photo: John Coutlakis Roberson's Justin Talbot safely slides into second base Tuesday evening as Burns' D.J. Hamrick fails to catch this throw. Roberson beat Burns, 6-5, to advance to the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's Class 3-A baseball playoffs.

SKYLAND - The Roberson Rams received a much-needed challenge from the Burns Bulldogs.

Roberson (24-0) advanced to the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's Class 3-A baseball playoffs Tuesday with a 6-5 win over Burns (18-9).

Only three teams had come within five runs of Roberson in its first 23 games, 14 of which ended via the 10-run mercy rule.

"When you are in the playoffs, you are playing the best teams in the state," Roberson coach Tom Smith said. "You expect close games."

Top-ranked Roberson will travel to fourth-ranked Ashbrook for its second-round playoff game Friday.

Junior center fielder Cameron Maybin provided clutch performances from the plate and on the mound on the same day he learned Gatorade had named him the North Carolina High School Baseball Player of the Year.

Maybin (1-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs) snapped a sixth-inning tie with a two-run home run - his Western North Carolina-leading 12th this season - that proved to be the game-winner. Maybin (2-0) also pitched the final two innings, allowing one run on no hits and two walks.

"His character was tested today," said Rudy Maybin, his father. "I'm glad he came through for them."

Junior right fielder Tyler Watts (1-for-2) and junior third baseman Dustin Garver (1-for-2) drew back-to-back walks from Maybin to start the seventh inning.

Watts stole third base, and Garver took second base on junior designated hitter Ben Downs' sacrifice bunt. Watts then scored on senior center fielder Jamie Ray's sacrifice fly.

With his team down to its last out, junior pitcher Josh Drewery (2-for-4 with one run and three RBIs) hit a popfly to sophomore second baseman Mitch Hefner to end the game.

"This was a good high school game to watch," Smith said. "There were a lot of exciting spots."

The Bulldogs tied the score at 4 in the fourth inning on a pair of home runs off junior pitcher Seth Laughter (four runs on four hits and three errors with two strikeouts and no walks in five innings).

Watts smashed a solo shot to left field. Drewery crushed a two-run blast to center field two outs later.

The Rams scored three runs on four consecutive two-out hits in the third inning for a 4-1 lead.

Senior catcher Blair Wells and senior first baseman Tyler Radford started the surge with back-to-back singles. Junior right fielder Clay Roland followed with a double off the center field wall that scored senior courtesy runner Jon Kuykendall and Radford. Senior designated hitter Justin Talbot (2-for-3) plated Roland with an infield single.

The Rams led 1-0 after the first inning, when Maybin reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a double by senior third baseman Theo Herila (3-for-3 with one walk).

"Our seniors had to step it up," Herila said. "This is the playoffs. It is one and done. We focused on what we needed to do, and we did it."