The last time the Free State High baseball team made an appearance at the Class 6A state tournament, current FSHS senior Joel Spain was a seventh-grader who spent the spring looking up to Free State studs like Cody Kukuk, Colin Toalson, Tim Lewis, Ryan Scott and others.

That was in 2010. On Thursday, Spain added his name to the list of Free State standouts to help his team advance at state with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate that led to two runs and included a hit-by-pitch during second-seeded Free State’s 4-0 victory over Haysville Campus at Kansas University’s Hoglund Ballpark.

Thursday’s victory was filled with key contributions from several members of the Free State senior class — Spain, Cooper Karlin, Casey Hearnen, Tripp Wright, Jacob Holiday, Marcelino Cortez, Matt Pendry and Jon Saathoff. An RBI here, a heads-up baserunning play there and the typically sound FSHS defense everywhere else. Not bad for a bunch of guys who had never played on a stage quite this big before.

Of course, none of Thursday’s businesslike baseball victory surprised Firebirds’ coach Mike Hill, who has guided the west Lawrence prep program to seven regional titles and the 2006 state title since 2003.

“Any time you start a conversation with a high school kid that begins with ‘Way back when,’ the eyes glaze over and they’re gone,” joked Hill after the game when asked if he mentioned anything to this group about cementing its legacy with a strong showing at state. “But they know the history of our program and they know the expectations.”

FSHS senior Joel Spain (4) slides safely into third base in the Firebirds' 4-0 victory over Haysville Campus in the state 6A baseball tournament Thursday at Hoglund Ballpark.

Spain, who has been a factor at the varsity level throughout his high school career, said past postseason performances by Free State teams served as motivation for the solid 2015 season, which continues today in the state semis. No one wants to be a part of the class that went its entire career without tasting the state tournament. Not only do Spain and company not have to live with that any longer, but they also are now just two wins away from delivering the program’s second-ever state title.

“Getting here and trying to go out and win it was definitely a big goal of ours,” Spain said.

Asked how playing in such a big game compared to what he expected or remembered from watching all those years ago, the smooth senior flashed a calm smile and said, “It reminds you a little bit of the LHS game played here — bunch of people, lot of energy, it’s a big game that you want to win and you just go out and have fun on KU’s field.”

That relaxed yet focused, modest but confident demeanor has served the Firebirds (19-4) well throughout 2015. And here they sit on the final day of the season, one of four teams still alive.

“Everybody likes to win,” Hill said. “But give me guys that hate to lose. And they do. They don’t like it. And that brings out a little tenacity in people and a little bit of an edge. They’ve really been playing their best ball the last two weeks of the season and it’s gonna take that to have a chance (today).”