The Block High School baseball team boasts a quiet yet strong self-assurance in each player.

At Monday’s practice, the aroma of confidence was evident as each team meber bounced from the batter’s box to their positions in the field, moving with an extra hop in their step.

These guys believe in themselves.

And after the stretch the Bears pulled off last week, they’ve more than earned the right.

Sixteenth-seed Block routed No. 17 East Beauregard, 15-4, on April 24 before rolling past No. 1 Logansport last Friday, 19-11, in LHSAA Class 1A playoff action. Block will aim to make it three playoff wins in a row Thursday when it travels to face No. 9 Oberlin

“We’ve just been really hitting the ball well,” junior catcher Elton Mayes said. “I’m happy for us. Our pitchers have been doing real well, and our defense, too. We have a lot of belief. Everything is just going good for us right now. Coach (Stevie McCarthy) told us to never give up, and anything can happen.”

The wins for the Bears (12-14-1) marked the first playoff victories for McCarthy, who has been at the helm since 2009 and a Block baseball staff member for the past 13 years.

McCarthy said the wins came as no surprise to him now that his team is facing similar schools as LSHAA shifted to select and non-select groupings for the first time this year.

“We’ve always had quality baseball players,” he said. “I told the kids, ‘Boys, y’all are playing schools that are equal to y’all, and y’all are capable.’ More public schools like us are getting to play more games and getting their confidence built up.”

In its two playoff games this season, the Bears have racked up the base hits, tallying 25 combined and have produced two eight-run rallies, one in each game.

In its playoff tilt against favored Logansport, Block not only won the game but did so in more than impressive fashion. The Bears pounded out 16 hits to the Tigers’ five, smacked seven extra-base hits and stole 13 bases.

“We went into the Logansport game thinking we didn’t need to give up no matter what,” sophomore infielder Brennan Lippman said. “I have a lot of confidence in my team. When we play well, I know we can beat anybody … It’s just really fun.”

Added McCarthy, “From the first batter, we had a game plan. As the game went on, everything just fell into place.”

Oberlin (20-11) enters Thursday on a high itself, having won its two playoff games over South Cameron and Merryville, 4-1 and 12-2, respectively.

Lippman said the key for his squad is to continue to believe in one another and remain focused on the task at hand.

“We just know we have to stay strong throughout the whole game and don’t give up,” Lippman said. “We have to stay up and keep them down if we get them down.”

First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Oberlin.

“They’ve played quality teams,” McCarthy said. “Their No. 1 pitcher is pretty good, and they’re pretty quick on the bases. They hit the ball pretty well, so we’re going to work on our defense.”