The Redmond High baseball team hammered plenty of home runs during the regular season — and it was the long ball that propelled the Mustangs past Skyline, 6-2, in the 4A Kingco championship game Thursday night at Woodinville High School.

The win sends the Mustangs to state for the third time in four seasons. Redmond will take on the No. 5 seed from District 3, which is composed of the South Puget Sound and Narrows leagues, in its state opener at Memorial Park in Kent on Saturday, May 22 at 10 a.m.

Redmond junior pitcher Dylan Davis overcame a rough first inning when he walked four batters and gave up two runs, one earned.

Before the Mustangs came to bat, they were down 2-0.

Redmond came roaring back with a solo shot by sophomore Peter Hendron in the second inning, and took the lead for good in a three-run third inning highlighted by Michael Conforto launching a two-run shot over the right field fence, his ninth of the year.

Davis helped his own cause in the fifth, turning on a first-pitch fastball for another two-run blast. He also delivered strong five innings on the mound, pitching no-hit ball after the first inning, and gave up just one hit and one earned run in total while striking out six.

Zach Abbruzza, the winning pitcher in Monday’s 4-1 Kingco semifinal win against Bothell, went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Conforto and Davis each went deep and scored twice for the Mustangs, who have won six straight.

Skyline’s Connor Lawhead, who beat tournament favorite Inglemoor (14-2) in Saturday’s first round upset victory, took the loss as the Spartans now must play a winner-to-state, loser-out game against Evergreen of Vancouver tomorrow.

To view and/or purchase exciting action photos from the Mustangs’ championship win, visit photographer Matt Campbell’s Web site at www.sportspixs.com