Cal Baptist of La Verne won its first league title in 38 years and had roared through the CIF Southern Section Division 8 playoffs, shutting out its first three opponents while piling on 29 runs.

But Cal Baptist met Hueneme, a team just as hot, in Saturday’s semifinals at Louie Pompei Park.

Hueneme pitcher Jaucelynn Ayala broke a tie in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Marina Diaz, and the Vikings held on for a 4-3 victory over the Cougars.

Hueneme advances to the championship game that will be played Friday or Saturday at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine.

The Cougars’ Isabella Macias had a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh and stole second base to represent the tying run, but Kaylin Crewse grounded out to end the game.

Hueneme, which outscored its opponents 39-7 in its first three playoff wins, will take on Cathedral City in the championship game.

Cal Baptist (16-5) was making its first semifinals appearance in more than four decades and hoping to reach its first championship game.

“All of us couldn’t be prouder of this team,” Cal Baptist coach Amy Keelin said. “The effort, the time, they played through rain, injuries and we had times when we only had nine players. We’ve got only two seniors and one junior, so it’s a young team and hey, we’ve got next year.”

Three Cal Baptist freshmen, pitcher Reagan Hanson, second baseman Bri Rosales and catcher Isabel Chatoney helped turn the program around.

Hanson had a batting average over .500 and 49 RBIs, and she entered Saturday’s game with a 0.81 ERA and 178 strikeouts.

Hanson battled some control problems. She walked four, hit two batters and allowed 10 hits, but kept her team close with 13 strikeouts.

Rosales, who had a .692 average with 42 RBIs entering Saturday, had two singles and scored twice, including the tying run that made it 3-3 in the sixth inning.

“It was just one of those rough days,” Keelin said. “So, we appreciate that they (team) did everything they could, and we just want to get them ready for next season.”

Hueneme’s Ayala singled home the first run of the game after Angie Flores walked and moved to third base on two wild pitches in the second inning.

Cal Baptist’s Isabella Macias smacked a two-out triple to right in the third inning. Crewe’s grounder to short was mishandled for an error, allowing Macias to score and make it 1-1.

Cal Baptist took a 2-1 lead on three straight singles to open the fourth inning, with Madison Glass’ single scoring Rosales.

The Vikings rallied to take the lead in the sixth.

Ayala singled to left to bring in Diaz to tie the score 2-2 after a walk and hit batter to lead off the inning.

A bases-loaded walk forced in Jackie Uribe for the go-ahead run, 3-2.

It could have been worse. The Cougars loaded the bases with no outs after pulling ahead, but Hanson limited the damage with a pair of strikeouts and a forceout at home.

That was huge, because Cal Baptist’s Brianna Even belted a two-out single to left that scored Rosales in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score, 3-3.

RIO HONDO PREP 23, ADELANTO 11: The Kares kept putting up football-like numbers against Adelanto in Saturday’s semifinals after holding on for a 13-12 victory over Katella in the Division 6 quarterfinals.

The Kares tallied 23 hits, including three home runs, two doubles and a triple. They have scored 59 runs in four playoff games and improved to 20-5.

Rio Hondo Prep advances to the finals for the first time in 46 years. The Kares will take on University in the championship game Friday or Saturday in Irvine.

The Kares scored six runs in the first inning, then pulled away with five runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth inning.

Sam Montez was 3 for 4 with a double, triple and four RBIs. Tara Riley was 2 for 4 with two home runs, four RBIs and four runs scored.

Allie Scott was 3 for 4 with a home run, and Madison Burl added a two-run home run and scored three times.

UNIVERSITY 10, RAMONA CONVENT 2: Ramona Convent trailed 4-2 after five innings, but gave up six runs in the sixth in the Division 6 semifinal.

University, which pounded out 23 hits, will take on Rio Hondo Prep in the championship game at Irvine’s Deanna Manning Stadium.

Ramona Convent’s Madison Garcia was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI, and Citlali Garcia had two hits.

Mariana Figueroa also had two hits and scored a run for the Tigers (19-10).

Jaycee Meza singled in a run in the second inning to tie the score 1-1, but the Trojans scored three runs in the third inning to go ahead for good.