Cole Hooper was the winning pitcher for Smoky Mountain on Saturday.
Saturday was not for the faint of heart or earned-run averages.
Not with 34 combined runs and 32 hits between two high school baseball teams.
Smoky Mountain scored 13 combined runs in its final two at-bats to overtake visiting East Lincoln, 19-15, in the second round of the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs in Sylva.
Jacob Gass was 4-for-4 with a double and a home run.
Kevin Allred matched him with four hits, two of which were doubles, and four RBIs. Parker Williamson went 3-4 with a home run and two RBIs for the Mustangs (19-6), while Tyler Waliezer and Bryce Junaluska added two hits apiece for the Mustangs (19-6).
N.C. State recruit Cole Hooper came on in relief to get the win, pitching-wise. Hooper allowed one earned run and two hits in two innings. He struck out two East Lincoln batters.
Smoky Mountain has earned the right to continue the playoffs at home — the sixth-seeded Mustangs host No. 14 Mount Pleasant (17-9) on Tuesday.
Smoky Mountain is making this postseason run under first-year coach Jeremy Ellenburg.
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