If Coach Tim Smith’s team repeats Saturday, they’ll do it on a neutral field at Diethrick Park in Jamestown.

Freshman Blake Herman threw a complete-game five-hitter and Tyler Smith went 2 for 4 with three RBIs as No. 2 Gowanda beat No. 3 Maple Grove 8-3 in a semifinal Thursday.

The victory sets up a likely showdown between two of the area’s finest pitchers in Gowanda’s John Ondus and Portville’s Maxx Yehl at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Smith had one of his RBI singles in the third inning as Gowanda took a 2-0 lead, but the Red Dragons’ Colin McPherson answered with a solo home run in the top of the fourth to make it a one-run game.

Maple Grove’s Andrew Auer dives back safely to first base while Gowanda’s Bryan Zynda awaits a throw during Thursday’s Section VI Class C semifinal in Gowanda. P-J photo by Scott Reagle

Gowanda took over in its half of the fourth, taking advantage of some wildness from Maple Grove starting pitcher Tucker Fenton.

Alex Pachucinski and John Smuda walked to open the frame before Herman drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Fenton then walked in a run with Ondus at the plate and hit Gavin Phillips with a pitch to force in another run. Smith then hit an RBI single past a drawn-in infield and Maddox Browning plate the fourth run of the inning with a fielder’s choice.

“We knew the kid was talented. … He still struck out eight guys, but it was really a matter of striking when the opportunity arose,” Coach Smith said of Fenton. “He was good, but I think one of the bigger differences is that we faced good pitching all year — not his caliber — but not that much of a difference. Once our guys got through the order, they were able to make adjustments.”

That was plenty of support for Herman, who struck out nine and walked three.

“He came up to me after the game and said thanks for trusting him. It’s not about trust. I know the kid can do it,” Coach Smith said of Herman. “He’s giving us the best opportunity at this point to win the game. He’s played in some very high-level travel baseball and at the Babe Ruth World Series. I never thought in my 18 years that I would trust a freshman, but Blake isn’t fazed by too much.”

Fenton hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to make it 6-3, but Phillips hit an RBI single to score Herman and Smith drove in a run on a fielder’s choice in the sixth for Gowanda.

Fenton lasted 3 1/3 innings and allowed three hits while walking seven.

Now Gowanda will have a rematch with Portville for a shot at advancing to the Far West Regionals, something that was not available last spring.

“I’m going to guess they’ve had our name circled on their dartboard for a year now. I don’t think there’s any doubt that the two best teams in Class C are meeting in the final on Saturday,” Coach Smith said. “They are a great team with loads of talent. We’ll have to play our best game of the season to beat them.”