[5/6/03]The Porters Chapel Academy Eagles know their latest playoff opponent inside and out. They know their tendencies, their strengths, and their weaknesses. They know they’ve beaten them four straight times.

They also know that Franklin is a solid ballclub that may be due to break that streak.

PCA (25-2) travels to Winnsboro, La., tonight to face conference rival Franklin (21-5) in Game 1 of the Academy-A South State championship series. Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 3, will be Friday at PCA.

The winner of the series moves on to the state finals against either Heidelberg or Winona Christian. Although PCA has only lost once to Franklin in three years, the Eagles aren’t looking ahead.

“There’s no secrets. I don’t have to call around getting any scouting reports. I know what they’re capable of,” PCA coach Randy Wright said. “They’ve seen our pitching, we’ve seen their pitching, and it’s going to be a battle.”

The familiarity and growing rivalry between the two teams should make for an interesting series. PCA has gotten the best of Franklin most of the time the Eagles have won five of the last six meetings but Franklin is anxious to change that.

“If you go back and look at the stats, we’ve done OK. There’s just been some turning points that they’ve capitalized on and we haven’t capitalized on,” Franklin coach Ryan Ellington said. “You play sports, you’re going to lose … It’s time for them to lose a ballgame.”

Ellington added that he felt whoever wins the series is the favorite to win the Academy-A state championship.

“It’s been a good rivalry. I think there’s a lot of respect there,” Franklin coach Ryan Ellington said. “I think our two teams are probably the best in the state, and whoever wins our series will go on and win state.”

Both Wright and Ellington were tight-lipped about their Game 1 starters, but the series may be dominated by pitching no matter who throws.

Either Andrew Embry (8-1) or Ryan Hoben (9-1) will get the ball for PCA tonight, while Franklin will counter with Tyler Harris (7-3) or Matt Doyle (9-1). Whoever doesn’t start tonight is sure to get the ball for Game 2.

Harris started both regular-season games against PCA. He allowed four runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings in a tough 4-3 loss in the first meeting, but was tagged for four runs in the first inning of the rematch, an 8-2 PCA victory. He is 0-6 lifetime against the Eagles.

A key matchup in the series could be Harris vs. PCA cleanup hitter Josh Rush. Rush, a senior third baseman and catcher, is 11-for-13 lifetime against the Franklin ace with two home runs and five doubles. His long solo home run in the teams’ first meeting this season turned out to be a game-winner.

For the season, Rush is batting .381 with five home runs, 30 RBIs, and seven doubles.

“It’s just the right person, the right speed. His fastball is the perfect speed and his curveball is the perfect curveball, with a little hook,” Rush said, explaining his dominance against Harris.

Ellington admitted that Rush had Harris’ number, but noted that Harris had fared well against some of PCA’s other heavy hitters. Ellington added that he wouldn’t pitch around Rush unless it was absolutely necessary.

“I’m not going to avoid pitching to anybody unless the situation calls for it. (Rush) has had Harris’ number, but Harris has had the number for a few of their other players,” Ellington said. “I’m not one for putting him on unless he can do some damage to them at the time.”

Doyle (1.35 ERA) also saw some action in both games against PCA. Both Franklin pitchers have an ERA under 1.50, as do PCA’s dynamic duo of Hoben (0.89 ERA in 62-1/3 innings) and Embry (1.39 ERA in 60 innings).

Embry held Franklin to four hits and struck out eight in their first meeting this season, and Hoben held the Cougars to two runs in a complete game in the second meeting.

With so much pitching available for both sides, it’s not surprising that the players felt the outcome of the series will be decided by which team solves the other’s starters first.

“If we hit the ball well, we’ll win, because we always play good defense,” PCA left fielder Wes Massey said. “If we can come out and jump on them real quick, they won’t have a chance.”

Although he was confident in the Eagles’ chances, Massey was quick to add that it wouldn’t be an easy series.

“We still have to go out there and play, because they are a team that can beat us,” Massey said.