By Myra Bean

When the Clarion Ledger released its first softball poll of the season Thursday, the defending 5A State Champion South Panola Lady Tigers were not included.

However, the Lady Tigers will be facing three of those ranked teams in the Clarkdale Tournament this weekend. Clarksdale is near Meridian.

Today, South Panola will take on the No. 2 team Northwest Rankin, 13-0, at 4:30 p.m.

Tonight the Lady Tigers will face unranked Newton County at 7:30 p.m. Saturday will be more of challenge as the Lady Tigers will wake up to a 10:30 a.m. meeting with the No. 7 East Central, 11-3. East Central is the defending 4A state champ.

The Lady Tigers will close out the tournament with a 1:30 p.m. game against No. 3 Poplarville, 12-1.

South Panola will be home Monday to host Tupelo in distirct action at 5 and 6 p.m Tuesday, the Lady Tiger travel to Senatobia for non-district action also at 5 and 6 p.m.

D’Iberville leads the poll at No. 1 with Long Beach at No. 4. Rounding out the top 10 are Enterprise Clarke, Madison Central, East Central, Stone County, Clinton and Wayne County.