Lawrence High's Jake Green, right, is greeted at home plate by teammate Dorian Green after scoring the go-ahead run in the sixth inning against Free State Friday, May 23, 2008 at the Hummer Sports Complex in Topeka. Left is Free State pitcher Caleb Gress.

Lawrence High junior Dorian Green has waited almost exactly one year for a chance at redemption.

He’ll get it in a matter of minutes as he climbs the hill at 2 p.m. today at Topeka’s Hummer Sports Complex, where the eighth-seeded Lawrence High Lions will battle No. 5 Blue Valley for a chance to play for the state title.

Lawrence reached today’s game with a thrilling, 4-3 victory over top-seeded Free State on Friday. LHS senior Tom Schuh pitched a complete game to pick up the victory and LHS got RBIs from Travis Sanders, Tyler Bailey, Devin Forio and Jake Green.

Today, the lineup will look a little different with Dorian Green on the mound, but the goal will be the same.

“These kids are hungry,” LHS coach Brad Stoll said. “This has been their goal all season, to win a state championship.”

LHS enters today’s contest with a 12-10 record. Blue Valley enters at 17-6. But, those associated with the LHS program get the sense that something special is happening right now, similar to what happen with the boys basketball team back in March.

After a marginal regular season, in which the Lions struggled often, they got hot at the right time and rode a magical run to the state title game and a second-place finish.

Their leader then? A junior guard named Dorian Green.

Their leader today? That same Dorian Green.

The first pitch is nearing and Step 2 of the Lions’ run to a state title is nearly under way.

Check back for updates throughout the day.