BAYFIELD

One year and one week later, the Bayfield High School baseball team gets its shot at University.

The Bulldogs and Wolverines would have met in last season’s district championship game if BHS had advanced past La Junta.

Now, both teams have qualified for the CHSAA Class 3A State Championships and will face off at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Frederick High School.

“We didn’t overlook our opponent like we did last year,” said BHS senior Matt Knickerbocker, son of Kirk and Marie Knickerbocker.

BHS (18-3) knows it can’t afford to look anyone, especially the Bulldogs.

They finished second in a tough Patriot League that sent its top four teams to the final eight.

University does remain a slight mystery, though.

The Bulldogs haven’t posted any of their season stats on MaxPreps.com.

But BHS watched University play last year and noticed the Bulldogs feature a submarine pitcher.

So BHS head coach Jonathon Qualls threw some live batting practice from an altered arm angle at Wednesday’s final practice before the Wolverines left.

“We got at least a look at them,” Qualls said. “We saw a little bit of what they had and know they’ll be a good team like they are pretty much every year.”

BHS missed out on a state trip last year but still boasts five players on its current roster that have been this far in the playoffs.

Knickerbocker, Kelton McCoy and Zane Phelps started in 2013 when the Wolverines last made the final eight, and seniors Dillon Hoselton and Colter McMenimen came off the bench.

All five start for a seasoned BHS team.

“It’s nice going back because I’m not a freshman,” said McCoy, son of Derek and Loresa McCoy. “Me and Zane aren’t freshmen; we have experience in that position. Hopefully we can lead the guys that haven’t been there before.”

The Wolverines also benefit from three days of practice that most other teams in the field didn’t get.

Six of the eight district tournaments were postponed and needed to be played between Sunday and Tuesday.

“It was nice to know while other teams were still battling it out we’ve already got our spot,” Qualls said.

One weekend of state baseball won’t satisfy BHS, though.

“If we go in there mentally prepared and have the right mindset, we’ll do just fine,” Knickerbocker said. “If we can hit to our full potential, I think we can win out this weekend.”

kgrabowski@durangoherald.com