The Class 3A Southern League baseball regional begins Friday at Faith Lutheran High School and the host Crusaders should have more than just the home-field advantage heading in.

Riding a streak of three straight state titles -- two at 2A and one in its first year moving up to 3A last year -- Faith Lutheran is seen by most as not only the team to beat in the Southern League regional, but as the team to beat in the entire state after going 27-12 and beating the Northern League's Lowry, 8-4, in the NIAA state championship game last year.