In playoff action for any sport on any level, from the pros to youth leagues, teams often have to rally and find a way to win games they have no business winning in order to be crowned champion.
Adversity must be overcome and the test of close calls must be passed.
If that's the case, than the North Farmington softball team and the Troy Athens baseball team might be in for deep runs in the state tournament.
Both were on the edge of the cliff called elimination on Tuesday, and both managed to avoid losing their balance.
North Farmington was trailing by two runs and down to its final strike in a district opener against Northville, but rallied to score three runs on a pair of hits to stay alive.
Athens trailed Utica going into the seventh inning, 5-3, but scored three runs to pull out a 6-5 win.
Granted, each team has to take advantage of being able to survive close shaves. North Farmington has to beat a good Farmington Hills Mercy squad and Athens has to beat a solid Utica Eisenhower team on Saturday in respective district games.
But given how each went to the brink on Tuesday and survived, you have to like their chances with newfound life.