It's playoff time for the area's softball programs.
Rain washed out most of Monday's scheduled games, but the path to the postseason kicks into gear on Tuesday. There could be as many as seven local teams in the field when all is settled this week.
University, Deltona and Taylor enter their district tournaments as the favorites, but anything can happen this time of year. Here's the final Fab 5 of the softball regular season.
1. University (19-4)
Entering the District 2-9A playoffs as the top seed, with a 9-1 record, University has not lost to a Florida opponent since March 6.
The Titans closed out the campaign with wins over Pine Ridge and Seabreeze. Junior Kailyn Dozier's .427 average is 75 points higher than any other Titans regular. Marissa Adame, who needs only five more strikeouts to hit 200, notched 10 shutouts in her 19 regular-season starts.
University could draw DeLand in a district semifinal, an opponent with whom they split the season series.
Last Week: 1
2. Deltona (21-2)
Holding steady at No. 2, Deltona won its final 10 games of the season after a 1-0 loss to University in the Battle at the Beach tournament.
The Wolves added impressive victories over Taylor (5-1) and DeLand (10-2) in the final week of the season. Morgan Lebeda launched her ninth home run of the season, and Isabella Correa has four of her own.
Deltona will be a substantial favorite in District 5-7A, though the second spot should be up for grabs between New Smyrna Beach, Matanzas and Seabreeze.
Last Week: 2
3. Spruce Creek (15-10)
The Hawks seem to have turned a corner over the final two weeks, closing the campaign with three consecutive wins.
Spruce Creek handled Seabreeze, 12-4, in its finale on April 17. There are plenty of players on the roster with significant postseason experience, as the Hawks reached the Region 1-9A final a year ago.
To clinch an automatic state playoff spot, the Hawks will need to defeat either Sanford Seminole or Lake Mary in Wednesday's district semifinal.
Last Week: 3
4. DeLand (12-11)
The Bulldogs responded positively to falling out of the Fab 5 for the first time this year, beating previous No. 4 Taylor, 3-1. The win was the 200th in Jenn Mitchell's coaching tenure at DeLand.
Lauren Fantone had three hits, and Chloe French's two-run double put DeLand ahead of Taylor for good.
However, the team's mid-March swoon resulted in earning the No. 4 seed in District 2-9A. DeLand must beat both Lyman and University to advance to the playoffs.
Last Week: NR
5. Taylor (16-4)
The 5A Wildcats were certainly competitive against the area's elite, but finished 0-4 against the rest of the current Fab 5.
However, they draw the top seed in District 8-5A and could be set for a clash with Atlantic for the title and a first-round home playoff game. Atlantic, perhaps unfairly, drops out this week despite closing with five straight wins.
Three starters are still batting over .400 for Taylor — Kailey Poole, Kaylee Cowart and Allie Carroll.
Last Week: 4