Brackets and locations of N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association playoffs in baseball, softball, girls soccer, 3A boys tennis, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse and track & field.

Wake Forest-Rolesville is the top-ranked softball team in the N&O area and starts postseason play this Friday against Lee County in the 4A N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs. Undefeated South Granville hosts Providence Grove in 2A softball.

The format has changed in this year's playoffs. Now, instead of the four state semifinalists advancing to a double-elimination, four-team tournament to decide a state title, the semifinals and finals will each be a best-of-three and held on separate weeks. It's currently how the NCHSAA baseball playoffs operate.

Holly Springs, last year's 4A East champ, opens at home with Northern Durham. The 4A East runner-up, Clayton, is at Wilmington Ashley.

The North Carolina Softball Coaches Association released its extensive 2011 All-State list and a number of Triangle-area players were named.

Among the highlights of the list: Holly Springs pitcher Erica Nunn was named 4-A East pitcher of the year, Fuquay-Varina shortstop Alexa Cannon (above left) was named 4-A East player of the year, N.C. School of Science & Math senior Whitney Johnson was named 1-A pitcher of the year and sophomore Tyler Ross of Union Pines was the 3-A player of the year.

Below is a list of all local NCSCA 2011 All-State players. To see the full list, download the attached pdf file.

West Johnston's Lexi Betancourt and Garner's Raven Smith take top honors in Greater Neuse 4-A softball.

Tri-Nine all-conference softball

Player of the Year: Erica Nunn, Holly Springs

Co-coach of the Year: Jill Munchick, Holly Springs; Miles McCaskill, Lee County

First Team

The two teams that wait on the opposite of the 4-A final four brackets — Alexander Central and North Davidson — for Triangle-area schools Clayton and Holly Springs are medal-heavy veterans of the early June battles at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. They're also ranked among the top prep softball squads in the nation.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina are playing Saturday night at 6 p.m. due to today's rainfall.

A potent Fuquay-Varina attack is expected to face Holly Springs’ Erica Nunn, one of the top high school softball pitchers in the state tonight, in the fourth round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4-A playoffs tonight.

By week's end, we'll be down to four teams in each classification for the softball playoffs. Each class' final four teams move to next week's state championships at Walnut Creek as part of a double-elimination tournament.

Friday night playoff updates.

In 4-A: Wilmington Laney at West Johnston; Clayton at Fayetteville Britt; Garner at Scotland; Northern Durham travels to Holly Springs; Apex is at Wake Forest-Rolesville; Leesville Road is at Person; Riverside is at Fuquay-Varina