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LAPLACE — St. Charles Catholic’s baseball team found a way back to the championship game to defend its Division III state title following a 9-4 win against the Dunham Tigers Thursday evening in Sulphur.

St. Charles Catholic advanced to take on No. 7 Holy Savior Menard. The Eagles are coming off of a 4-2 upset victory over No. 2 seed Notre Dame. The game will begin at 5 p.m. in McMurry Park.

Following a weather delay, the No. 1 seeded Comets came out swinging in the semifinals and led the Tigers 4-2 by the end of the first inning. Senior Michael Hotard’s double was the spark St. Charles needed to bring home four runs.

Dunham answered in the second inning with a series of singles to make the score 4-4, but the Comets were back on top before long with runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings.

Hotard, Brandon Kragle, Brady Clement and Brady St. Pierre each had runs batted in. Jackson Monica and Hudson Heltz were also strong at the plate, and St. Pierre and Hotard came together to get the job done on the pitcher’s mound.

St. Charles Catholic has appeared in the state title game for baseball every year since the seniors currently on the team were eighth graders. A win would make school history with back-to-back baseball and football championships.