As the first show to kick-off 'regional season' for drum corps, the Southwestern Championship is known to be the first show where we're able to see every single corps with the same panel at the same show. While we were lucky enough with several incredible shows during the week as a preview for what was to come, nothing could prepare us for what went down. There's a LOT of close scores to keep an eye on these next few weeks, but here are the close ones right off the cuff: 

• Genesis & Music City
  
  This us one of the more exciting match-ups outside of the top-12. Both corps are fairly new to the World Class circuit after several years in the Open Class space. With only .2 separating them at the end of the Southwestern Championships, it could be anyone's game going into Atlanta this week. The two will catch each other at another show this coming Monday.
  
  
• Mandarins & Crossmen
  
  Once again, the Mandarins were able to overtake the Crossmen (and Phantom Regiment) by a total of 0.3 points. In looking at the recap, they're fairly evenly keeled, but the colorguard score is what really took the Mandarins further forward tonight, putting them at 8th in that category. Can the valkyries make more improvements across the board and propel themselves back ahead of the Mandarins?

• Blue Stars & Blue Knights
  
  This one looks to be a fight to the finish. Every time these two corps go head to head this season, they end up incredibly close, and tonight put them .325 apart with the Blue Knights ultimately prevailing. Even the recap has them swapping 7s and 8s across the board in rank. To push ahead, the Blue Stars would need to improve their music scores overall, particularly their percussion score.

• Carolina Crown & Boston Crusaders
  
  This back and forth between 4th and 5th has already been a season-long battle and looks to only continue. Tonight, Crown edged out the Crusaders by 0.35 which looks to be one of the closest gaps between the two this season so far. Looking at the recap, Boston's percussion score seemed to take its score down the most, but they were the top colorguard of the evening, helping to even it out. Can Boston clean up enough to get themselves to 4th place, their highest finish ever? 

• Blue Devils & Bluecoats
  
  These two corps keep showing us this year that the fans really are the winners. With two incredible shows, both the Bluecoats and the Blue Devils are our current contenders for first and second place, with the Bluecoats currently in the lead by 0.2 points. Again, the recap is close and either corps having an off-night could mean the other grabbing the lead. Can the Bluecoats maintain the momentum and push onwards to Atlanta? 

For the next live stream of all of this Summer's DCI action, catch us next Saturday, July 27th, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The stream will be starting at 1:30 PM, ET.