Gaither's baseball team hadn't been to the state championships since 2005.

The Cowboys made the most of their first trip back in 11 years. Gaither shutout Belen Jesuit 5-0 to advance to the Class 7A championship game.

They will play defending state champs Venice for the title LIVE on BHSN (Channel 47/HD 1147) Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

The Cowboys set a tone early on with a big opening first inning. Kenny Rodriguez drove in the first run for Gaither with a base hit scoring Edgar Nunez.

Gaither showed off its speed, pulling off the double steal and that set up Danny Gutcher's sac fly for a 2-0 lead. Chipper Holland made it 3-0 with his RBI single to cap off the first inning.

Gaither added another run in the second thanks to Belen Jesuit's third error of the game. Jose Cadenas scored for the Cowboys.

In the bottom of the fourth, another double steal by the Cowboys, then Cadenas with an RBI double.. One run scored, another was tagged out.

Gavin Gillespie got it done for the Cowboys on the mound. The senior southpaw helped retire 17-straight batters, including seven strikeouts, and allowed only two hits.

In the 5A Championship Game, Bolles needed nine innings to defeat Monsignor Pace 1-0. And in the 6A Championship Game, Archbishop McCarthy defeated Mosley 10-4.