With temperatures in the 70s the last few days spring is definitely in the air even though it doesn’t officially begin until March 20.

That means one thing.

The beginning of the high school spring sports season is almost here.

Logan County’s baseball, softball, tennis and track and field squads have been hard at work the last week or so in preparation for the upcoming 2009 season.

Two Logan County teams — the Logan High School baseball squad and the Man High School girls’ softball squad — enter the ‘09 campaign as state champions.

The Logan Wildcats roared last season in their last year of Class AA ball.

The Cats captured last year’s Double-A state championship with a 13-3 victory over Point Pleasant at Charleston’s Appalachian Power Park. It was Logan’s fourth state title this decade and sixth in school history.

The Man Lady Billies won their first state crown since 1983 with last year’s 7-3 victory in the Class A state championship game over Wheeling Central.

Both the Logan baseball team and the Man girls are hoping to repeat as champs.

It’s really not too far-fetched of an idea.

Both the Wildcats and Lady Billies return plenty of starters from last year’s teams and key people in key positions are back this season.

Logan, which went 27-9 last season, lost three senior starters from last year’s team in all-staters J.R. Blevins, Thomas Adkins and Josh Motto but lot of seasoned, veteran talent return this year, including: pitcher/infielder Jordan Butcher; second baseman Ross Easterling; catcher Cody Vinson; outfielder Josh Wilson; pitchers Todd Fleming, Ronnie Abbott and David Brown and many more.

The Wildcats are back in Class AAA ball for the first time since 2002 but Logan still hopes to make it back to the state tournament. Nitro, which split with Logan in two matchups last season, is the defending 3A state champs.

The Man Lady Billies, which went 24-3 last season, likewise have ample talent returning this season, led by all-state pitcher Marlena Frye. The junior hurler has been getting looks from Division I schools and the hard-throwing right-hander hopes to lead Man back to state tourney this season.

Man has lots of other returning starters back, including Tabby Johnston, Malorie Keffer, Mercedes Sharp, Paige Stacy, Lorin Whited and Kaitlyn Chapman, just to name a few.

The Lady Billies lost just one senior to graduation — infielder Katie Bryant.

Both Logan and Man will be put to the test this season with difficult schedules.

The Wildcats are scheduled to open the season March 25 at Winfield.

Logan, which plays in a new Class AAA sectional with George Washington and South Charleston, has home-and-home series this season with 3A teams and usual state contenders Hurricane, Cabell Midland and Nitro. County rivals Chapmanville and Man are also on the slate as well as former Class AA sectional rival Scott.

Coach Roger Gertz’s Wildcats play again in a Spring Break tourney at Myrtle Beach, S.C., April 13-16.

The Lady Billies, coached by Randy Epperly, are slated to open the ‘09 season on March 21 at Van.

Man has a home-and-home with county rival Logan. The Lady Billies also have a single game at 3A Beckley and also face Buffalo on Logan’s diamond.

The Lady Billies are set to take part in the Best of the Best Tournament at Buffalo.