In a game that had all the drama of a postseason classic, Scottsdale Notre Dame held off a furious Horizon comeback to secure a 13-11 victory Wednesday at Mesa's Hohokam Stadium, setting up a winner-take-all rematch on May 14 for a spot in the 5A state championship game on May 19.

The Saints appeared destined for a quick, run-rule win after building a commanding 12-1 lead through four innings, fueled by a seven-run explosion in the fourth. Junior right-hander Sam Jenkins was in complete control, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out three and walking two. But with the temperature rising and his pitcher sitting through a lengthy offensive rally, head coach Joe Muecke made the difficult decision to lift Jenkins after the fourth.

"It was a combination of pitch count, the heat, and that long inning," Muecke explained. "When we put up a seven-spot in the fourth, he'd been sitting there in the heat. He looked really good, and we had guys we thought could get outs. But credit to Horizon for battling. We found a way to navigate a lot of chaos."

That chaos came fast. Horizon (15-17) refused to go quietly, scoring two runs in the fifth to avoid the 10-run mercy rule, then erupting for six more in the sixth and two in the seventh. The Huskies' 10-run surge over the final three innings tested Notre Dame's bullpen, which used three additional pitchers before finally recording the last out.

"It was kind of a kitchen sink mentality," Muecke said. "But we're going to be ready for what's like a Game 7. That's what it's all about—just be ready to play some good high school baseball."

The stakes couldn't be higher in this double-elimination tournament. Horizon entered Wednesday unbeaten, having knocked off Gilbert Campo Verde (3-0), Notre Dame (8-4), and Tucson Catalina Foothills (18-8) in the first three rounds. Now, after battling through the losers' bracket, Notre Dame has earned a rematch that will determine which team advances to the championship stage.