We’re pretty much at the halfway mark of the conference slate for our local softball teams, and the races are heating up nicely.

Greater Neuse River 4A

Willow Spring and Garner are atop the league standings with Corinth Holders nipping at their heels. Clayton and Cleveland have some ground to make up in order to nudge into the 4A playoff picture.

Today’s local games

Cleveland at South Garner, 4:30 p.m.
Corinth Holders at Clayton, 7 p.m.

Quad County 3A

South Johnston is an extra-inning loss to Clayton away from being undefeated overall, and have run roughshod over the Quad County 3A in its first pass through the league. The Trojans already own a 17-6 win at C.B. Aycock and an 11-0 triumph over West Johnston — the second- and third-place teams in the standings.

Today’s local games

West Johnston at Fike, 6 p.m.

Monday

Smithfield-Selma at South Johnston, 6 p.m.
Hunt at West Johnston, 6 p.m.

Neuse 6

It’s a Johnston County two step atop the Neuse 6 standings, and the race will swing one way or the other on Tuesday, when Princeton visits North Johnston (6:30 p.m.)

Charter schools

In its last season before joining the NCHSAA, American Leadership Academy is 8-5 overall, and will visit Falls Lake today at 4:30.