Delta Charter School’s Andrew Brown ran out of the dugout to his position — second base — at the top of the seventh.

While jogging out to second, Brown turned and yelled at the Storm’s starting pitcher Drake Smith, “This is your game Drake!”

Brown was not lying. It truly was Smith’s game.

“He was incredible (Thursday night),” said Delta Charter coach Jarrett Hoffpauir. “He has been incredible all year, especially during the second half of the year. He is pitching well. Swinging the bat well. I can’t say enought about him. He has been great.”

On Thursday night at home against No. 1 LaSalle Tigers, Smith gave what he said was his best performance all year as he led the No. 9 Storm to a 9-2 upset over the Tigers in seven innings in the quarterfinals of the LHSAA Class 1A state playoffs.

“Definitely one of my best (performances) ever, undoubtely” Smith said. “I have my days, and today was one of those days.”

Smith got rolling right away on the mound, as he went three up and three down against LaSalle’s first three batters. Then at the plate in the first inning, Smith knocked in an RBI single to bring home fellow senior Trenton Miller.

But Smith was just getting started.

Smith said the first inning eased his nerves and got him hyped. He added that he thrives under the type of circumstances her faced against LaSalle.

The senior right-hander held the powerhouse Tigers — who returned a majority of their starters from last year’s state championship team — to five straight scoreless innings. That allowed the Storm to build a 7-0 lead. But in the top of sixth, LaSalle finally got its offense rolling, scoring two runs off of Smith.

However, Smith made sure the Tigers’ momentum stopped there.

“It was just pitched down in the zone, low and inside, and that’s where I like (pitches thrown against me),” Smith said. “I did my job.”

Smith’s job was hitting a two-run home run over the left fence wall and striking the lower part of Delta Charter’s scoreboard to reverse the momentum of the game. Not only did Smith’s homer reverse the course of the contest, it also gave the Storm a seven-run lead once again.

“Anytime you can get momentum … heck they are the defending state champs, when they got a little momentum, you get a little on edge,” Hoffpauir said. “But after (Smith’s) home run, it moved the momentum back to our side a bit.

“(That home run) was huge. In baseball, momentum is big. To get the momentum back on our side to shut their momentum down, it was a relief.”

While Smith led the way for the Storm, he did receive some help. Freddie Mango and Trey Poole each had doubles that brought their teammates across home plate. Plus, Smith’s defense did save him at times by making crucial catches and throws for outs.

Smith ended the game like he started it, striking out a Tiger.

Not only did Smith record a strikeout to seal the victory, but the K also punched the Storm’s ticket to their first trip to Sulphur, Louisiana for the LHSAA Class 1A state semifinals.

“I’m very proud,” Smith said. “I couldn’t ask anything better for this team. We have come a long way from the beginning of the year. I love (all of my teammates).”

Delta Charter’s confidence is high and its coach said he believes it could achieve its ultimate goal: a state title.

“Our older guys stepped up and here we are,” Hoffpauir said. “I think our ceiling is super high. If we can play like we did tonight, we could make some noise.”

Delta Charter will play at 2 p.m. next Thursday against Kentwood in Sulphur.

While every Storm player was all smiles and cheering about making it to the semifinals after the game, Smith was happy to bounce LaSalle — who knocked Delta Charter out of the playoffs last year.

“It was nice to beat them,” Smith said.