The Falcons enter this week off the high of two dramatic wins. First, Cactus Shadows bumped Notre Dame out of the No. 1 seed at the state tournament with a 5‑3 win in the third and final game of the region championship series.

After scoring three early runs on Jerome Peña’s three‑run triple, Notre Dame rallied to tie. But Trask Switzenberg wrapped up the tournament championship with a two‑run single in the top of the sixth inning.

The win gave Cactus Shadows the fifth seed at state, which pitted it against a Tucson team in the first round. Like the Notre Dame game, the Falcons opened up with three quick runs. And just as in the previous game, the Falcons’ opponent rallied, but this time Cactus Shadows gave up the lead. Palo Verde scored four runs in the fifth. Among the four runs was a three‑run homer.

But just has he has done all season, Peña’s bat came alive right when the Falcons needed it most. Peña smacked a solo home run to knot the game up again.

Palo Verde appeared to be poised for the upset, however, when it scored in the seventh to send the Falcons to their possible final at‑bat of the season.

With two outs and a runner on second, Matt Summers got the biggest hit of the season when his single drove in Jake Goulder to give the Falcons new life.

After freshman Mike Basco kept Palo Verde off the scoreboard in the top of the eighth inning, the Falcons completed the dramatic win when Chris Manship singled to right, driving home catcher Ollie Goulder from second base.

The Falcons were scheduled to use Peña on the mound against Desert View. Coach Tom Scala said Summers would get the nod if Cactus Shadows advances to the semifinals May 12. The Falcons would play the winner of No. 1 Coronado and ninth‑seeded Higley at 4 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m. on May 13 at Tempe Diablo Stadium. If the Falcons advance that far, Scala said he plans to bring back Peña on three days’ rest.