Buchholz senior center fielder Angel Irizarry was in trouble in the bottom of the ninth of the Bobcats 6A state semifinal game on Friday afternoon in Fort Myers.

Martin County pitcher Ethan Chan threw behind Irizarry towards first base as Irizarry headed to second base and it looked like the Martin County pitcher would pick him off.

But Irizarry’s speed led Chan to throw high to first, and Irizarry went to third base on the play and scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by senior Zac Brown as Buchholz slipped past Martin County (Stuart), 3-2, at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.

Buchholz (25-7) has won 14 games in a row and will play for the 6A state title for the third straight year on Saturday at 2 p.m. against St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), who beat the Bobcats, 8-3, in the state championship game a year ago. St. Thomas Aquinas defeated Land O’Lakes, 4-1, in the other semifinal.

“That was a heck of a high school baseball game,” Buchholz coach Chris Malphurs said. “That’s kind of what you expect from the state tournament. I thought Martin County would be tough and we just kept fighting and fighting and found a way to get a run in the ninth and win the game.”

Buchholz grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Shortstop Hudson Sapp walked with one out, stole second, and came home on a single to left by Irizarry. Irizarry went to second on an error by the Martin County left fielder and scored the second run of the inning on a bloop single to right field by catcher Tyler Thurmond.

“The offense got it going when our 7, 8, and 9 hitters got going,” Malphurs said. “They were our production today. It’s dangerous when a high school team can hit 1 through 9 and we can do that right now.”

Martin County (24-8) answered right back in the top of the third in their first baseball state semifinal game since 1968. Three singles sandwiched around a fielder’s choice made it 2-1, as John Thornton drove in a run for the Tigers. The tying run came home on a steal attempt to second t by Thornton as Thurmond threw the ball into center field, but Thornton was cut down going to third on a great throw by Irizarry from center field.

That was all Martin County got against Jacksonville University signee Dion Wilburn. He went the first seven innings, allowing six hits, only one earned run, with seven strikeouts and only one walk.

“I felt like most of my pitches were working,” Wilburn said. “Fastball command felt great and I’ve got a great catcher back there; it’s easy throwing to him, and he called a great game.”

The two teams’ bats went silent after that. Martin County didn’t get another runner past second base against Wilburn and fellow senior Cohen Lafler, who pitched the final two innings with three strikeouts and got the win in relief.

Buchholz left two on in the fifth but otherwise was quiet against Martin County starter Zane Moody and Chan until the ninth.

Irizarry was hit in the jaw by the first pitch in the ninth, but it was called a foul ball. He then singled to center field and then went to third on the error by Chan. The Tigers then intentionally walked Thurmond and Antoine Deleyrolle to load the bases, and Brown delivered the line drive to center to bring in Irizarry.

Irizarry and senior Blake Brewer were the only Bobcats with multiple hits, and Irizarry scored two of Buchholz’s three runs.

“What kept me going was all of the adrenaline rushing through my body,” Irizarry said. “I had a lot of energy going into this game. I’ve never been to a final four. I knew I had to give it my all for my teammates. I wasn’t planning on being hit in the jaw, but I was able to battle through it and get it done.”

Now Buchholz has a third chance to capture its first baseball state title and avenge last year’s loss to St. Thomas Aquinas.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think we might lose this game,” Malphurs said. “I walked down the steps in the fifth or sixth inning and said, maybe this isn’t our day and Martin County is the Cinderella this year. But these kids are so resilient, and they are winners. It’s a great pleasure to be their coach, and any anxiety I have they take away.”