Free State High’s baseball team won’t be caught off guard in its third straight Class 6A state tournament.

In 2003, it was thrilling just to be there.

In 2004, it was the magical ride to the state-title game that ended in heartbreak.

In 2005, the Firebirds have leather skin, and their path to the state-championship plaque begins at 1:30 p.m. today against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Hoglund Ballpark.

Experience came through during the Firebirds’ sub-state championship against Topeka High when Free State coach Mike Hill inserted Scott Heitshusen to pitch in the top of the seventh inning.

The score was tied at 13 with one out, and Topeka had runners on first and third after rallying from a six-run deficit. The Firebirds were holding on for dear life.

When the junior hurler got to the mound, Hill pointed at third base.

“He said, ‘There’s our season right there. You know what to do.'” Heitshusen said.

And he did it for 12â3 innings as Free State squeaked by in eight innings, 14-13 – a victory that has given the Firebirds a different mentality heading into state this weekend.

“We don’t look at it like we’re just getting somewhere,” senior pitcher Jake Hoover said. “We’re going to do something. It really started getting to me in the bottom of that seventh inning. I realized how quickly it could all be gone.”

6Sports video: Free State prepares for state championship

All three Firebird starting pitchers from last season’s tourney returned this year. Max Ellenbecker, Travis Blankenship and Hoover each made one start during last year’s tournament at Hoglund, and Ellenbecker and Hoover were called upon for relief duties – including Hoover surrendering a game-winning home run against Goddard in the state-title game.

Hill has not revealed his starting pitcher for today’s game, but Hoover earned a complete-game, 2-1 victory April 28 against SM Northwest and seems a likely candidate.

But Free State’s experience is a huge asset. The Firebirds have dominated opponents this year with actions instead of words.

“They are a confident bunch of kids in a quiet way,” Hill said. “I can only assume (their experience) will be beneficial.”