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From the Sports Desk

with Carey Phillips

 Sylva Herald Sports Editor Carey Phillips
Smoky Mountain and Franklin are battling for the Western Athletic Conference baseball championship and the top seed into the state 3-A playoffs.

The teams are tied with three games remaining. If they finish tied, a special playoff game will be held to determine who will be seeded first and second.

Enka isn't out of the playoff picture and could sneak up on either the Mustangs or Panthers. Here's a look at the path any team from the WAC would face in its quest for a state championship.

The playoffs will open May 9. The WAC's top seed will be home against the second seed from the Western Foothills Conference. WHC teams are East Lincoln, Foard, Hickory, Mooresville, North Iredell, St. Stephens, South Caldwell and South Iredell.

The WAC's second seed will open on the road against the Mountain Valley Conference champion. MVC 3-A schools are Ashe, North Surry and Wilkes Central.

If the WAC champ reached the second round on May 12, it would travel to play the Mountain Athletic Conference winner or the third seed from the Western Foothills. The MAC is comprised of Asheville, East Henderson, North Buncombe, Roberson and West Henderson.

Should the WAC runner-up reach the second round, it would travel to play the Western Foothills champ or the MAC's second seed.

The WAC teams could play each other in the third round on May 16. The bracket including the runner-up would be home. However, if two teams from a conference play each other, the league champ is at home.

If a WAC team makes the semifinals on May 19, it would be home. The opponent would be from the Tri-County, South Piedmont or Southwestern conference.

The Tri-County includes High Point Andrews, Asheboro, Central Davidson, North Davidson, Ragsdale, Trinity and West Stokes. South Piedmont schools are Brown, Central Cabarrus, Concord, East Rowan, Harding, Northwest Cabarrus, Piedmont, Sun Valley and West Rowan. The SWC is comprised of Burns, East Rutherford, Forest View, Kings Mountain, North Gaston, R-S Central and South Point.

The best two-of-three state championship series will be played May 26-27 at a site to be announced.

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