BIXBY — There are a hundred clichés that could be used to describe Moore’s run through the state baseball tournament. Cinderella, overachievers, cardiac kids, etc...

However, entering Monday’s semifinal round with Jenks, the Lions would have settled for title contender. And all they had to do to make that happen was to beat the No. 6 Trojans twice.

With a trip to the Class 6A state title game hanging in the balance, once again Moore proved it’s not ready for this ride to end. The Lions defeated Jenks 9-7 in the opener and 4-1 in the nightcap.

“What a day,” Moore coach David Hinckley said. “Kids competed all day long. Would not give in. The kids had to ride two hours on a bus, then take batting practice, then play a game that was unbelievably emotional, then turn around and win a game 4-1. It was an incredible day. They refused to give in.”

Moore will face No. 1 Owasso at 6:30 p.m. today L. Dale Mitchell Park here in Norman in a single game to decide the state champion.

“It’s absolutely huge,” Kyle Wormington said. “Everything we have worked for. We proved a lot of doubters wrong. We were not supposed to make it this far.”

It would be an improbable mountain to climb for most teams, but after what Moore has been through the past few days, it enters the game with no fear.

“It’s going to take everybody staying in the game,” Moore’s Bryson Thionnet said. “Our bats staying alive and pitchers throwing strikes. I have no doubt that if we do all that we will come out with a win.”

Thionnet has a right to be confident. Even though this was only his second game on the mound since he returned from a broken thumb, he pitched a complete seven innings against Jenks to secure the state-title bid. He held the Trojans to one run and only got in trouble once in the seventh inning.

With two runners on base and one out, Hinckley came to the mound to take Thionnet out, but was talked out of it.

“He just looked at me and said I promise you I can get the next guy out,” Hinckley said. “I told him I was going to give him one more hitter. He got a ground ball, the defense turned it into a double play to end the game.”

Making it to the championship game is old hat for Owasso. The Rams won their ninth title last season and have competed in 10 of the past 11 state-title games. The Rams are 37-3 and have not dropped a game during the postseason.

Of the three losses for the Rams, two came at the hands of Broken Arrow, which Moore has beaten twice in the tournament.

“As much as I want to say we have to do this or that to knock Owasso off, I am saying what does Owasso have to do to beat us,” Hinckley said. “This team has played with a lot of confidence, focus, hustle and belief.”