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TEMPE — In the final start of his high school career Friday night, Sahuaro ace Pat McCoy was nearly untouchable.

Running his fastball in the low 90s all evening, and mixing in a knee-buckling curveball, McCoy struck out 10 and scattered five hits in a complete-game 2-1 victory over Canyon del Oro in the 4A-I state semifinals at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

"I just believe in my abilities, and I wanted to go out tonight and get into the state championship for this team," said McCoy. "The 10 seniors weren't ready to go home."

The No. 12 Cougars (18-13-1) will take on Tempe McClintock in today's title game at 4 p.m.

"(McCoy) was flat-out dominant," said Sahuaro coach Mark Chandler. "That was the best game I've ever seen him throw."

Sahuaro junior Matt Fierro unloaded a solo home run — his only home run of the season — off Dorados starter Matt Bittles in the second inning, crushing a fastball that hovered over the middle of the plate onto the grassy berm in left field — over 340 feet from the batter's box.

"He gave me my pitch and I just turned on it," said Fierro.

Meanwhile, McCoy was on cruise control, striking out the heart of the Dorados' order in the fourth.

"He had everything working," said Canyon del Oro cleanup hitter Dylan Cota-Robles. "The guy was throwing heat, and then he kept you guessing for when that curveball would show up. We just tried to put the ball in play. It wasn't easy."

Fierro was hit by a pitch to open the fifth, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and took third on a ground out.

That set the stage for Ryan Moser's RBI single, which proved to be the game-deciding run.

The No. 8-seed Dorados finally reached the scoreboard in the fifth when shortstop Zach Tarbet poked a two-out, run-scoring base hit to slice the lead to 2-1.

And in the sixth, Canyon del Oro had runners on first and second with one out when outfielder Taylor Nintzel grounded into what looked to be an inning-ending double play.

But Sahuaro shortstop Tommy King tripped after touching second base, then opted against launching the ball to first.

That proved to be an unlucky break for the Dorados. Thinking King would attempt the throw to first, pinch runner Derek Matlock attempted to score the tying run from second base.

Instead, King caught Matlock out of the corner of his eye and fired home to gun him down.

"If (King) had thrown the ball to first, and it ended up in the dirt, we would've scored the tying run," said Canyon del Oro coach Len Anderson. "You assume it's going to be a double play, so you send the runner hoping it's not."