Pitching helped the Yuma Catholic Shamrocks get this far.

But pitching also came oh-so-close to throwing away Thursday’s significant achievement.

The Shamrocks were in good hands, it seemed, when their ace, Mickey Fox, stepped in as a reliever for the first time this season with his team up 4-1 in the seventh inning. But pitching location miscues led to some anxious moments for Yuma Catholic, as Valley Christian got within a run.

Fox, however, buckled down and got the final batter to ground out with runners in scoring positing to help post a 4-3 win over Northwest Christian. The victory at the Player Development Complex for the Cincinnati Reds in Goodyear was noteworthy for a couple of reasons.

Yuma Catholic advanced to the 3A title game after faltering in the semifinals the last two seasons. It also ended Northwest Christian’s two-year reign as champ.

“So this the next step in the evolution of our program, to be able to get to that championship game,” Shamrocks coach Judd Thrower said. “We have a great chance to win it. We are tough as heck.”

With no seniors on the roster, Yuma Catholic is poised to make a run at the crown not just this year.

Leonel Avelar is one of the stud pitchers for the Shamrocks. The tall junior admitted after the game that he was nervous at the start.

Considering the major league setting and what was at stake, it was expected. But after a rough first inning start, when he allowed three of his five hits, Avelar then handcuffed one of 3A’s mighty lineups.

“The first inning was a rough start,” Avelar said. “I had to get the nerves out. But after that, with just a one run lead, I just settled down and tried to do my job.”

Northwest Christian’s starter, Trot Simms, also came to deal.

Through five innings, Yuma Catholic only had three hits to show for.

A pair of RBI sacrifice flies were all the teams could muster through five. Then came the turning points in the game, starting in the bottom of the sixth.

That’s when Yuma Catholic scored three runs on four hits, a walk and a groundout to head to the seventh with a 4-1 advantage. Avelar exited to a well-deserved ovation after walking the first batter.

But after some wild pitches and a couple of hits later, Valley Christian had the game tying and go ahead runs on base. But Fox (3-for-3) and his team then made sure to book their state championship appearance.

“It wouldn’t be a high school game if there wasn’t a little bit of excitement at the end,” Thrower said.

Yuma Catholic (24-4) will play for a ring Monday at Tempe Diablo Stadium against either Gilbert Christian or Valley Christian.

Gilbert Christian solves Valley Christian, finally

The Gilbert Christian Knights picked the right time to finally defeat Valley Christian.

Facing elimination, the Knights upended their region rival 10-9 Thursday in Goodyear to force a third and deciding semifinal game between the teams. Saturday's winner will advance to the 3A championship.

With runners on second and third, a Valley Christian wild pitch allowed Tyler Steil to score from third and Gilbert Christian to celebrate the walk-off victory.

“There’s no lack of fight in these guys,” Gilbert Christian coach Josh Bailey said. “They’ve been fighting all year and played some close games against some of the best teams in the state. They’ve been finding ways to stay in games and get to the chance where they can win a game, and that’s what they did.”

The Knights had lost six in a row to Valley Christian, including three games this season, prior to Thursday.

Four hits and an error led to five Gilbert Christian runs in the sixth and a 9-6 lead. But Valley Christian responded with three runs in the seventh to set up the extra inning dramatics.