It will be nearly three weeks between games for the Salisbury softball team.

But when the Lady Falcons finally get back out on the field, it'll be well worth the wait.

For the first time since the 2006 season, the Lady Falcons will be competing for a district crown when they open up Class AA competition next week against Catasauqua. The No. 3 seed Lady Falcons (13-7 overall; 10-6 in Colonial League) will travel to Parkland High School on Tuesday for their matchup against No. 2 Catty (15-6 overall; 12-4 in Colonial League) at 5 p.m.

During their lone meeting of the regular season, Catty came out victorious with a 17-5 in mid-April. The Lady Rough Riders' Hannah Edwards, a Colonial League First Team All-Star in the outfield, went 3-for-4 against the Lady Falcons. First-year head coach Ken Choquette understands that slowing her down, a task the entire league has been faced with, will be an essential part to their success.

"Everybody measures their success defensively on their ability to get her out," Choquette said. "She's always a challenge, even when you know it's coming and you adjust your defense accordingly, she's still a very difficult out.

"With having two and a half weeks between games, it's very difficult and a psychological challenge for the young players to try and keep their hunger for the win."

But that meeting was during a stretch in which Choquette's team wasn't playing its best softball. The Lady Falcons had alternated wins and losses for the first three weeks of the season, and their defeat to Catty was the first and only time they had lost consecutive games all year.

Since then, the Lady Falcons have won nine wins of their last 11 contests, and their regular season loss to Southern Lehigh (19-9) was the first in their last nine outings. Choquette is looking for that momentum to transition into their first district opportunity in nearly a decade.

"We met them at the part of our season when our team wasn't hitting real well, and I think we have really picked that up in the last half of the year," Choquette said. "We've been trying to really concentrate on players relaxing at the plate. They've really been picking it up across the board, and our team batting average has jumped a lot over the last half of the season because of their work at the plate."

During their best stretch of the season, the Lady Falcons have prided themselves on playing loose, clean softball with a solid defense surrounding their pitching staff. Shortstop Meghan Williams and outfielder Jenna Keet were named Colonial League Second Team All-Stars and have been vital to that defense, while catcher Thayla Creswell, an honorable mention selection, has handled duties behind the plate. Choquette is looking for much of the same once the postseason begins.

"It's so exciting for them to be able to reach that landmark of making districts," Choquette said.

"I'm trying to make sure that they don't let their emotions out of control and get the best of them, because they play their best and they shine when they're able to relax and be confident, especially at the plate."

The winner will advance to the championship game on Thursday, May 29. Should the Lady Falcons advance to the finals, they'll be competing for their first ever district championship.