It all comes down to this.

Franklin's softball and baseball teams will be in Kokomo trying to duplicate a feat that has only happened in 2018 — sweeping both conference tournament championships in the same season.

The paths for the two Griz squads are a bit different. Softball heads into the weekend with an opening-round bye as the top seed, awaiting the winner of a Thursday morning matchup between No. 4 Earlham and No. 5 Bluffton. The sixth-seeded baseball team plays in Thursday's first game at Kokomo Municipal Stadium, a 10 a.m. tilt against No. 3 Rose-Hulman.

A brief look at each team's path to a potential title:
 
BASEBALL

History: Griz coach Lance Marshall has won four HCAC tournament championships (2011, 2018, 2019 and 2023); current senior starters Garrett DeHart and Dyllan Redmon both saw action for the 2023 squad.

Against the field: Franklin is 2-0 this season against first-round foe Rose-Hulman, 1-2 vs. top seed Earlham and 0-2 against No. 2 Transylvania, No. 4 Hanover and No. 5 Anderson.

Players to watch: 1B Drew Helton was named first team All-HCAC, SS/OF DeHart second team and OF/RP Davis Wagner honorable mention. Redmon ranks first on the team in runs scored and second in RBIs. RHP Chase Wagner is the likely game one starter.

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SOFTBALL

History: Franklin coach Britt Harvey will be looking for her first conference tournament title and the Grizzlies' second; the team claimed the championship in 2018.

Against the field: The Grizzlies were 2-0 against one possible first-game opponent (No. 5 Bluffton) and 0-2 against the other (No. 4 Earlham). Franklin swept both of its games against No. 3 Transylvania and split with both No. 2 Mount St. Joseph and No. 6 Manchester.

Players to watch: 2B Jaylee Fansler and 3B Zoey Kugelman are the team's top two hitters by batting average and on-base plus slugging, while C Kendall Lowry ranks second in runs batted in behind Fansler. P Lauren Duncan has been the Grizzlies' ace in the pitching circle, earning 13 wins thus far.

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