SPRING HILL, Ark.-Spring Hill is becoming Titletown, U.S.A.
The Bears (26-3) will aim to defend their crown against Parkers Chapel (27-7) in the Class 2A state baseball championship at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Baum Stadium at the University of Arkansas.
"Last year, we had a really good season, and this year we're right back where we need to be," head coach James Brown said. "I feel like we're going to use last year's experience in the state championship game and try to pull out another one.
"Not very many teams go back-to-back, so we know we have a little bit of pressure on us. We're going to take that with a grain of salt and go try to win us another state championship."
Spring Hill has scored a whopping 239 runs, while giving up 93 runs and also boasting a .897 winning percentage during the season.
The Bears have been in this position before, so do not expect the lore of Baum Stadium and all its mystique to distract this Spring Hill squad from their goals.
"Last year proved that we're not afraid to step up on that stage and play at a collegiate facility," Brown said. "We're going into Baum focused on playing baseball and not really focused on the facility itself. We're not going to let those lights get to us, we're just going there to play baseball."
Spring Hill is 1-1 in their title appearances and this year is their second state title birth. Parkers Chapel has made it to the championship game five times, winning in 2002, 2007 and 2011.
"I'm going to come in with my ace pitcher and let him do his thing," Brown said. "Pitching has been our foundation this year, and we plan to stick with that. We'll try to keep their runs to a minimal and play solid defensively.
"I know we'll score some runs offensively, but we're going to focus in on keeping their runs off the scoreboard. If I had to choose a team being completely unbiased, I would choose Spring Hill. These kids can flat out hit the ball.
"We went up against the number one team in the state and their kids was throwing in the mid 80s. We smoked him."
During the 2018 Class 2A state baseball postseason, Spring Hill has outscored opponents 41-15.
This is the Bears second clash with Parkers Chapel this postseason. In the previous contest, Spring Hill run-ruled the Trojans, 14-4.
But this rematch will be for all the marbles.