Cue the victory parade.

Following back-to-back wins on the road against the Sioux City Explorers in the first two games of the American Association Championship Series, the St. Paul Saints traveled back to CHS Field on Saturday night hoping to clinch the team’s first championship since the association was established in 2006 and first title since they won the Northern League in 2004.

The Saints trailed 3-1 heading into the sixth inning, but as they have so many times in this year’s playoffs, they fought back.

The bottom of the sixth started with back-to-back singles by Brady Shoemaker and John Silviano. Following a fly out to right field, second baseman Josh Allen walked to load the bases.

On reliever Nate Gercken’s first pitch of the night, Saints third baseman Chesny Young connected. In what might go down as the most important hit in Saints history, Young watched the ball launch toward the deepest part of the field in left center and clear the wall.

Young’s grand slam, which traveled over 400 feet, brought the crowd of 5,535 to its feet and built the Saints’ lead to 5-3, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish as they clinched the first American Association Championship in team history.

“I don’t normally cheat pitches,” said Young, “but I thought they were going to come fastball in so I was swinging early and I don’t do that very often. I don’t know if he tried to come in or not but he missed and left it middle and luckily I hit it out.”

Added Young: “Biggest hit I’ve had, most special to me. I almost fainted coming around home plate, so it was a rush of emotions.”

The championship series win avenges a 3-1 series loss the Saints suffered a year ago to the Kansas City T-Bones. In fact, this was the team’s fifth championship appearance since the American Association was established, but for the first time the Saints were victorious.

“We never gave up,” said manager George Tsamis. “We have one starting pitcher from Opening Day. … We lost the best player in the league, Max Murphy, and when you lose those kind of guys it’s tough to replace them, and they did a tremendous job and I’m just really happy for these guys.”

The night wasn’t without its struggles for the Saints. Before Sioux City’s No. 5 batter could step to the plate in the first inning, the Explorers already held a 3-0 lead. Following a walk and an error, right fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker took starting pitcher Ryan Zimmerman deep to right field for a three-run home run.

The Saints answered in the third as shortstop Chris Baker connected on an 0-1 pitch and put it into the bullpen behind the left-field wall, cutting the Explorers’ lead to two. Sioux City held the lead until Young’s grand slam in the sixth.

The Saints added insurance in the bottom of the seventh as Silviano hit a rocket down the first-base line for a double that brought right fielder Michael Lang around from first base to score.

In the ninth inning, with the Saints’ 6-3 lead still intact, reliever Tanner Kiest was called upon to secure the final three outs. Kiest walked two of the first three batters he faced, but a double play with runners on first and second with one out clinched the championship for the Saints.

Saints general manager Derek Sharrer addressed how the team was continuously able to fight back.

“It starts with the manager. It starts with George,” Sharrer said. “The Saints are known for the experience, we’re known for the promotions, we’re known for the silly stuff, but when you get in the clubhouse, when you get in the dugout, when you get between the white lines, we’re about winning, and it starts with George Tsamis.”