It’s regional baseball time in the world of high school sports, and for fans of this town’s two largest teams that means one great thing.

Barring some unforeseen, first-round disaster, second-seeded Free State and third-seeded Lawrence High will meet at 7:30 tonight at FSHS for the right to earn a spot in next week’s Class 6A state tournament.

Admission to the game is one of the biggest bargains in sports.

Free State (16-4) will open the regional tourney at 2 p.m. when it hosts Junction City (5-13). With a win the Firebirds would advance to the regional title game, where they’ll await the winner of the game between Lawrence High (16-4) and Topeka High (6-14). That game begins at 4:30.

For those of you who can’t make it to the early games, do whatever you can to get to the night game, as it promises to the be one heck of a show.

These two teams locked horns last week at KU’s Hoglund Ballpark in one of the classic games in the history of the rivalry. The Lions prevailed in that one, but only on a sixth-inning home run from Aaron Rea after LHS had surrendered an early lead.

The teams combined for just six hits on the night but made the most of them by plating seven runs. LHS won the game, 4-3.

After the game, I talked with a handful of people about how lucky we all were to see such terrific teams face each other at this stage of the season. Tonight, assuming things go according to plan in Round 1, we’ll be lucky enough to see it again.

The Lions and Firebirds enter today with a combined record of 32-8. The teams tied for the Sunflower League title (with one league loss each) and have split their two meetings on the season, with Free State winning Game 1 in April, 5-2, and the Lions winning the other night.

We’ve learned a lot about both teams throughout the season. With that in mind, here’s a look at a few factors that likely will decide the winner of tonight’s rubber match, should it occur.

Defense is paramount
As the saying goes, “Defense wins championships,” and a strong effort from either team tonight likely will go a long way in determining a winner. These teams combined for six errors in last week’s games, at least two of which directly led to runs by the other team. The stakes are higher tonight and nerves will no doubt be racing throughout both dugouts. The team that can remain calm in the face of such adversity will have the best chance to win. With a lineup stacked with seniors, the advantage here figures to go to the more-experienced LHS club, which is full of guys who have competed, and won, at this level before.

You gotta score runs
On paper, the Lions have the far better offensive club, but LHS did not scored runs at the kind of clip it would have liked throughout the season. No time like the present to get the bats going, and if the Lions do, Free State could be in trouble. The Firebirds have scratched and clawed for just about every run they’ve scored this season. The FSHS lineup has some clutch hitters, but it lacks pop and has been inconsistent, top-to-bottom, throughout the year. Both teams have a tendency to strand base runners. Doing so tonight will only amplify their offensive struggles.

Call to the bullpen
Both LHS coach Brad Stoll and FSHS coach Mike Hill were planning to get through Game 1 without using their top two arms. Should it work out, that means both skippers will have major firepower with which to work during the title game. The Lions likely would go with junior lefty Albert Minnis as the starter in Game 2, while Free State has indicated that it would start junior right-hander Hayden Emerson. Both have pitched big-time innings for their respective teams this season, but it’s highly likely that neither will toss a complete game. There’s no way that Stoll will leave Dorian Green’s arm on the bench, no matter what the situation is. Same goes for Hill and FSHS sophomore Cody Kukuk. Throw in the fact that the Lions could bring back Game 1 starter Andy Urban for an inning or two and also have depth in the form of Tanner Kilmer, Ben Wyatt and Taylor Gentry and you’re looking at an LHS team that could use up to five pitchers in the nightcap. The Firebirds don’t have quite as much depth, but they’re close in quality. The starters will set the tone, but the guys in relief might decide this one.

Although Free State’s field is still undergoing renovations and seating is limited, it’s going to be a great night to head out to the ballpark. So grab a lawn chair, your favorite drink and come on out.

It’s not every day you get to watch two of the best teams in the state play each other with so much on the line.