Morgan Academy begins its run for a state championship in baseball.

The top-ranked Senators (25-0) host Macon-East in a AISA AAA second-round state playoff series on Thursday. Game 1 starts at 11 a.m. and the second game will follow immediately after. A third game, if needed, will be played Friday at Morgan Academy, likely at 5 p.m.

The Senators’ starting lineup has a solid mix of power hitting and speed: Gunnar Henderson, Brayton Brown, David Ducote, Jeremy Lee, Dione Allen, Xavier Green, Joseph Estes, Milam Turner and Matthew Davis.

Henderson, Brown and Ducote are Auburn University signees.

Senators coach Stephen Clements said the squad has a strong approach at the plate and solid on defense.

“We are excited, I love the way we have progressed through the year,” Clements said. “I am excited to watch these guys compete in the playoffs.”

“This team believes that we can a state championship,” Green said.

Morgan Academy is coming off a 14-9 victory over second-ranked Autauga Academy on April 18. Clements said he was impressed with the Senators overcoming a pair of four-run deficits to stay unbeaten.

“I think the Autauga Academy game was like a playoff game atmosphere,” Clements said. “We had a crowd here that was really loud and involved in the game. Autauga Academy has a great baseball team. The guys were excited and I could tell Autauga was excited. We had college guys here recruiting both teams and had pro scouts here. It was a lot of fun.”

Macon-East (27-11) has won the last two AISA AA state titles. The Knights are led by pitcher-outfielder Tucker Nevin, a Lawson State Community College signee. Nevin went 10-1 as a junior last year for Macon-East and was also the team’s starting quarterback last season.