Chugiak will play for its second state baseball championship in less than two months Saturday at Mulcahy Stadium.
The Mustangs beat Juneau 12-5 Thursday to advance to the title game of the American Legion state tournament.
They won't know who they're playing until Friday, when two games will be played to eliminate two of the three teams teams still alive in the loser's bracket -- Juneau, Kenai and defending champion South.
Chugiak, which won the state high school championship in June, scored runs in bunches to beat Juneau -- five in the fourth inning, three in the sixth and four in the eighth.
Juneau scored three runs without the benefit of a hit to take a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth. The Crimson Bears loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batsman, and a throwing error by third Chugiak third baseman Zachary Bohrer.
Bohrer quickly redeemed himself with a leadoff single that sparked Chugiak in the bottom of the inning. A double by Charlie Bucolo and a two-out walk issued to Jack Straub loaded the bases.
The Mustangs worked Juneau's J.R. Markovich for three straight RBI walks, and after they chased Markovich, Jakub Kindred greeted reliever Jacob Thibodeau with a two-run double that gave Chugiak a 5-4 lead.The Mustangs never trailed again.
Chugiak will play for the championship Saturday at 3 p.m. If they Mustangs lose, an if-necessary game to decide a champion will be played at 6:30 p.m.
In elimination games Thursday, South and Kenai posted wins to stay alive for another day.
South and Kenai will meet at 10 a.m. Friday.The winner will play again at 1 p.m. against Juneau, with a spot in the championship game at stake.
Defending state champion South held Dimond scoreless for eight innings in a 6-1 win, and Kenai held the Valley scoreless for seven innings in a 6-3 win.
South jumped to a 4-0 lead in a nightmare first inning for Dimond. South moved around the bases via two walks, two singles, two balks, a steal, a passed ball, a wild pitch, an error and a batter who was hit by a pitch.
Jonny Homza pitched seven scoreless innings for South, giving up two hits and walking none, and aided his cause at the plate with two hits, a run and an RBI.
Dimond scores it lone run on Joe Fitka's ninth-inning home run.
Kenai's win over the Valley was highlighted by Joey Becher's six innings of scoreless pitching and Jake Conver's three hits and RBIs.
Buddy Dale led the Valley at the plate with three hits, but on the mound he gave up six runs on six hits and six walks.
American Legion state baseball tournament
Mulcahy Stadium
Thursday's results
South 6, Dimond 1
Kenai 6, Valley 3
Chugiak 12, Juneau 5
Friday's games
10 a.m. -- South vs. Kenai
1 p.m. -- South-Kenai winner vs. Juneau