When the Free State High baseball team won the Class 6A state title in 2006, it did so as the state tournament’s No. 4 seed.

The Firebirds enter next weekend’s state tournament with the same seed — and with their sights set on a similar outcome.

After beating Topeka High and Washburn Rural on Friday night to earn a regional title, Free State finds itself matched up with fifth-seeded Wichita Northwest (18-4) in its opening-round game, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Kansas University’s Hoglund Ballpark.

If the Firebirds win their first game, they will take on the winner of the game between top-seeded Maize (20-2) and eighth-seeded Olathe North (10-12) at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

“Needless to say, if you’re 18-4, you’re very successful,” said FSHS coach Mike Hill of Wichita Northwest. “They’ve got guys at nearly every position that put up all-state numbers. It’s very impressive what they’ve been able to do offensively. The success they’ve had is pretty striking when you look at the numbers.”

The Firebirds (18-4) will be making their sixth state appearance in the past eight seasons.

“When we offered to host (the state tournament in Lawrence), we hoped that we would have a team worthy of getting into the state tournament,” Hill said. “It’s an exciting time for the kids. I think they’re looking forward to the opportunity of playing in their backyard and seeing what they can make happen.”

The city, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on having two representatives at the state tournament.

Lawrence High led top-seeded Manhattan, 3-1, in the bottom of the sixth inning of Friday night’s regional final before falling 4-3 to miss out on a state tournament berth and a chance to defend its 2009 state title.