Jeremy Hutslar has been here before — but never with these expectations.

Lee University’s center fielder and four-year starter has played in two NAIA World Series tournaments, but both times the Flames entered as underdogs, and few were surprised when they left as early-round casualties.

Not this year.

Lee is the No. 1 seed in the 10-team field, and the Flames’ road to the title begins Saturday at 10 p.m. EDT, when they play the winner of Friday’s game between No. 8 seed Bellevue (Neb.) and No. 9 Ohio Dominion.

Lee made school history by reaching the World Series in 2005, and it rode a late-season hot streak to sneak in last year, but this time the Flames are among the established favorites.

“I feel like those first two years we as a team thought we deserved more recognition, but this year, with the season we’ve had, we’ve definitely gotten the recognition that we deserve,” Hutslar said. “It’s awesome to be the No. 1 seed. We like being the team that has that big ‘X’ on its back, knowing that everyone is gunning for us.”

While Lee is the tournament’s top seed, the Flames are not the clear favorites. They were ranked third in the final NAIA national poll, but top-ranked Lubbock Christian was eliminated in the Region VI tournament. Lewis-Clark State, which has won back-to-back titles and 15 championships overall, was ranked second in the final poll but cannot receive a top-two seed as part of its conditions for hosting the tournament.

Hutslar knows the Warriors mystique well. Lee lost to the hosts in the first rounds of both recent World Series trips.

“I think the last couple of times we were intimidated by them, and just by being in the World Series,” Hutslar said. “But I don’t think that’s the case at all this time. I want to play them. We all want to play the best and beat them.”

While Lee coach Mark Brew points to his team’s balance as its greatest asset, he knows the Flames are most dangerous when their leadoff man is creating scoring opportunities.

“He’s been our on-field leader all year long,” Brew said. “We need him to be on base. We need him to set the table. He anchors our outfield too.”

He has done so for four years, well enough to set team career records in stolen bases and hits. But with his career nearing its end, Hutslar is both pleased with his team’s achievements and hungry to reach his highest goal.

“My freshman year, I figured it would be the last time I would ever be (in the World Series),” Hutslar said. “I never thought I would be out there again, let alone twice. Now I’ve been there, and I know what to expect. I know how it goes.

“And if everyone goes out there and does what they’re supposed to do, then no one should be able to beat us.”

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