One is vying to become the team of the decade. The other is trying to cement a dynasty.

Whoever wins this week’s MPSA Class A championship series between Porters Chapel and Bayou Academy, one thing is certain — the victor will write another chapter in an impressive resume.

PCA vs. Bayou

Game 1: at Canton

Academy, today, 4 p.m.

Game 2: at PCA

Thursday, 6 p.m.

Game 3: TBA

For game updates, click here

PCA (23-8) is making its fifth appearance in the Class A finals in nine seasons, and is going for its third title. Bayou (23-6) is gunning for a threepeat as Class A champs. Between them, the two schools have won the last three Class A titles and four of the last six.

It makes for a clash of juggernauts when the series gets underway today at 4 p.m. at Canton Academy.

“Porters Chapel has been there for 10 years. We’ve been in the playoffs for six years. You’ve got two pretty good programs that have made a name for themselves,” Bayou coach Rodney Martin said.

Bayou made a name for itself with players like Caleb Reed, now a freshman pitcher at Mississippi State, but hasn’t skipped a beat in what looked like it might be a rebuilding season. The Colts won 23 games and the District 2-A title with a roster that includes only one senior.

While the team features a number of young players, Martin said the experience they gained as a part of two championship teams has proved invaluable.

“We felt we were going to have to do a lot of things right, and that’s happened,” Martin said. “We felt like we’ve been there before. We know how to get into tight situations and get out of them. There’s nothing short of experience.”

PCA was certainly the more experienced team, with seven starters back from the 2008 squad that went to the second round of the playoffs. The Eagles struggled early, then won 17 of their last 20 games — including six in a row in the playoffs — to reach the state finals for the first time since winning it all in 2006.

“Right after the University Christian game, we knew we had second place in the district and were going to the playoffs. We started hitting better as a team and we’re not making nearly the errors we did before,” said sophomore pitcher Montana McDaniel, who will get the ball in Game 1. “It just kind of clicked. We just decided we wanted to be state champions.”

With two more wins, the Eagles will get there. With one more, PCA coach Randy Wright will reach an impressive milestone.

Wright, in his 14th season as PCA’s coach, is sitting on 299 career victories. While No. 301, and not No. 300, is the ultimate goal this week, he was quick to point out that they’re something of a matched set.

“Right now, win No. 301 is what we’re looking for. We’ll just cross that bridge when we get to it,” Wright said. “Three hundred wins in 14 seasons is an unbelievable accomplishment. I’m extremely proud of it. But at this point right now, I’m focused on Game 1 versus Bayou.”

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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com