STAYING PERFECT—St. Thomas Aquinas pitcher Logan Shaver (4) is one of the reasons for the Falcons’ hot start. STA, which is 3-0 in district, entertains St. Helena today at 4 p.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas, Ponchatoula and Albany all look to remain perfect in district competition this afternoon as prep baseball and softball action presses on around the area.

The Falcons (13-6-1, 3-0), fresh off a 5-4 victory against Springfield on Saturday, entertain St. Helena Central today at 4 p.m., the Green Wave, which lost 11-1 to Comeaux on Saturday, host Slidell at 4 p.m., and the Lady Hornets (18-10, 5-0) entertain Independence at 5:30 p.m.

Ponchatoula's date with Slidell's is one of the area's most intriguing matchups as it pits District 7-5A's only unblemished team with one of the three teams tied for second. The Tigers (7-5, 2-1) are knotted with St. Paul's and Northshore at 2-1 in league play.

"They've got a really good team," Ponchatoula (13-4, 3-0) head coach Mark Gosnell said. "They are very talented and we are going to have to play well to win."

Gosnell said he will throw either Rudy Townsend or Wesley Fletcher against the Tigers, which have district victories against Covington and St. Paul.

"We have been playing well so hopefully it will carry over," Gosnell said. "Our kids are excited and I think we will play very well."

Meanwhile, the Hammond Tors can build on their 10-9 victory against Loranger on Saturday as it hosts Covington (11-6, 1-2) at 6:30 p.m. The Tors are still looking for their first district victory. Other District 7-5A games this afternoon feature Mandeville (7-5, 1-2) at Fontainebleau (12-4, 1-2) and Northshore (11-10, 2-1) at St. Paul (11-6, 2-1).

In District 9-2A, the Falcons can push their perfect start to four games when they host St. Helena Central. STA head coach John Legoria said he isn't familiar with the Hawks program but understands that they will present a strong challenge for the Falcons.

"It's one of those games where you just don't know how good or how bad the opposition is," Legoria said. "They are the unknown because I have never seen them play. It's one of those games you worry about because you just don't know."

STA will throw Trey Marino at the Hawks, Legoria said. Other 9-2A games pit Springfield at Doyle and Pine at Pope John Paul.

The rest of the area's baseball games today feature Bogalusa at Loranger, Amite at Independence, Albany at Sumner, Bethany at Maurepas and Oak Forest at Bowling Green.

Meanwhile, in softball, the Lady Hornets shoot for their sixth consecutive district win when they host Independence at 5:30 p.m. Along with looking to stay perfect, Albany can also give head coach Jamie Flanagan his 200th victory as a coach. The Lady Hornets currently hold a one-game lead over Sumner, which they beat on Thursday.

The other games this afternoon feature Hammond at Covington, Ponchatoula at Slidell, St. Thomas Aquinas at Pine, Loranger at Amite, Bogalusa at Sumner, Springfield at Doyle and Holden at Maurepas.