Joe Graves gets his head shaved by Chris Bass, left, as Ryan Hearn waits his turn Tuesday in St. Al’s cafeteria. (The Vicksburg Post/C. TODD SHERMAN)

[04/19/01] St. Aloysius will get a trophy for winning Division 6-1A, but a baseball cap hides the team’s real prize the shaved head of coach Joe Graves. He let his players cut his hair down to crewcut-length on Tuesday after they wrapped up the division title to satisfy a preseason promise.

“It didn’t bother me at all. Whatever it takes the kids to keep them focused,” Graves said, his scalp showing through the salt-and-pepper stubble under the cap.

All of the Flashes got a shot at trimming the coach’s hair, but they were careful not to mess it up.

“It’s a better look for him, I think,” pitcher Ryan Hearn said.

Now, they’re hoping playoff foes start falling off as fast as fast as Graves’ hair as they start their opening-round series Thursday night at 6:30 against West Lincoln (11-9).

Aaron George (8-0) will start for St. Al (18-2) against Corey Easley (5-2).

“I’ve been waiting for this since three years ago,” St. Al’s Aaron George said, referring to the Flashes’ last playoff appearance.

That was in 1998, when West Lincoln knocked the Flashes out in two one-run games. Most of the Flashes’ older players were just beginning in the program then. They’re eager at the chance for payback.

“We don’t really know much about West Lincoln, except that they put us out of the playoffs before,” said Hearn, who will start Game 2 Friday at West Lincoln.

St. Al’s biggest question mark entering the series is its experience. The team has rolled through its competition this season, but none of the players have had any significant postseason playing time.

But Graves isn’t concerned.

“I’m not worried about it, primarily because of the things we’ve done, like playing in those (summer) tournaments in Florida. We played some big schools down there, and our kids aren’t really intimidated. They know they have to get things done,” Graves said.

It may be easier against a West Lincoln team that stumbled down the stretch. The Bears lost six of their last nine after an 8-3 start, but still finished second in Division 7-1A to qualify for the playoffs.

West Lincoln is led by center fielder and No. 2 starter Jamie Sisco, a .410 hitter, and first baseman Cody Wallace (.330, 8 home runs, 42 RBIs).

“It’s depressing, going into the playoffs and losing to teams that you should be beating. But the kids are staying positive,” West Lincoln coach Andrew Redd said.

The Flashes are staying positive, too and confident.

“I think we’ve got two of the best pitchers in the state … if we hit like we’re capable of hitting, we’ll win,” Hearn said. “If we win state, I think we’ll all shave our heads.”

Even if they keep rolling all the way to a state title, however, Graves said he’s through with the clippers.