When Trent Price trudged out of Riverwalk Stadium last May, he couldn’t help but think of seniors Austin Heim and Kolby Robinson.

The Black and Gold had just been swept by Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa in the Class 6A state championship series, and the vacant feeling the first baseman felt deep within his gut isn’t one he likes to recall too often.

Until now.

As the top-ranked Bearcats prepare themselves for an all-or-nothing showdown with No. 2 Helena this week, Price can’t help let his mind wander back to when the Patriots celebrated what could’ve been a second straight Blue Map trophy — and the sweet thoughts of redemption make the senior anxious to take the field again.

“We gave everything we had, but you just felt so bad for Kolby and Austin,” he said. “It was their senior year, and we didn’t win it for them. They put in so much work, but they didn’t get to walk off the field as winners. That’s the main thing we can focus on. We’ve all been here before. We have the experience, and we know how it feels on both sides of it. We definitely don’t want to feel like we did last season. We want to win this thing and go out on top.”

Cullman (37-7) will have a chance to do just that against the Huskies (36-5) when the three-game series opens Thursday at 6 p.m. at Paterson Field and continues Friday at 10 a.m. at Riverwalk Stadium with an if-necessary tilt scheduled for 1 p.m.

For coach Brent Patterson, who will lead the Bearcats into their fourth consecutive state final, all the preparation and hard work over the past five months simply comes down to winning two more baseball games.

“I like where we are, too,” he said. “I think we are very, very business-like. There have been years where it was just a relief to get there, but this season isn’t like that at all. We know there’s a lot of work left to be done against an extremely good team. Hopefully we can go down there and be in a competitive mindset.”

Both Cullman and Helena enter the matchup riding tremendous hot streaks. The Black and Gold have won 19 of their past 21 contests, including an 8-0 performance in the playoffs in which they’ve outscored their opponents 60-8 and tossed three shutouts.

Meanwhile, the Huskies have claimed victories in 20 of 22 bouts and also sport a spiffy 8-0 postseason mark — they’ve outpaced their foes 45-5 to go along with four shutouts — en route to collecting a spot in the finale.

Patterson couldn’t ask for much more than No. 1 versus No. 2 for all the marbles.

“It’s a fitting end to the season,” he said. “They’ve got an incredible senior class that’s been through a lot, and we’ve got an incredible senior class that’s been through a lot. They’ve been extremely steady and solid. After a rocky start, we’ve been pretty good. This is what you want. Whoever plays the best is going to win. That’s what they are saying over there as well. Two really good programs will represent our state in what should be a very good championship series.”

Added Price: “It’s definitely going to be fun. They’re at the top of their game, and we’re at the top of our game. You know you’ve got to prepare really hard and focus on that preparation until the first pitch is thrown.”

Helena is led by senior catcher and Alabama commit Sam Praytor, who, according to Patterson, “does everything well.”

Not only that, but the talented Huskies have a host of “solid high school pitchers” who can “change speeds” and “understand how to compete.”

It didn’t take too long for Patterson to come up with an apt comparison.

“Honestly, they remind me of us,” the longtime coach said. “They’re solid all over the place, and they play with a swagger. And I mean that in a good way. One through nine, they put together great at-bats. Game plan will be a lot like ours. Defend it, pitch it and come up with some key hits. That’s the nature of this game, and that’s the reason they are going to Montgomery with us.”

The Bearcats defeated Helena on March 3 behind Jacob Heatherly’s no-hitter. The senior lefty struck out 13 batters in a 5-0 victory.

Although Patterson said his team could take something from that outing, ultimately it only matters what happens in Montgomery.

“It’s a piece of the puzzle, but they don’t let us count that win against the two we need,” he said with a laugh.

With the season winding down, the Black and Gold find themselves playing for yet another title on baseball’s biggest stage.

And if Cullman is able to clinch its fifth state championship, it will serve as vindication for all Price and his teammates have been through together.

“It’d mean everything to us,” he said. “We’ve put in our heart and soul. We’ve had pretty good careers, but it would be awesome to go out as champions once again.”