Mingus fell behind by five runs and was held hitless for three and 2/3 innings.

The perfect time for another playoff rally had arrived.

On cue, Mingus began its third playoff comeback by scoring three runs in the top of the sixth and two more in the seventh, when it had the potential tying run on second base and the winning run on first. Mingus, a win a way from the Division III baseball final, could sniff the championship game.

But, sorry Mingus, Alhambra waited a long time — 41 years to be exact — for Friday’s moment to arrive, and squandering it wasn’t on its agenda. Alhambra’s Javier Hernandez caught two fly balls in center field, including a fabulous over the shoulder catch, to clinch Friday’s state semifinal game and Alhambra’s 8-7 victory at Surprise Sports Complex.       

Alhambra’s baseball tradition is strong, but it’s been a long time since the school, which opened its doors in 1961, produced a state championship contender. The program brought home the state runner-up trophy in 1969, 1973 and 1975.  

Also, Alhambra is the first Phoenix Union High School District team to play for a state championship trophy since 1985.

“It’s huge for us,” Alhambra’s coach Christopher Hoth said. “We had been written off.”

Alhambra almost became a chapter in Mingus’ 2016 comeback playoff story.

But Alhambra (26-4-1) and its starting pitcher, Jesus Aldaz, held on to avenge their only Division III loss this season. Mingus opened the game by scoring two runs against Aldaz, but he settled down after that until the sixth inning.

Meanwhile, Alhambra’s bats pounded out 12 hits and gave Aldaz all of the run support he needed behind some clutch hitting. Alhambra scored four of its runs with two outs, none bigger than the insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

Aldo Fernandez’s bouncing RBI single to left field plated Alhambra’s final run. Fernandez replaced Aldaz on the mound in the seventh inning, when Fernandez walked the first two batters he faced, leading to some anxious moments for Alhambra and its fans.

But Hernandez made sure Alhambra went home happy. For Mingus, it was a different story.

Bob Young, one of the state’s top-notch baseball and football coaches, tried to console his resilient Mingus squad after its season ended with a 24-8 mark.

“I’m really proud of you guys,” Young told his boys after the game. “That’s how life is sometimes. You come up short sometimes.”

Alhambra’s march toward its first ever state title will continue Saturday against San Luis at Surprise Stadium in the D-III 7:30 p.m. final, which will be streamed live.

“This is amazing,” Aldaz said. “We’ve been putting in a lot of hard work since the off season.”