Top-seeded Hamilton didn't allow #8 Sandra Day O'Connor's quick start to intimidate it in Friday's early 6A state baseball semifinal.

After SDO's first three batters of the game stroked hits that eventually plated two runs, the Huskies knew they had work to do. And they got right to it.

Hamilton's response in its half of the first was a five-run outburst that began a 12-run afternoon and a 12-3 victory at Mesa's Hohokam Park. Winning pitcher Josh Tiedemann recorded his sixth win. He threw 6 1/3 innings allowing six hits, two walks and struck out nine.

Hamilton (25-5) plays the Queen Creek-Basha winner in Tuesday night's title game at Diablo Stadium. The trip to the final is the Huskies 12th such visit over 20 seasons. O'Connor finished the season 21-11. Both of O'Connor's losses in the tournament were to Hamilton. 

Hamilton's first four batters gave SDO fits - Copper Brass, Roch Cholowsky, Tiedemann and Ryan Keucherak. They combined to go 7 for 11 with eight walks and scored eight runs. 

O'Conner's short-lived lead came with its first three batters. A Hustyn Wheeler double, bunt single by Ky McGary and two-run double by Jake Sanko was the Eagles feel-good moment.

Hamilton's five-run first saw the Huskies bat around. They ripped five hits - a single, two doubles, triple and home run. The home run was a two-run shot by Liam Wilson.

The next crooked number came in the fourth ininng. Three walks, a Tiedemann RBI double and an error were the ammunition. The four runs tacked on in the sixth used three hits, two walks, and two hit batters. There were three RBi in the inning - one each from Brass, Zach Wadas and Jeter Mauzey.

Queen Creek 6, Basha 2: The sixth-seeded Bulldogs (27-7) kept hopes alive of reaching the 6A title game using a go-ahead, three-run, second inning to beat the third-seeded Bears (21-9) at HoHoKam Stadium.

The teams play again Saturday at 6 p.m. at HoHoKam for the right to play Hamilton in the championship game on Tuesday.

Ryker Waite, Jet Berry and Jesse Aguirre combined for seven of Queen Creek's 10 hits. Waite was 3 for 3 and scored three runs. Aguirre and Berry were 2-4 and 2-3, respectively. Aguirre had a team-high 2 RBI. 

Senior Danny Smith pitched six innings. He allowed two hits, both runs (unearned), walked four and struck out three. Dylan Weekly finished with a perfect inning.

Queen Creek's Nate Gray drives in the first run of the game in the Bulldogs 6-2 victory over Basha on Friday (Azpreps365 photo)