THS got out of a jam and kept its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the top of the seventh, THS erupted for five runs and held a commanding 9-3 lead.

But the unbeaten Wildcats wouldn’t go quietly.

Hayden scored five runs of its own and had runners on second and third with 2 out in the bottom of the seventh.

Starting pitcher Merek Davenport limited Hayden to 3 runs before hitting his pitch limit. Talon Langford pitched in the sixth and seventh before Landon Bartlett came in with more relief in the seventh. With 2 outs in the seventh, THS coach Mitch Loomis brought in Piercen Eccles and the senior got the one Wildcat batter he faced to ground out to the right side of the field. Eccles put his arms in the air as the throw went to first and THS came away with the 9-8 victory and a state berth.

Tonganoxie not only knocked of an undefeated Hayden squad, but the Chieftains also bounced the defending Class 4A state champs.

Tonganoxie improved to 16-11 after defeating No. 9 El Dorado, 10-0, in the regional semifinals and HHS in the championship. Hayden got past No. 16 Augusta (8-16), 5-4, in the other semifinal.

Hayden ended its season at 23-1. The Wildcats also threw ace pitcher Cooper Grace against the Chieftains, but Tonganoxie was able to score on the future Husker. Grace, who will play for Nebraska next year, exited late after hitting his maximum pitch count for the day. Tonganoxie was able to string together five runs in the final inning on the Hayden bullpen.

Other East Bracket teams that have punched tickets to state so far are Paola (25-3), which was the No. 3 seed in the East Bracket and Rock Creek (21-6), which was the No. 4 seed in the East Bracket.

Tonganoxie will be the No. 8 seed when the 4A state tournament begins Thursday at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina.

THS will meet No. 1 McPherson (25-3) in a rematch of the 2022 title game. The Bullpups won that meeting, 5-2, for a state championship.

The quarterfinal game will start at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Other quarterfinal games are No. 4 Mulvane (21-4) vs. No. 5 Rock Creek (21-6), No. 2 Fort Scott (25-3) vs. No. 7 Abilene (16-10) and No. 3 Paola (25-3) vs. No. 6 Clay Center (19-6).

Semifinal games will be 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Friday (THS would play at 1:15 p.m. if it defeats McPherson) and then the championship game will be 5:45 p.m. Friday.

Tonganoxie will make its third state appearance in the last four seasons and seventh overall this week.