The postseason has become near ritual for Marion County.

The Warriors seniors, who last week clinched their fourth straight District 6-AA championship, begin the quest for their third trip to the state baseball tournament when they host Polk County at 7:30 tonight.

The 5-AA champion, McMinn Central, will host Sequatchie County at 6.

In the Region 3-AAA semifinals, district champions McMinn County and Ooltewah will be at home against Soddy-Daisy and Cleveland, respectively. The Region 3-A semis have Lookout Valley hosting Grace Academy and Signal Mountain traveling to David Brainerd.

Marion County’s six seniors have had quite a run, helping the Warriors compile a four-year record of 125-31.

“Every player on the field is pretty much in a new position from last year’s team,” coach Steven Roberts said. “Joe Muir (shortstop) played third base, Zephan Guyear (third) was an outfielder; This is Jake Morgan’s first year to start (first base) and Ben Murphy moved from right field to center.”

Lucas Lloyd pitched but even he has turned up his game, posting a 9-1 record this season. Yet one of the keys this year has enjoyed only some of Marion’s success. Catcher Chris Martin was on the team as a freshman, quit his sophomore year to concentrate on basketball and then left the team as a junior once spring football practice began.

It paid off, too. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound quarterback will be headed to the University of the South this fall after finishing high school with a 3.5 gpa and a 25 on the ACT.

“He is a special young man,” Roberts said. “He comes from a single-parent household. He’s done well athletically and academically. He even works on the weekends — well, whenever he can — to earn his own spending money. We wouldn’t be where we are now without him behind the plate. He’s no monster back there but he controls the game. He stepped up when we needed, and he has done a fine job of controlling our pitching staff.”

Martin wasn’t really good enough to play much as a freshman and probably wouldn’t have started as a sophomore. He grew, though, into an athlete.

“He has been one of those that were late developing as far as baseball is concerned,” Roberts said. “He’s a big kid and a good athlete but he is one of those whose athleticism developed later than as lot of kids. As a freshman he was just another player in the pile.”

Martin has spent a lot of time working.

“I have been cutting grass since I was 13. Landscaping, painting, general handyman — I’ve done it,” he said. “This year I didn’t have to worry about (spring) football and I wanted to help the team. The starting catcher last year didn’t play this year so they needed a catcher. I had played baseball since I was a 4-year-old.”

Most of the Warriors have played baseball for years and they have parlayed that experience into a 31-5 record, best record among any of the Chattanooga-area teams in the postseason. And it is that postseason experience that Roberts hopes will spur them back to Murfreesboro this year.

“I used to think that didn’t mean a whole lot, but I think these guys are more relaxed in the bigger games. They know the intensity is turned up but they are able to be more comfortable because they have been there,” Roberts said. “They know what’s on the line, but they don’t let the pressure of the situation overwhelm them.”