For the Charles Henderson High School Trojans the "chasing"

didn't last long.

The Trojans entered Tuesday's showdown with area-leader Carroll High School trailing the Eagles by one game. Charles Henderson erased the Eagles' lead with 6-2 win in the first game of the doubleheader.

The Eagles bounced back to take an 8-5 win in the second game of the two-game tilt, but that win did not count toward the area standings, leaving the two squads tied atop the standings.

&uot;It was a huge win for us,&uot; Charles Henderson head coach Brad Phillips said. &uot;We played really, really well in that first game. They came back and got a win in the second game, but we were able to get the one we really needed to get back into a tie with them for first place in the area.&uot;

With the win, the Trojans have placed themselves in a position to claim the area title - a feat few people gave the Trojans much of a chance of accomplishing early in the season.

&uot;I don't know how many people thought this was much of a possibility,&uot; Phillips said. &uot;When we started area play I asked some other coaches that had played all the teams in our area where they thought we would finish and most everyone had us pegged to finish third.

"I knew that these guys had it in them to finish better than that, and they have worked really hard to get into this position.&uot;

The position the Trojans are in is the driver's seat.

If Charles Henderson can score a win over Greenville High School on April 21 and follow that with another win over Carroll High School on April 22, the Trojans will sit alone atop the area standings.

&uot;We're in the position we want to be in,&uot; Phillips said. &uot;What we didn't want to have to do is depend on someone else helping us. With the win over Carroll we have the chance to control our own destiny.&uot;

A win over Greenville, who defeated the Trojans 8-7 on April 4, would assure Charles Henderson of a spot in the playoffs.

A win over Greenville and a win over Carroll earns the Trojans the area title and home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

&uot;We've talked about how important it is to get these two wins because it will give us the chance to host a game against an area runner up rather than having to go on the road and play an area winner,&uot; Phillips said. &uot;The guys understand that. They know these games are important, and you could tell that against Carroll. I really believe that with a playoff berth on the line, the guys will be even sharper and more focused than they have been.&uot;

The Trojans are set to face off with Luverne High School today at 6:30 p.m. at Frazier Field at Hogan's Hole.