DOUGLAS — The Cochise College baseball team beat Yavapai on Saturday, 6-5, to clinch the NJCAA Region I semifinal series and earn a trip to the finals this week.
In the series finale, Cochise was down 5-3 before a three-run sixth inning put the Apaches ahead, while relief pitcher Kevin Dorantes went 6 1/3 for the win and Xavier Altamirano came on for the save. At the plate, Nate Hale went 2 for 4, including two RBIs, and Zach Nance went 2 for 3 and scored two runs.
After the Apaches won the series opener on Thursday, Yavapai won 7-4 Friday, thanks to a five-run third inning, to force game three. Steven Naemark took the loss, going 4 1/3 innings before Altamirano came on to finish the game. At the plate for Cochise, Jake Luna went 2 for 3 with an RBI.
In the other Region I semifinal series, fourth-seeded South Mountain upset conference champion and No. 1-seeded Central Arizona. The No. 2 Apaches host South Mountain this week in the best-of-three Region I finals.
Games on Thursday and Friday begin at 2 p.m. and Saturday at noon, if necessary. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and free for children 12 and under.