Jay Baxter’s biggest worry in life right now? Prom is tomorrow night for Eastside Catholic, so the stands might be emptier than he hoped for the team’s Class 3A state championship game.

He’ll have to make do. Thin crowd or packed house, the state title is on the line after Eastside Catholic coasted past Decatur in the 3A tournament semifinal on Friday night at Everett Memorial Stadium, 7-1.

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Things unraveled quickly for Decatur — the Gators found themselves in a 5-0 hole in the blink of an eye after the Crusaders put three runs on the board in the first inning and two more in the second.

It didn’t get any better. Decatur’s typically feared lineup was silenced by Baxter, who threw a complete game. His line: seven innings, three hits, one run, a walk and nine strikeouts.

“The fastball was what was working best,” he said. “Fastball, curveball.”

Eastside Catholic left fielder Hudson Schock went 2-for-2 with a team-high three RBI. Ethan Flavel, Dylan Reano and Nate Gilmore had a hit apiece for Decatur.

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Eastside Catholic is the surprise of the tournament, playing in the state championship as the No. 17 seed. The Crusaders have had to scratch and claw through several elimination games in recent weeks to make it to this point.

“I don’t even know if you can put it into words,” Baxter said. “This team is something special. Started the season off a little rough, but the team has bounced back. We’ve gotten closer, the chemistry is there. It’s just amazing.”

Eastside Catholic will face Kentlake in the 3A state championship game, 7 p.m. Saturday in Everett. Decatur will face O’Dea in the third/fourth place consolation game, 1 p.m. Saturday.