It will be a familiar trip down Interstate 79 for the Mars baseball team, but this time, a district championship is at stake.

Last season, the Planets played Knoch in the WPIAL consolation game at Washington & Jefferson College's Ross Memorial Park. With a berth in the state playoffs on the line, they defeated the Knights 3-1.

Mars, which defeated West Allegheny 4-1 in last Wednesday's WPIAL Class 5A semifinal, will be making its first-ever appearance in the district final when it plays Latrobe Wednesday at Wild Things Park, just a stone's throw from last year's venue.

“We had that long period (1999-2015) when we didn't win a playoff game, losing a lot of first-round games,” said Planet coach Andy Bednar. “Last year's team got us over the hump with three playoff victories. The last few weeks, it's been a playoff atmosphere because we've played so many one-run games.”

Latrobe (19-2) bounced Chartiers Valley in the semifinals to qualify for only the second WPIAL final in program history. The Wildcats lost to Bethel Park in 1985.

Bednar and Latrobe coach Matt Basciano credit strong pitching staffs for being the catalyst to this point.

Mars' starting trio of senior Dylan Rotz (3-1, 1.30 ERA), junior Frank Craska (6-3, 0.86) and sophomore Will Bednar (5-0, 0.46) have combined to strike out 109 batters and walk just 25 while sporting an ERA under one. The staff helped the Planets (14-6) tie for the Section 1 title.

Craska and Will Bednar earned victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.

“Between being a head coach and an assistant coach, I have been with the program for 19 years,” said Andy Bednar. “In that time, we've never had three guys do this well in one season.”

Mars senior catcher Jack Anderson, a Northwestern University recruit, has done a great job of handling the pitching staff.

“He would have been our catcher last year, but had arm problems and spent most of the season as a designated hitter,” said Andy Bednar. “He has great fundamentals as a catcher. It's like having another coach back there and he gives our pitchers a lot of confidence.”

Latrobe can match Mars' star power on the mound with seniors Jared Kollar (6-1, 1.68), Ryan Shawley (8-0, 0.56) and Zach Kokoska (4-0, 1.82). Kollar struck out 17 batters in a victory over Franklin Regional this season.

“Pitching has been the difference this year,” said Basciano, whose team went a combined 1-2 in postseason play the last two years. “We have three solid pitchers we can put out there any day.”

Mars enters the game with a team batting average of .260, but has three regulars hitting above .300 — Anderson (.346), Craska (.333) and centerfielder Isaiah Johnson (.327).

Kokoska, Latrobe's No. 3 hitter, leads the team with a .565 batting average and five home runs.

The Wildcats went a perfect 14-0 in claiming the Section 3 title this season.

“There was no celebration from our kids when we clinched the title,” said Basciano. “They have a workmanlike approach.”

Basciano knows little about Mars, but said, “You have to be a really good team to make it this far.”

First pitch is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.