Five Lincoln teams are among eight that remain in the Nebraska Baseball Association’s Class A state tournament.

Play begins at 9 a.m. today in Kearney with the red-hot Lincoln Giants taking on the Kearney Kernels. Over the last three weeks, the Giants have posted wins against  the top-ranked Lincoln Dirtbags, the No. 2 Lincoln Reds and the sixth-ranked Crete Diamond Cats.

The Dirtbags and Reds are also in this weekend’s state tournament, along with the Lincoln Cardinals and Lincoln Diablos.

The Class B state tournament, which began with 35 teams playing in regional qualifiers, is down to six teams, with play set for this weekend in Wakefield.

The teams can have up to three American Legion players on their rosters for the state tournament.

The Nebraska Baseball Association, formed in 2006 to unify adult town-team leagues from across the state, grew to 59 teams this summer.

State tournament schedules:

CLASS A AT KEARNEY

Today: Lincoln Giants vs. Kearney Kernels, 9 a.m.; Lincoln Cardinals vs. Lincoln Reds, 11:15 a.m.; Hastings Tigers vs. Lincoln Dirtbags, 1:30 p.m.; Council Bluffs Bluejays vs. Lincoln Diablos, 3:45 p.m.; semifinals at 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Sunday: Championship at 2 p.m.

CLASS B AT WAKEFIELD

Friday: Wakefield vs. Chadron. Today: Hartington vs. Haxtun, Colo., 10 a.m.; Cairo vs. Wakefield-Chadron loser, 12:30 p.m.; Yutan vs. Hartington-Haxtun loser, 3 p.m.; Cairo vs. Wakefield-Chadron winner, 5:30 p.m.; Yutan vs. Hartington-Haxtun winner, 8 p.m. Sunday: Consolation game at 11 a.m., championship at 2 p.m.