Rodon not only ended Wilmington Ashley's night with a diving catch at first base, but he homered to put an exclamation point on a nine-run seventh-inning rally that turned a game that was tied at four into a 13-5 landslide in Game 2 of the 4-A Eastern finals.

As he crossed the plate for his third RBI of the game, Rodon tipped his batting helmet to a heckling Ashley student section, which had made the N.C. State recruit and likely high-round major league draft pick one of their top targets in the series.

"In that seventh inning it was like we all just decided we would hit, and we got after it good," Holly Springs coach Rod Whitesell said. "We've got competitors all throughout the lineup. And even if they're not the best hitters, you know when they go up there, they're going to give everything they've got."

Holly Springs swept the best-of-three series, launching the Hawks into the school's first appearance in a state title game. The school is in its fifth year of existence.

It was the third time in these playoffs the Hawks won a game in the final inning. But unlike walk-off wins against Fuquay-Varina in the second round or Ashley in Game 1, there were no late-inning dramatics once Holly Springs started driving in run after run.

In the seventh alone, the Hawks brought up 13 batters, with four reaching by walk, one hit-by-pitch and five hits, including Rodon's home run.

Rodon, known for his pitching prowess, did not throw to a single batter in this series after taking the mound in three of his team's first four playoff games.

"We have a pretty deep rotation," Rodon said. "It was a team effort. Everyone was great."

The heroes for Holly Springs were numerous.

Mike Roach reached base in four of his five plate appearances. Kendall Thorpe walked four times. Mitch Hines, the No. 9 hitter, had three RBIs.

And then there was senior pitcher Joe Mackey, who had pitched just four innings all year entering this series but came away with his second win in as many nights.

After the Hawks built a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth, Ashley answered with four of its own - tagging Holly Springs starting pitcher David Hudspeth for a two-run homer and two-run double.

Mackey entered in the fifth inning and kept the Screaming Eagles scoreless despite a loaded-bases situation with one out in the bottom of the sixth.

"Words can't describe it," Mackey said. "The only thought going through my head was that nobody was getting a hit."

Rodon, a senior, may not have been needed to start for his team to reach the championship, but his team's encore performance next week will undoubtedly require him to take a final bow.

"He will pitch in the state championship series before it's over," Whitesell said. "I can promise you that."