VALDOSTA — Things will get a lot harder now for Lowndes High’s baseball team.

The Vikings, 24-6 and ranked No. 9 in Class AAAAA, must go on the road for the first time in the playoffs. That drive will be a long one, 250 miles, and the team waiting for them is one of the state’s best.

Lowndes will face Kennesaw Mountain at 5 p.m. today, with Game 2 to follow afterwards. An if-necessary Game 3 would be Wednesday. The game will be broadcast locally on WVLD 1450 AM.

Kennesaw Mountain is 26-4 and ranked No. 2 in the state. They could be the best team in the state, now that No. 1 Starr’s Mill got upset by Tift County last week. Coach George Hansen’s team compiled an impressive record while playing in a region and an area that’s perennially among the state’s best.

The Region 5-AAAAA champions only lost one of 12 region games. In the first round, the Mustangs won two-of-three from Milton, then last week, they swept No. 10 Chattahoochee, 5-4 and 7-4.

“They’re the best team we’ve faced,” Lowndes head coach Danny Redshaw said. “They’ve got a talented squad. They’ve got the best pitching staff around, they play good defense, and from what I’ve seen, it looks like they hit it pretty good, too.”

The Mustangs don’t have a team of sluggers — only one player has more than three home runs, playing in a spacious home ballpark — but have won with stellar pitching and defense. Kennesaw’s top four pitchers all strike out more than a batter an inning.

Kennesaw’s ace is highly-touted left-hander Chris Masters, who is 6-0 with a 0.47 ERA, and has struck out 81 batters in 45 innings. Right-hander David Harden is just 5-3, but has a 2.02 ERA, and has struck out 66 batters in 45 innings. Third starter Will Casey, another southpaw, is 6-0 with a 1.58 ERA, and 67 K’s in 35.1 innings. The Mustangs’ closer, Josh Means, is 2-0, with a 0.35 ERA and three saves, and has 25 strikeouts in 20 innings.

“The people I’ve talked to say they’ve got the best pitching staff in the state,” Redshaw said. “Masters has been dominant. He throws in the high 80s, and he’s got a good curve ball. Harden’s a big righty, about 6-foot-3, and he throws in the high 80s. Means, who they use to close, throws well, as does the other lefty, Casey.”

Kennesaw’s got some hitters, too. Leadoff man Navarro Hall, the center fielder, is batting .471 with two homers, and has stolen 20 bases, scored 30 R, and posted a 1.234 OPS. In the second spot, shortstop Ryan Davis is batting .407 with 19 RBIs. Outfielder Jordan Craft bats third, and is hitting .391. The cleanup hitter, third baseman Don DiPetta, is batting .321, and leads the team with five homers and 25 RBIs. Second baseman Tyler Cooke is batting .357.

“DiPetta’s got some power. Hall is a good hitter who’s got a lot of speed,” Redshaw said. “They swing the bats well enough for their pitching.”

Lowndes is pretty solid, too, though. The Vikings are doing it all well right now — hitting, pitching and playing defense — and have won 17 of their last 19 games.

“We’re playing good baseball,” Redshaw said. “We’re strong in all areas. I’ve got confidence in our guys.

“We’ve just got to go out there and play like we’re capable. At this point, it’s going to come down to who plays better. Whoever does will advance.”

Center fielder Matt Harper swings Lowndes’ biggest bat, owning a .532 average with eight home runs and 30 RBIs. The Vikings are also getting strong production out of pitcher/shortstop JonMichael Redding (.397, 4 HR), catcher Randy J. Williams (.386, 3 HR), first baseman Colby Yates (.400, 2 HR), right fielder Dax Spriggs (.374, 1 HR), infielder Parker Pridgen (.372) and third baseman Jarrod Pass (.310, 2 HR).

On the mound, Lowndes will again rely on its trio of Redding (4-2, 2.90 ERA), Chris Mederos (9-0, 1.56) and Harper (5-1, 3.82). Last week against Brunswick, Redding started the first game, while Mederos pitched the second game.

The winner of this series will either host East Coweta or travel to Lassiter next week.