MINOOKA — Through three innings Monday, the Minooka Junior High School baseball team's defense of its 2016 IESA Class 3A state championship looked to be in jeopardy. Channahon, the fourth seed in the regional, led top seed Minooka, 1-0, on the strength of an RBI double by Adem Osmani in the top of the third.

In the bottom of the fourth, though, Minooka turned to one of its strengths, depth in the lineup.

With one out, Ryan Norman, the Indians' fifth hitter, singled to right and then went to second on a grounder by Cole Blazekovich. Matt Medlin was hit by a pitch and Trey Swidoski walked to load the bases. No. 9 hitter Zach Monnett then hit a grounder to first that was misplayed for an error, allowing Norman to score the tying run. Leadoff hitter Tucker Thompson then singled up the middle to score Medlin and Swidowski to put Minooka ahead 3-1 and lead the way to a 5-1 victory.

The win puts Minooka (20-1) in the sectional, which they will host Saturday at 11 a.m. against Coal City, a 3-0 winner over Pontiac.

"In our big inning, the bottom of the order did a great job of turning things over to get to the top," Minooka coach Kyle Hasler said. "We have quality hitters up and down the lineup, and if the top or middle of the order is struggling, the bottom can get things going."

Channahon threatened in the top of the fifth, loading the bases before Ivan Dahlberg came on in relief of Caleb Parker to get out of the inning.

Minooka added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Medlin led off with a walk and was bunted to second by pinch-hitter Cam Pedrusich, Monnett sacrificed Medlin to third before Thompson walked. A wild pitch allowed Medlin to score before Dahlberg singled to center to score Thompson.

Channahon didn't go quietly, loading the bases on three walks with two outs before Dahlberg ended the game with a strikeout.

"It's never easy," Hasler said. "Channahon played a great game. We have a lot of quality pitchers and we still had some we could go to if we needed to in that last inning."

In the semifinals Saturday, Minooka picked up a decisive 9-5 win over Manhattan.

The Indians jumped ahead early. After Frankie Hummel retired Manhattan in order in the top of the first, Thompson led off the bottom of the inning by reaching on an error. Dahlberg then hit a line shot over the fence in right field for a 2-0 lead. Minooka then loaded the bases as Caleb Parker reached on an error and Hummel and Cole Blazekovich walked. A single to left by Matt Medlin scored Parker for a 3-0 lead after one inning.

In the bottom of the second, Minooka scored again. Thompson led off with a single, and Dahlberg followed suit. A single to center by Parker scored Thompson for a 4-0 lead. Hummel followed with a bloop single to right, but Dahlberg was thrown out at home. Ryan Norman walked to load the bases, but Manhatten turned a double play to end the inning.

Hummel got in a little trouble in the third inning, allowing three runs before Dahlberg was summoned to the mound. He squelched the threat and retired all eight batters he faced in 2 2/3 innings.

Meanwhile, Minooka kept scoring. In the third, A walk to Medlin, a double by Trey Swidowski and a walk by Thompson loaded the bases, and Dahlberg doubled to right. Medlin and Swidowski scored, but Thompson was out at home. Parker then reached on an error on a grounder to first, allowing Dahlberg to score for a 7-3 lead. Dahlberg finished the game 3 for 4 with a double, home run and four RBIs.

In the bottom of the fourth, Norman led off with a double to left and scored on a single by Medlin. The Indians capped their scoring in the fifth when Zach Monnett led off with a bunt single and went to second on an errant throw. He then scored on a double to right by Parker.

Camden Pedrusich relieved Dahlberg and finished the game for the Indians, allowing two runs in the sixth.