If it seems Thursday the city of Eudora has relocated 150 miles west to Salina, blame the high school baseball and softball teams.

State tournament fever is rampant this week, with both Eudora High programs advancing to the Class 4A Div. I championship quarterfinals, hosted by the central Kansas city of Salina.

“Hopefully there will be a lot of people out there,” EHS baseball coach Wilson Kilmer said. “It’s a pretty big deal.”

The baseball Cardinals (18-4 and the No. 1 seed at state) start off the big day with an 11 a.m. first-round matchup against No. 8 seed Andover Central (12-10) at Dean Evans Stadium. Later, at 7 in the evening, the softball Cardinals (16-6 and the No. 6 seed) go for a state victory of their own versus No. 3 seed Augusta (18-4) at Bill Burke Sports Complex.

Now in his third season with Eudora, baseball coach Kilmer credited his senior class — Kyle Abel, Gage Purcell, Grady Cain, Aaron Foster, Jared Fry, Ben VanDiest, Zach Courbat, Christian Misner-Iles and Hunter Barham — for the team’s success.

“Those guys have bought in and grown in the system,” their coach said, “and they went out and they played really well this year.”

Left-handed pitcher Courbat (9-0) and righty Foster, both starters, helped the Cardinals rely on pitching (1.74 regular-season team ERA) and defense all spring.

Offensively, Foster hit .500 in the regular season, and catcher Fry and right fielder VanDiest (.338 regular-season batting average) led a Eudora lineup capable of putting the ball in play and making things happen.

Now their goal is to bring Eudora baseball its first state title in program history.

“That’s the thing we’ve wanted to do all along,” Kilmer said, “is get to this position where we get a chance to play for a state title.”

In his second season coaching EHS softball, Bill Finucane saw his Cardinals reach the state tournament by taking a team-first approach. Finucane said between the heart of senior Sam Gulley, the talent of players such as junior Jordan Flakus (.522 average, .899 slugging percentage, 25 runs scored, three home runs), the determination of freshman Kyla Etter (2.76 regular-season ERA, 64 strikeouts) and everyone else buying in and leading in their own ways, Eudora found a winning equation.

This is Etter’s first season of varsity softball, but Finucane said the freshman pitcher proved a “very welcome addition” to the program and earned the role of No. 1 starter.

Another freshman, Kaylee McNish, became the No. 2 hurler but she has missed action with an injury. Finucane hopes the Cardinals can plug her in at state “if the situation’s right.”

Even if they can’t utilize McNish’s arm, juniors Brooklynn Beerbower and Flakus, who plays first base, are reliable pitching options, too.

When Eudora needs offense, it typically turns to one of its batters hitting in the neighborhood of .400. According to Finucane, Flakus, sophomore designated hitter and utility player Alaina Howe (.447 average, five doubles, 13 runs scored), sophomore leadoff hitter Devin Purcell (.435 average, 17 runs), Beerbower (.375 average, 14 runs, 10 doubles) and Etter (.383 average) tend to spark EHS rallies.

“They’re pretty pumped about it,” the EHS coach said of his players, “excited to be (at state), and trying to stay focused.”

Class 4A Div I state baseball tournament

Thursday-Friday, at Dean Evans Stadium, in Salina

Thursday quarterfinals

No. 1 Eudora (18-4) vs. No. 8 Andover Central (12-10), 11 a.m.

No. 4 Paola (17-5) vs. No. 5 Chanute (15-6), 1:15 p.m.

No. 2 Rose Hill (17-5) vs. Bishop Miege (13-9), 3:30 p.m.

No. 3 Buhler (17-5) vs. No. 6 Clay Center Community/Wakefield (11-6), 5:45 p.m.

Class 4A Div I state softball tournament

Thursday-Friday, at Bill Burke Complex, in Salina

Thursday quarterfinals

No. 1 Piper (18-2) vs. No. 8 Hays (10-10), 5 p.m., Field A

No. 4 Wellington (17-5) vs. No. 5 Independence (17-5), 7 p.m., Field A

No. 2 Spring Hill (18-3) vs. No. 7 Baldwin (14-8), 5 p.m., Field B

No. 3 Augusta (18-4) vs. No. 6 Eudora (16-6), 7 p.m., Field B