There will be no long-winded, motivational speeches coming from Free State High baseball coach Mike Hill before his team begins sub-state today at home.

Just to refresh his players’ memories, though, he might remind them of Tyler Weber.

Weber’s line drive slipped over the Hoglund Ballpark fence last May, making the Firebirds state runners-up to Goddard.

“The only thing you’ve got to tell them is, ‘Bottom of the eighth against Goddard, and see that ball flyin’ over the gate,'” Hill said. “We saw it a week later here in our summer program. Our kids were motivated.”

So, motivation can be checked off of the to-do list as the season has reached its win-or-go-home breaking point.

Next is making sure the second-seeded Firebirds (16-3) do not overlook seventh-seeded Leavenworth (3-17) at 4:30 p.m. today at the Free State field.

FSHS smoked the Pioneers, 12-2, two weeks ago, but Hill was not pleased with his team’s approach in the contest, labeling it “stale.”

This time around against Leavenworth will not be as easy, either. Aside from the Pioneers wanting a taste of revenge, the Firebirds will face Leavenworth ace Glen Lemke.

“We’ve got to approach them carefully,” Hill said. “You kind of worry about your kids’ mind-set. We’re going to see Glen Lemke, who’s a kid for six innings or so had us beat last year.

6Sports video: Firebirds ready for run at state

“Those are the games that as a coach make you a little nervous.”

Along with the comfort and knowledge that come from playing at its home park, Free State most likes the fact that there’s always the advantage potentially of having the last at-bat.

“In the state tournament last year, if we had the last at-bat, who knows what would have happened,” senior Cory Cooper said.

Awaiting the winner of the Free State-Leavenworth contest will be the victor of the 2 p.m. game between Emporia and Topeka High.

The sub-state championship game is slated for 7 tonight.

Free State punished Emporia in last season’s sub-state opener, 10-2, before defeating Lawrence High for a state berth, though Hill expects a different team to show up under a rookie coaching staff. Topeka High enters sub-states at 12-6, having been a mainstay in the state’s top-10 this year.

The most valuable chip in Free State’s stack could be its experienced pitching staff that has increased in depth from a year ago. The talent on the mound is present, and heading into today’s competition, the right mentality will accompany it, the Firebirds vow.

“I think sometimes we’re not completely focused, but I think lately we’ve been a lot more focused,” senior pitcher Max Ellenbecker said. “You know it’s win-or-you’re-out from here on out, so you’re playing every game like it’s your last.”