Unlike some of its predecessors, this year’s Porters Chapel baseball team hasn’t quite had the look of a championship contender.

PCA vs. Glenbrook

Game 1: Tuesday, 4 p.m.

at Glenbrook

Game 2: Thursday, 6 p.m.

at Porters Chapel

Game 3: Friday, 4 p.m.

at Glenbrook

(if necessary)

The Eagles had a rough start, have yet to develop a reliable No. 2 pitcher, and have had a few downright ugly losses. For all their warts, though, the Eagles are right where they always seem to be this time of year — back in the postseason.

PCA will make its 11th straight appearance in the MPSA playoffs beginning Tuesday, when it heads to Minden, La., to face Glenbrook in Game 1 of a first-round Class A series. Game 2 is Thursday night at PCA, and if a Game 3 is necessary it’ll be played Friday at Glenbrook.

PCA enters the series having won 11 of its last 14 games after a 6-5 start. The stretch includes a 13-5 win over Glenbrook (18-4) last month, and has the Eagles (17-8) feeling confident heading into the playoffs.

“I definitely think we’re playing our best baseball. It remains to be seen what that means, but we’re definitely playing our best baseball right now,” said PCA coach Randy Wright. “We’ve definitely played better in the  last 12 games than we did in the first 12.”

The Eagles’ run has largely been powered by a potent offense. Five players are hitting .400 or better, they have a .420 team batting average and a total of 111 extra base hits.

And they’ve needed all the offense they can get. Sophomore ace Montana McDaniel went 7-1 in the regular season with a 1.28 ERA, but no clear-cut No. 2 has emerged behind him. Several players, including Joe Borrello, Matthew Warren and Reed Gordon, have had strong outings but none have been consistent enough to become a shut-down starter.

Warren, the No. 2 starter for most of the season, is 3-2 with a 5.22 ERA in 24 2/3 innings.

“Matthew Warren has done a pretty good job all year. Borrello, Ghost Jones and Reed Gordon have all thrown a good game in the last couple weeks, and that encourages me heading into the playoffs,” Wright said.

As if advancing to the second round wasn’t enough motivation, the Eagles might draw a little extra inspiration from their opponent. Glenbrook beat PCA’s football team in the playoffs each of the last two seasons, and a lot of players participate in both sports.

Winning this week’s series wouldn’t completely erase those bitter losses on the gridiron, but it would ease the sting a bit, PCA catcher Josh Hill said.

“It would be very nice,” Hill said with a smile. “I have very intense feelings for Glenbrook, and I’d love to put them out. Nothing would make me happier.”

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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com