MAPLE PARK – The DeKalb baseball team knew it had its work cut out for it Wednesday when it faced the host in a Class 3A Kaneland Regional semifinal.

“It’s fun to have an opportunity to be an underdog against a team you know you can beat,” DeKalb coach Jake Howells said. “We’re probably the only team in the state who had the opportunity to beat the state champs on their home field in the first round.”

Howells said the Barbs had nothing to lose in being the fourth seed against this year’s Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference champion and the defending Class 3A state champions. DeKalb cruised to a 9-3 victory in the regional semifinals, taking advantage of a couple of errors by the top-seeded Knights.