Yuma Catholic baseball is headed to the state title game

Yuma Catholic completes two-game sweep over Northwest Christian to move on to the championship.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Yuma Catholic Shamrocks defeated the Northwest Christian Crusaders 4-3 in Game 2 of the AIA 3A semifinals.

Yuma Catholic is moving on to the state championship game.

The game was tied 1-1 going into the sixth. In the sixth, Erik Topete hit an RBI double to give Yuma Catholic the lead. The Shamrocks would score three runs in the inning to make it 4-1.In the seventh, the Crusaders scored twice but YC was able to hang on for a 4-3 win.

"I was nervous, man," Yuma Catholic starting pitcher Leonekl Avelar said on the final out. "We were struggling to get that out. I just nervous. Oh, thank you. Thank God we just got that out."

"I had a clear mind, but as soon as I hit that ball so high saw I fair and then I just I was looking at my dugouts again, my teammates and, just celebrating," Topete said about his go ahead RBI.

The Shamrocks are now a game away from achieving their ultimate goal.

"That's what we fight for all year," head coach Judd Thrower said. "That's what we do all the extra training for. That's why we left here in the summer and work out and do all the two days that we do. And, you know, that's the reason why we play this game, is to be at this position and to go out there and play in those big time games."

Yuma Catholic will play the winner of Gilbert Christian and Valley Christian on Monday at Tempe Diablo Stadium.