The Lufkin Panthers’ baseball team will renew an old rivalry when they open the playoffs against the Marshall Mavericks later this week.

The Panthers, the second-place team in District 16-5A, will take on 15-5A’s third-place Marshall Mavericks in a best-of-three series at Tyler’s Mike Carter Field.

The first game will be at 4:30 p.m. on Friday before the series resumes on Saturday afternoon at 1. A third game, if necessary, will be held 30 minutes after the conclusion of the second game.

Marshall has the look of a dangerous team after finishing in a second-place tie in District 15-5A with Hallsville.

The Mavericks had a playoff for the district’s second seed and led Hallsville 1-0 in the seventh inning on Tuesday night. However, Hallsville struck for two runs to earn the district’s second seed and drop Marshall in to third place.

Marshall has a 15-11 record on the season and finished 15-5A play. Texas High won the district with a 12-2 district record, leading Marshall and Hallsville. Pine Tree was the fourth place team in the district.

Lufkin is coming off a strong regular season in which it had an overall record of 19-7 and a district mark of 10-2 to place second in 16-5A.

It handed district-champion Corsicana (19-4, 11-1) its only loss in 16-5A play. Lindale was the third-place team, followed by Whitehouse.

In other first-round games between district teams, Whitehouse will face Texas High, Hallsville plays Lindale and Pine Tree will play Corsicana.