The baseball playoffs begin Friday for five area teams that have their sights on a possible state title.

Maplesville and Verbena host first-round series after both teams won their area titles. Chilton County, Jemison and Billingsley must travel to open the postseason.

For teams in the playoffs, the do-or-die mindset has been in place throughout the end of the season with the focus on qualifying for the postseason.

“You approach every region series as if it was the playoffs,” Maplesville head coach Brandon Shanks said.

Verbena and Billingsley will battle each other in a showdown of teams that are familiar with each other.

Verbena is looking to build upon last year’s advancement into the second round of the playoffs.

With a record of 4-8, it has been a rollercoaster season for the Red Devils, who won the games that mattered most.

According to Verbena senior pitcher Chris Cook, the team has built relationships as the season moved along, and a positive difference was noticed within the past month.

Cook will start Game 1 of a doubleheader for Verbena on Friday at noon with Game 2 to follow around 2:30 p.m. If necessary, Game 3 would be Saturday at 1 p.m.

Billingsley finished with a record of 8-15 and secured its playoff spot with a dramatic 6-4 victory over Isabella in the final game of the regular season.

Maplesville (18-4) will host Loachapoka beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday. Game 2 will follow immediately, and a possible Game 3 start time is set for noon on Saturday.

“This group has been extremely close from the start,” Shanks said. “Every day we’ve taken the field has been a joy.”

Jemison and Chilton County will hit the road as the Panthers (28-14) play Central-Clay County, while the Tigers (19-12) visit Park Crossing at Paterson Field in Montgomery.

Chilton County’s series will begin with Game 1 of a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. and a possible Game 3 at noon on Saturday.

Jemison will open its series with a doubleheader starting at 4:30 p.m., and if necessary, a Game 3 is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The weather forecast has a 60-percent chance of rain with a possibility for thunderstorms in the Clanton area. The chance of rain drops to 20 percent Friday night.

Sunny skies are expected for the weekend with a projected high of 78 on Saturday and 81 on Sunday.

The seniors on each team want to go out on a high note and extend their high school careers for as long as possible.

According to Chilton County head coach Ryan Ellison, the Tigers’ senior class has appeared in three consecutive playoffs since joining the varsity squad.

“Anything can happen in the playoffs if you can get hot at the right time,” Ellison said.