LA GRANDE — As student athletes return to the classrooms, teams prepare for a run towards a league title starting this week.

While a few select teams around the state have hit the fields for a league contest or two, local teams have only seen league opponents from the stands. Now back in school, league season is upon us.

Baseball

The 4A Greater Oregon League season begins almost immediately for the La Grande baseball team. The Tigers are on the road on Tuesday, April 2 for two games versus Baker/Powder Valley.

All four GOL teams failed to sleep in and lounge during spring break, including the Tigers. After an opening season win over McLoughlin in March 19, La Grande was in Arizona during the break in tournament play, finishing with a 1-2 record against teams from Colorado, Arizona and California.

The Tigers are currently 20th in the Oregon School Activities Association’s (OSAA) rankings with Tuesday’s opponent, the Bulldogs, sitting at 17th. Still early in the season, the surprise of the league is Ontario sitting on a perfect 7-0 overall record.

Play during spring break for Union/Cove saw the weather take victories. Scheduled to play three games, the Bobcats saw the field only a single time, taking a loss to Sherman/Condon/Arlington/Wheeler. The remaining two games were called off due to weather.

Like La Grande, Union/Cove jumps into 2A/1A Special District 7 play on Tuesday, April 2 with a trip to Weston-McEwen/Griswold for a single game. The TigerScots will return the favor with two games in Union on Friday, April 5.

Union/Cove (1-4 overall) holds down the 47th ranking currently while Tuesday’s opponent, the TigerScots, are ranked 36th.

Without seeing one pitch this season, Elgin jumps right into league play also on Tuesday, April 2 with a home game against the visiting Grant Union/Prairie City/Monument team. The Prospectors make the trip with eight games played (3-5 overall) with the Huskies choosing to not start the season until the completion of spring break.

Softball

La Grande softball enters the 4A Greater Oregon League season with a perfect 5-0 early season record. Making a trip to Idaho during spring break, the Tigers picked up victories over two large Idaho schools only to see two additional games fall prey to Mother Nature.

La Grande leaps into league play on April 2 with a trip to Baker/Powder Valley for two games (3-5 overall). The Tigers’ showing during the nonleague start to the year has pushed La Grande to fourth in the state standings.

The La Grande defense has allowed the fewest runs to date among the state’s 4A teams, seeing opponents cross home plate only 15 times in five games and holding two opponents scoreless.

Among all the local teams, Union/Cove scheduled the busiest spring break, not only playing on the road but also hosting the Union Spring Bash. While classmates used the week off to sleep in, the Bobcats played six games, all versus 3A opponents, compiling a 3-3 record for the break.

The Bobcats (3-4 overall) start the 2A/1A Special District 7 season on April 2 hosting Elgin/Imbler. Game time is 5 p.m.

Union/Cove starts the league season just outside the top 10 in the state rankings, currently sitting 11th.

Elgin/Imbler started the team’s season during spring break, playing six games and finishing with a 2-4 overall record. The Huskies host the Bobcats currently on a four game losing streak and ranked 29th among the state’s 2A/1A squads.

The 2A/1A Special District 7 currently claims the top two ranked teams in the state. Grant Union/Prairie City holds down the second spot, topped only by top ranked Weston-McEwen/Griswold.

Both the TigerScots and North Douglas have allowed only six runs against their defense to date.