The task at hand for the No. 7-seeded Lawrence High softball is imposing. The Lions must slay the second-seeded Firebirds during the opening round of the Class 6A regionals at Free State.

“If we can pull out a win,” LHS senior Amanda Weishaar said, “it would be one of the biggest upsets ever.”

The matchup, which features an imbalance of talent on paper, will take place at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon. The winner will play the victor of the game between Junction City (5-13) and Topeka High at 5 p.m. for the right to go to state.

Free State (16-3) has loads of experience and talent. The Firebirds return the entire infield from the team that advanced to state last year. On the mound, sisters Catherine and Megan Smith have thwarted opponents all season long.

“They have the whole package,” LHS coach Reenie Stogsdill said. “We’re going to have to play error-free ball.”

The Lions didn’t perform that way during the team’s May 1 doubleheader at Free State, which the Firebirds swept, 5-0 and 14-2.

For part three of this year’s crosstown rivalry, though, LHS has embraced the underdog role.

“They have the pressure on them,” Weishaar said.

Conversely, Free State coach Pam Pine has cautioned her team from reading too much into the earlier victory or overlooking the Lions (4-16). Several years ago, a Firebirds team seeded seventh shocked a Washburn Rural team that most had projected for state.

“We’ve been in their position before,” Pine said. “That’s something we’ve been talking about all week. It can happen, and we sure don’t want our season to end on that note.”

Both teams have used performances this year from the schools’ other teams as a rallying cry. Weishaar captained the 13-26 volleyball team, which upended the 26-10 Lions, during the fall.

“It’s kind of the same circumstances,” Weishaar said. “It’d just be kind of sweet to beat ’em when it counts again.”

Free State catcher Allie Hock played on the girls basketball team, which won three meetings with Lawrence High. The final FSHS victory against LHS clinched a berth to state, and coach Bryan Duncan emphasized a motto to his squad.

“If you can beat them twice, why can’t you beat them one more time?” Hock said. “We kind of used that for motivation in basketball, and I think it will be the same way.”

Three serves as a significant number for LHS as well. Although the team slumped much of the season, the Lions won their last three games, including a doubleheader sweep of Shawnee Mission East.

“This is the part of the season that you want to feel like you’re playing your best ball and peaking,” Stogsdill said. “We are. We’re playing the best that we’re capable of playing.”