Matt Summers of Chaparral pitches against Sandra Day O'Connor in the 4A-I state baseball championship game Saturday afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Lisa Olson, Tribune

The 4A-I baseball world is back in order. Scottsdale Chaparral resumed its dominance on the diamond Saturday afternoon, beating Glendale Sandra Day O’Connor 8-6 in the championship game at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

SLIDESHOW: See photos from the game

The Firebirds have now won five of the last six state championships. Last year was the lone blip, when Tempe McClintock knocked them out in the semifinals and went on to win it all.

“We went 20 years before we ever won a championship,” coach Jerry Dawson said. “I don’t feel like we coach for championships... I feel like we coach for the kids. If they get better, that part doesn’t get old. And if they win a championship that’s wonderful.”

The outcome was in doubt early when Chaparral trailed 4-1 through 3 1/2 innings, but they put up seven runs in the next two innings to take the title.

“We never gave up,” first baseman Cody Yount said. “We haven’t given up all year. We weren’t worried. We just kept battling back.”

Jordan Holle pitched to just one batter, but escaped a bases-loaded jam by forcing a groundout in the fourth to earn the win.

Matt Summers got the save by pitching the last three innings. Summers transferred to Chaparral after playing for Cave Creek Cactus Shadows previously.

He won a state title with the Falcons two years ago.

“It’s kind of weird,” Summers said, “it feels like I’ve been playing with these guys the whole time.”

Chase Brewer started on three days’ rest and struggled, giving up four runs in 3 2/3 innings. The offense bailed him out by getting four runs in the fourth inning to erase the deficit, and then three more in the fifth with two outs after Sandra Day O’Connor had battled back to tie the game at 5.

Trey Ford knocked in the go-ahead run with a double in the fifth and Jordan Weymouth and Landon Joost both followed with run-scoring hits.

Summers struck out Maverick Lasker with a fastball on the outside corner to end the game, then jumped and twirled as his teammates mobbed him on the mound.

“Getting that last out was absolutely amazing,” Summers said.

For some of the seniors on the team, it was the last chance at a state title. Yount joined older brother Austin with a title after it evaded him last year.

“I just wanted to get my one,” Yount said.

Six starters will be playing Division I college baseball last season, but coach Jerry Dawson said the team was very unpredictable.

“We had championship talent, but we didn’t have championship chemistry,” Dawson said. “We fought the chemistry issues all year.”

By tournament time, that fight had been won.

“It just clicked and it was awesome,” Summers said. “Everything came together.”