The dream matchup everyone has anticipated for months becomes reality tonight.

Central Private, a baseball powerhouse from outside of Baton Rouge, La., and Porters Chapel have ruled Academy AA all season. PCA carries a No. 2 ranking, while the Rebels are third in the state.

It’s a state championship-caliber series played out in the second round of the playoffs. Some are calling this the real state championship series. The winner of this series is widely viewed as the odds-on favorite to win the Class AA title – even though there are two more rounds of playoffs after this one.

&#8220It feels like my world series,” said PCA right fielder Robbie Simms. &#8220Not wanting to overlook anybody, but we’ve been gearing up for them. In AA, we always knew it was going to be us and them.”

It’s not surprising that PCA (32-4) and Central Private (28-6) are here. Both teams have staked their claim as two of the premiere programs in the MPSA.

PCA has made four trips to the Class A finals since 2001, with championships in 2003 and 2006. Central Private won three straight Class AAA, Division 2 titles and the inaugural overall tournament last season. Both teams were moved to Class AA in the last realignment, creating the opportunity for a dream matchup.

Oddly, three defending state champions are still alive in the AA playoffs. Defending AA champ Simpson Academy lost to Carroll on Monday in North half of the bracket.

&#8220When they moved us up to AA and moved them down, we anticipated having to see them somewhere along the line to advance. In the last four years, they’ve won over 120 games. They’re a baseball factory down there,” PCA coach Randy Wright said. &#8220They’re the top dog and are going to continue to be the top dog until somebody knocks them off. And this is our opportunity this week.”

To become the top dog, PCA needs a stronger bite than it’s had lately.

Two of the Eagles’ four losses have come in their last four games, and they had to rally from a three-run deficit late in Game 3 of a first-round series with Columbia just to get to this point. Part of the problem, they admitted, has been looking ahead to the series with Central Private.

The Rebels can turn a small slump into a season-ending nightmare in a hurry. They boast three pitchers who throw close to 90 mph, an All-America catcher and plenty of experience from their recent run of dominance.

That, said PCA ace and Game 1 starter Michael Busby, is enough to snap the Eagles back to attention in a hurry.

&#8220This is the biggest game we’re going to play this year. What we’ve been working toward,” Busby said. &#8220We definitely have been looking forward to this and not giving the other teams as much attention as they should have gotten.”