Youth baseball and softball leagues in Selma are preparing to enter the postseason this week.

Selma Parks and Recreation director Elton Reece said teams are getting ready to compete for top honors at all levels.

Starting Monday, Reece said after seeding is established by the final games Friday and Saturday, the postseason will begin for the 5 and 6-year-old girls softball teams.

“They will have a four-team double-elimination tournament,” he said.

Playoff games for the 11 and 12-year-old O-zone baseball teams will also begin Monday, however, Reece said they will have a different format.

“We are going to have a championship bracket with the top four teams and a consolation bracket with the final three teams,” he said. “That will give more teams a chance to play for a trophy. It might not have been much fun if we had just put all seven teams together, so we decided to divide it up so everyone has a chance.”

Reece said the championship bracket should offer tight competition because few games separate the top teams.

“The No. 1 team is 15-3, the No. 2 team is 14-3, the No. 3 team is 13-3 and the No. 4 team is 10-6,” he said.

“There should be some pretty good games in that bracket.”

The 13 and 14-year-old Dixie Boys teams will begin a double elimination tournament Monday, but Reece said the 13 to 19-year -old girls softball league will have another month to play.

“They just got started here recently so they won’t start their tournament until July,” he said.

This league, Reece said, has been one of the fastest growing.

“It has really exploded,” he said. “We have six teams this year and only had three last year. I think Dallas County winning state had a lot to do with raising awareness about the sport. People are really getting excited about it now.”

The younger squads, specialist Tracy Williams said, are also participating in postseason play. All teams, Williams said, are eligible to play. The 9 and 10-year-old boys teams are still battling for seeding to determine when the tournament will begin, but the 5 and 6-year-old boys will start Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The 7 and 8-year-old boys will also begin play Tuesday at 6 p.m. On the girl’s side, the 7 and 8-year -olds and 9 and 10 year olds have already begun their tournaments.