HEPPNER – Heppner head coach Rick Johnston has said all season his squad is capable of playing for the Class 2A/1A state baseball title and that’s exactly what the Mustangs will do after a 3-2 victory over Bonanza Tuesday in the semifinals.

The No. 3-ranked Mustangs (25-2 overall) almost watched the semifinal victory slip away late in the seventh inning, but it was meant to be for senior pitcher Chuy Elguezabal, who was fantastic.

“These kids gutted it out and they’ve been doing it all season,” Johnston said. “We tried to let them back in it, but we got the job done.”

Heppner will face Santiam Christian in the championship game at 10 a.m. Saturday, at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer. Santiam Christian rallied to beat defending champion Regis 10-5 in the other semifinal game Tuesday.

“This is something we’ve wished for in any sport for a long time,” said Elguezabal, who took the loss against Grant Union in the semifinals last season. “I’m glad for the seniors to get this opportunity especially after last year.”

Elguezabal (12-1) had complete command of the Antlers over seven innings, but his errant throw to first base with two outs in the seventh inning helped Bonanza pull within a run, 3-2. On the very next play, however, Elguezabal again fielded a chopper that went off his glove, but he gathered himself for the out, sending his teammates into a frenzy along with the Heppner faithful.

“I was worried in the seventh,” said Kory Paullus, who’s home run in the fourth inning put Heppner ahead 3-0. “It was a great feeling to get that final out.”

Elguezabal carried a perfect game into the fifth, but he beaned Bonanza’a Sam Moxley and Owen Snell broke up the no-hitter in the sixth inning with an infield single.

“His curve ball was working really well and it kept their batters off-balance,” said Heppner catcher Jode Coil. “We pretty much knew Chuy good hold their offense down.”

Elguezabal struck out six batters over three innings and nine in all, while walking none. Making Elguezabal’s performance even better was the fact that Bonanza knocked off No. 1 Grant Union last week 33-17 in the quarterfinals, yet Elguezabal held Bonanza to just two hits.

“(Bonanza) has a good hitting ball club, but Chuy pitched one heck of a ball game,” Johnston said.

The Antlers (24-2) dropped their second game of the season, each by a run, spoiling a valiant effort by Mike Nieraeth, who held the Mustangs to three hits after Heppner beat Gaston 21-4 in the quarterfinals last week.

“We’re pretty disappointed,” Bonanza head coach Dennis Burtenhouse said. “We looked hesitant at the plate and I just don’t know. It was tough.”

Heppner found the scoreboard in the second inning when Luke Murray executed a hit-and-run with a single and Billy Gates scored Kiel Nairns one batter later with an RBI ground out.

“This is great and we really felt like we could get to this point,” said Gates, who missed most of his senior season with a shoulder injury, returning three weeks ago. “We had to manufacture runs and do the little things and I’m glad they all worked out.”

Elguezabal helped his cause with a double to left-center field in the third inning. A passed ball moved him to third and he scored on a Coil squeeze bunt.

“We had the two perfect guys up there in that situation,” said Johnston of the squeeze play. “They know what they’re doing and it was big for us.”

Paullus followed in the fourth inning with a lead-off home run to right field that proved to be the difference.

“I thought it was going to hit the fence, but I was glad it got out of here,” Paullus said.

“That was a huge home run,” said Johnston who pointed at the scoreboard. “It turned out to be really huge looking at the score.”

Elguezabal, Paullus and Murray each went 1 for 3, while Bonanza’a Snell and Mike Merkley were 1 for 3 as well.

“We’re excited to be in the championship game, but we’re not going down there to be content,” Johnston said. “We want to bring back the big one.”