Football season is just around the corner, but before those teams kick off their regular seasons, a couple of other sports will get revved up around the region.

Softball season will go into full swing this week after a number of teams began play at the Lanier Point Invitational over the weekend.

Defending Class AA state champion Buford will play today at 5:30 p.m. against defending Class A champ Gordon Lee and again later this week in the Hawk/Bulldog Invitational, beginning 7 p.m. Wednesday against Dacula.

Class AAA state champ White County, which took fourth in the Gold Division at the Lanier Point Invitational, will take on Class AAA No. 4 Walnut Grove at 5:55 p.m. Tuesday and play at Chestatee on Thursday at the same time.

Also in Hall County, Johnson will play games at Hart County (today) and at Cedar Shoals (Friday). Gainesville, Chestatee and Flowery Branch will all play on Tuesday. 

East Hall, which got off to a good start with a second-place finish at Lanier Point, will play Tuesday at home against Habersham Central and Thursday at Flowery Branch.

VOLLEYBALL PICKS UP: North Hall, which returns four starters from a team that made the state quarterfinals a year ago, will begin its volleyball season Tuesday at home against Buford and Lakeview. 

East Hall, already off to its best start in program history after going 3-1 at the East Jackson playdate on Saturday, will host West Hall, Habersham Central and Flowery Branch on Tuesday.

High school football: While most teams will wait for Aug. 26 to begin regular season play, Riverside and Buford will kick it off this Friday against Pinecrest and Blessed Trinity, respectively. 

North Hall, Johnson, West Hall and Jackson County will all play scrimmages this week. West Hall and Johnson will play Thursday; North Hall and Jackson County will play on Friday.

ATLANTA BRAVES: The Braves will begin the second series of a 10-game home stand today against the slumping San Francisco Giants. Winners of five out of their last seven, the Braves will try to continue their success against a Giants team that has slipped from division leader to a team struggling to keep pace in the playoff race.

After its four-game series with the Giants, Atlanta will finish the week with three games against a hot Diamondbacks club.

Tim Hudson (12-7, 3.18 ERA) will take the hill first at 7 tonight. He will look to continue his good pitching. In his last three starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA.

Tommy Hanson, who has been battling shoulder tendinitis, was scheduled to pitch on Tuesday, but was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday. 

Manager Fredi Gonzalez said that right-hander Randall Delgado will be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to make the start. Delgado gave up four runs, three earned, in a 6-2 loss to Texas in his debut with Atlanta on June 17.

GWINNETT BRAVES: With just a couple weeks remaining in the Triple-A regular season, the G-Braves will attempt to keep pace in the division with the Durham Bulls, who hold a 1.5-game lead in the division.

The G-Braves will finish a series with the Pawtucket Red Sox today before beginning a three-game slate with the Syracuse Chiefs. The team will finish the week on the road against the Charlotte Knights.