season we’ve had,” second-year Lawrence skipper Kristin Nobles said. “We’re not taking Ridgecroft for granted. We have to focus on them.

“We hope to get the opportunity to meet Cape Fear or Kerr-Vance down the line, but right now we’re focused on Ridgecroft and taking the tournament one game at a time,” she added.

The Lady Warriors won the Tarheel Independent Conference (TIC) tournament after finishing second in the league during the regular season. For their efforts, they were awarded the top seed out of the league, number three overall.

Five total teams from the TIC were invited to the state tournament. They were: Lawrence Academy (#3), Hobgood Academy (#4), Pungo Christian School (#5), Ridgecroft School (#6) and Terra Ceia Christian School (#8).

Four of those teams will battle in the first round of the NCISAA 1-A tournament. In addition to seeing the Lady Warriors and Lady Rams battle, the conference will also have Hobgood and Pungo squaring off in round one.

Earning the top seed in the state tournament is undefeated Cape Fear Christian Academy. They finished the regular season 15-0 including three wins over Lawrence early in the year. The number two seed went to Kerr-Vance Academy (14-1).

The only other school not in the TIC who made the tournament is number seven seed Wayne Christian School, which will meet Kerr-Vance.

After the first round at the home of the host school on Tuesday, the state tournament will shift to Buies Creek, the home of Campbell University.