Region tournaments for area softball teams begin this week, and teams will be vying for one of the coveted top four spots to clinch a trip to the state tournament. The Region 8-AAAAA, 8-AAAA and 8-AA tournaments all start Tuesday. For Gainesville, a run in the 8-AAAAA tournament has the potential to be a long one, with the tournament running until Oct. 4, when the championship and third place games are played.