The second round of Class 3A playoffs should carry heavy implications on the outcome of the state title as the No. 1-ranked Mobile Christian Leopards (21-7) travel to Opp today to take on the No. 2-ranked Bobcats (21-6).

“There are 16 teams left at this point, eight in north and eight in the south,” Opp head coach Mike Cassady said. “Right now, everyone left is a good team and they are in the second round for that reason.”

After missing the playoffs last year, the Bobcats have looked like a team eager to make a deep postseason run in 2018.

“We have a group of eight seniors that have been playing together since they were 5-years old,” Cassady said. “These past two weeks we have had some really good practices. A lot of times the way you practice is they way you play, and we hope to carry that into the games tomorrow.”

Opp started the season strong and continued to wreak havoc on opposing teams throughout the season.

The Bobcats only lost two games to teams in Class 3A or below.

Opp lost an early-season contest to Providence Christian, which saw the Bobcats fall in extra innings.

The other loss was to Straughn after the Bobcats had clinched the area title.

Opp responded to the loss with a 21-2 trouncing of Straughn a few days later.

In the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs, the Bobcats showed why they are one of the top teams in the state as they made short work of the T.R. Miller Tigers.

Opp blew past the Tigers 10-0 in the first game and then wrapped up the series with an 11-0 victory in game two.

Mobile Christian made their way into the second round of the playoffs after knocking off Providence Christian in the opening round.

Mobile Christian picked up a 6-2 win in game one and then clinched the series with an 8-6 win.

The Leopards have a strong history in the baseball playoffs. Mobile Christian won back-to-back titles in the 2015 and 2016 in Class 2A.

The Leopards moved to Class 3A last season and lost in the third round to American Christian.

Opp’s last playoff appearance was in the 2016 when the Bobcats were eliminated in the first round by Bayside Academy.

The Bobcats last made the second round of the state playoffs in 2014.

Cassady encouraged fans to come out and support the Bobcats.

“I know Andalusia is playing in Montgomery and the first thing I want to do is wish them and Coach (Tyler) Dent the best of luck,” Cassady said. “For those fans that can’t make the trip to Trinity, I would like to invite them over her to watch Opp. It’s going to be a big game with the No. 1 and No. 2 teams facing off. We should have a big crowd and I would encourage anyone to come out and support these kids.”

Opp and Mobile Christian will begin game one today at 4:30 p.m., in Opp. Game two is scheduled for 7 p.m.