Pleasant Home will try and tap into its success against Cottage Hill before spring break, and use it Friday against Sweet Water in the first round of the Class 1A state playoffs.

The Eagles will face a Bulldogs team that has compiled a 14-11 record. Pleasant Home’s success against the Warriors came in the form of a 6-3 first game win, in which they committed only one error.

It’s the kind of success the team hopes to see gain in Friday’s playoff contests against Sweet Water, PHS head baseball coach Cody McCain said.

The first round of the playoffs will be the best 2-of-3-games with a doubleheader on Friday. A single game will be played on Sat., April 23, if the teams split on Friday.

“We’ve got a big challenge ahead of us because most of their record was against larger schools,” McCain said.

Fernando Torres Jr., a three-year starter and senior for the Eagles, will start on the mound for PHS in one of the two games Friday, McCain said.

Torres has a 3-3 record in eight games, and has two no decisions.

Torres’ mindset going into Friday’s playoff round is the same as McCain’s.

“If we play the way we played against Cottage Hill, then I think we have a good chance on them,” Torres said.

Torres said he never gets nervous before games, and mainly focuses on the batter, not the runners.

As far as who will start on the mound in Friday’s other game, McCain said he has a few options in seniors Colter Poole and Sid Newby; and junior Hunter Weaver.

When asked if he felt comfortable going into Friday, McCain reiterated what he told his players during practice Tuesday.

“As long as you’re in the playoffs, you’ve got a chance,” McCain said. “The fact that we’re still playing, and a lot of teams are done, that’s encouraging. I think it takes a lot of the pressure off.

“Like I just told the guys, ‘let’s just go to Sweet Water, and play hard and see what happens,” he said.

The first pitch of the first game is slated for 4 p.m. The second game will follow the conclusion of the first game.