West York head baseball coach Roger Czwrinski leads his Bulldogs through practice Wednesday as the team prepares for their state championship game. (John A. Pavoncello photo)

With two grandsons playing baseball for West York in the PIAA Class AAA state title game on Friday, of course Jack Clough will make the trek to State College to watch the game first hand.

But Clough won't only be cheering on his grandchildren - Brandon Kinneman, a junior, and Brett Kinneman, a freshman. He'll also be cheering on teammates his grandsons have played with for most of their lives.

"I've been watching these boys play baseball since they were 8 years old," Clough said.

The Bulldogs play Lampeter-Strasburg at 6 p.m. Friday at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in State College.

Should West York win, it'll be the school's first state baseball title in its history.

Fan bus: Adam Everhart was a member of the West York team that made a run at the Class AA state championship in 2003. It was the first year West York made it to state championship play, but the team didn't last long in the competition.

The team lost 10-0 in the first round to Bishop Hoban, but Everhart said he has much higher hopes for this West York team.

"They're solid. This team can really hit the ball," he said. "It's really good to see them go this deep (in the championship.)"

Even though he graduated in 2004, Everhart said he still keeps tabs on the team and will follow them all the way to State College.

He's one of roughly 25 people who will head to the game on a fan bus.

Gail Loucks, a secretary at the high school, said a number of staff members and teachers will also take the bus to cheer on their Bulldogs.

As classes were winding down at the beginning of June, a lot of attention at the school was turned to the baseball team and its prospects of reaching the state championship.

"It's great," Loucks said. "They are a great bunch of kids."

Celebrate: West Yorkers are a proud bunch, especially when it comes to their high school sports teams.

"And when you have a winner, West Yorkers usually get behind the team," said Clough, a 1959 West York graduate.

This time it's no different. Clough said he expects an energetic crowd at the championship game.

And whether the team brings home its first state championship or not, he said the community will still stand behind its beloved Bulldogs.

"It's a win-win situation," Clough said. "Win or lose, we'll celebrate the kids."

The teams: The West York Bulldogs are 23-4 heading into the state Class AAA championship games against the Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers, 23-6, on Friday.

The game will be played at 6 p.m. at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in State College.

Getting there: Heading to State College for the game? Here are directions that will get you to Medlar Field, located at 701 Porter Road:

Take Interstate 83 north out of York to Exit 43 and head toward 2nd Street, make a right at Paxton Street, a left at Cameron Street and continue to U.S. 22 and then onto U.S. 322.

Take the State College exit and make a left onto College Avenue, then turn right onto Porter Road. Medlar Field will be on your right.

Parking lots are located adjacent to the field.

- Reach Greg Gross at ggross@yorkdispatch.com.