The Stamford and Colorado City softball teams kicked off their best-of-three Region I-2A championship series Thursday with the first state tournament trip for either school on the line.

While it was the Lady Bulldogs who came out on top 7-1 at Abilene Christian University’s Poli Wells Field, both coaches saw plenty of things to be excited about in the series opener.

For Stamford coach Cynthia Herrera, it was an opportunity to play and win in the hot and humid conditions like the Lady Bulldogs could face next week in Austin.