Cullman’s Will Morrison hurls a pitch to the plate during a contest this season. The Class 6A No. 2 Bearcats host Hazel Green on Friday.

Despite its sheer magnitude, this week has been like any other for Cullman’s baseball team.

The Class 6A No. 2 Bearcats (33-8) have approached preparation ahead of Friday’s semifinal series against Hazel Green (28-11) with the same determination, focus and mindset instilled in the program by coach Brent Patterson many years ago.

It hardly matters Cullman is seeking its fifth straight appearance in Montgomery and 12th overall since 2002.

All that actually matters is getting the job done — and that means not fixing what isn’t broken.

“It’s the same thing as on Day 1,” Patterson said. “We try to go at every single day with energy and attention. The good thing about the playoffs is you have some specific things to prepare for. Ninety percent of things is just like everything else, though. Do the little stuff right, every rep matters and build consistency each week.”

The Black and Gold’s unchanged routine doesn’t mean adrenaline levels haven’t reached new heights.

This is, after all, postseason baseball at its finest.

“We’re extremely excited,” said senior ace Will Morrison said. “This has been our goal since before the season started. But we’ve got to come out on Friday and keep doing what we’ve been doing. We want to get two more victories and get back to Montgomery. This is going to be a really competitive series, though. Hazel Green is a good team. We’re going to have to play our best games to win.”

The Trojans certainly have enough talent on their roster to squash Cullman’s championship dreams.

Senior left-hander Tyler Duskin, a Freed–Hardeman University signee, and junior left-hander Jackson Minor, a Mississippi State commit, spearhead the pitching staff of coach Frankie Perez.

Hazel Green, which ousted No. 4 Oxford, No. 6 Austin and No. 8 Hueytown en route to its first semifinal berth in program history, also sports a dangerous lineup — Jacksonville State signee Isaiah Magwood is the team’s top all-around hitter — filled with power and speed.

Junior outfielder Jordan Beck has fielded offers from Tennessee, Southern Miss and UAB as well.

Patterson’s long tenure in the dugout has allowed him to watch dozens of terrific playoff squads in the past.

And the Trojans definitely pass his eye test.

“They’re extremely deep on the mound,” he said. “That’s their biggest strength, but they’re also well-rounded. They hit for both average and power. They hit a lot of home runs in key situations … physical in the middle of the order, and they can run on both ends. Dominant arms. They sound like a final four team, and it’s not very surprising we’re facing them Friday.”

An attribute primarily in Cullman’s favor heading into the crucial series is experience.

The Bearcats are attempting to reach the state championship series for a fifth consecutive year, while Hazel Green is looking to make its first-ever trip to Montgomery.

One program is used to playing meaningful tilts in May. One is not.

Does it matter? Can it be used to the Black and Gold’s advantage?

According to Patterson, the answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no can provide.

“If we get caught up in all that stuff … I don’t know how to approach it, so I don’t,” he said. “You can look at it both ways. They may be so stinking excited, because they’ve never been here before that they play out of their minds. They may be so excited that they don’t know how to deal with the emotion. We can’t control any of that, though. We can only control ourselves. Therefore, we want to take advantage of the fact that some of our guys have been in these situations. But a lot of them haven’t. Their program has … and that goes a really long way … but personally, they’ve never done it. That’s why we stay away from it in general.”

Added Morrison: “I think it (experience) definitely helps, because it’s a big series. You’re going to get nervous no matter what. But, at the same time, you’ve been there before, and you’ve done it for the past four years at Cullman. But it’s basically the same thing we’ve been doing all year — staying focused and practicing hard.”

As the Bearcats — and their seniors — prepare for one last ride at Bill Shelton Field, Patterson’s main goal heading into Friday is making sure his guys don’t lose sight of the big picture.

And that big picture isn’t necessarily a potential state title.

“It’s making sure they enjoy the moment,” he said. “We don’t ever want to look past all this and say, ‘Oh, we want to hurry up and get this over with so we’re in the finals.’ Then you miss that whole week of excitement. You miss another opportunity to create memories. That’s what high school baseball is all about. I’ve received several texts and phone calls from opposing coaches who have never had this chance basically telling me to not overlook that and let the pressure take away the joy.

“You can get focused on what you’re trying to accomplish so much that you miss what you’re in the middle of together. I think about how special each one of these guys is to us. I’m really thankful, and I know these guys are, too, for another opportunity to get after it on Friday.”

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Hazel Green (28-11) at No. 2 Cullman (33-8)

% What: Class 6A Semifinal

% Where: Bill Shelton Field

% When: Friday at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday at 2 p.m. — If Necessary

% Radio: AM 1340