When Vidalia High School hosts its first home playoff game in nearly a decade Monday night, the feat might come as a shock to some, but to first-year VHS coach Mike Norris, the accomplishment comes as no surprise.

Vidalia is set to square off against Westlake at 6 p.m. today in the opening round the LHSAA Class 3A playoffs at the Concordia Recreation Complex.

“For me, this was the expectation at the beginning of the year,” Norris said. “(Assistant coach Greg) Naquin and I talked about what we had coming back, and we expected to be hosting in the first round.”

Vidalia last hosted a playoff game in 2009 when the Vikings fell to E.D. White in the second round.

Sixteenth-ranked Vidalia enters the playoffs riding high, after coming from behind to win its past three games, including a pair of walk-off wins against Winnfield and Family Community Christian this past Thursday and Friday nights, respectively.

“We know that our boys are going to fight,” Norris said. “They know if they get down, if they keep battling, they can pull it out. I don’t think they’re intimidated by anybody. They know what they can do and what they’re capable of.”

Conversely, No. 17 Westlake enters having lost its past five games. Norris said in the little time he’s had to prepare for the Rams (14-20), he’s found out they have a strong contingent of pitchers.

“They have used four to five guys a lot this year,” Norris said. “They’ve got a lot of guys that can come in and pitch, and in the playoffs that helps, because you have somebody you can go to.”

For Norris and the Vikings, however, they will lean on sophomore Tristan Weatherly. The sophomore right-hander has been the Vikings top hurler all season long, tallying 103 strikeouts in 71.1 innings pitched to go along with a 3.04 earned-run average.

“There is no doubt that when Tristan is on the mound, our guys feel like we can beat anybody,” Norris said. “Not only is he going to throw strikes, but he’s going to compete, and that’s what is important.”

Additionally, the Vikings offense has received a recent boost as Nick Melton and Tanner Jenkins have returned to the lineup.

Norris said the sophomore tandem only further lengthens the lineup, evidenced by Vidalia’s two come-from-behind home wins this past week.

“Our top of the order won the Winnfield game (Thursday), and then it was the bottom of the order against Family Community Christian (Friday),” Norris said. “Our No. 9 hitter (Paul Cupstid) got the winning hit. That’s comforting as a coach. Now it’s the coaches’ job to put it all together.”