Both Stacy Helms and Chris Roby have waited patiently for this moment.

As the head coaches of the two area Class 3A baseball teams playing in the state tournament later this week, they knew it was only a matter of time before their respective teams would get this far.

Eufaula’s Stacy Helms envisioned the Ironheads would make it when the players were playing little league as 10- and 11-year-olds.

“Dreaming about it and seeing it happen, it’s a great feeling how it’s all come together,” he said. “We’ve got one thing to do and that’s go win it.”

Roby led Keys to the state tournament in 2005 and lost in the opening round to eventual champion Latta. He knew the cycle would eventually come around again to favor his Cougars and they are going to state with 10 seniors, all of whom were freshmen in 2005.

“The senior leadership and the expectations of this group has taken us where we are right now,” Roby said. “They made goals at the beginning of the year to get to state. We wanted to get in the top eight teams in the state to host a district and regionals.

“Hopefully, we’re now in the final stage and going to try to do some good.”

Keys, carrying a 29-5 record, faces Beggs at 5 p.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals at Mustang High School. Eufaula (23-10) follows at 7:30 against Chandler.

Eufaula makes its fourth state tournament appearance, the last one coming in 1982. They also advanced in 1976 and 1980, Helms’ sophomore and senior years with the Ironheads.

Helms’ teams lost in the opening rounds both years.

“We’re hoping to make at least one step more this time,” he said.

If the Ironheads advance, they will have solid pitching with Ethan Sharp and Trevor Walch. The junior right-handers have earned-run averages under 1.00 with Sharp’s 0.91 and Sharp’s 0.26. Walch has 71 strikeouts to Sharp’s 66. Walch is 7-1 with two saves and Sharp’s 7-2 with three saves.

Matt Helms, Stacy’s son, leads the Ironheads, who don’t have any seniors on their 18-player squad, in batting with his .512 average.

Meanwhile, Jacob Mellencamp leads the Cougars with his .455 batting average, 26 RBIs, 8-0 pitching record and 1.29 ERA and 67 strikeouts. Other top players include Chance Ross (.431, 13 doubles, four home runs), Trey Kimble (.416, 12 doubles) and Blake Blakeley (.401 with 10 homers and an 8-2 mound record).