Look no further than head coach Eric Gardner to pinpoint what’s different about Sunrise Mountain's baseball program.

He’s in his 21st school year, still chasing a title that escaped his program's grasp during three state runner-up seasons. But this time, instead of worrying about if this is finally the year, Gardner's enjoying the ride.

For the fifth time in his career, Gardner and his program are two wins away from completing the dream. Sunrise Mountain punched its ticket to the 4A Conference semifinals Wednesday at Tempe Diablo Stadium after senior Troy Balko snagged a hard hit liner to first.

Balko then stepped on the bag to complete a double play and 6-3 win over Salpointe.

“I’ll be honest," Gardner said, "like I am the most relaxed, having so much fun. I mean, 20-plus years into this, and I’m back coaching (at) third (base) again. And I’m energized. I’m not pacing dugouts anymore. I can tell you that. I’m really enjoying this.”

Gardner compared this season to riding a bus filled with positive energy.

But, like Wednesday, there’s been some bumps.

“We told the guys, ‘This entire playoffs, I’ve been doing this a long time, you are going to get punched in the nose, and you are going to have to punch back,’” said Gardner, whose team trailed 2-0 against Salpointe before his team’s first at bat. “(First round opponent) Mingus scored two runs in the first inning, and we punched back. Against (second round opponent Canyon del Oro), we were leading the whole game. They came back, but we punched back.

“I just think these guys are riding on a bus that’s going to keep going, man.”

Besides the fun bus, Sunrise Mountain continued to ride the right arm of Balko, who got the starting nod on the bump against last year’s state runner-up.

Wednesday was the first time that Balko (9-0) allowed more than two runs in a game this season, but the trouble he got into didn't last long. The UNLV-commit fanned 11 batters and scattered six hits, three of which came in the first inning. 

(Sunrise Mountain's Troy Balko)

“Balko is a dude, man,” Gardner said. “He’s living the dream right now. I just think he’s composed.”

Sunrise Mountain (27-3), the No. 5 seed, scored two in the first and two in the second to go ahead 4-2.

Up 4-3 in the fifth, back-to-back, two-out RBI singles by No. 6 batter Trevor Pruitt and Jarrett Kellerhals gave Sunrise Mountain a 6-3 cushion.

Kellerhals went 3 for 3. In the seventh inning, Caleb Thomason moved from third base to the mound to pick up his third save of the year.

No. 8 seed Salpointe (18-12) is still alive but needs to defeat defending champ Nogales on Saturday to get another shot at Sunrise Mountain May 9 at Tempe Diablo. Salpointe defeated No. 1 seed Nogales in the first round.

“We just have each other’s backs through thick and thin,” said Balko about his team. “We hang out all of the time, and we are super close. It’s super cool to be a part of.”