Lehigh Little League hosted the Section 6 10U All-Star Tournament last week when district winners Lehigh, Blue Mountain, and Stroudsburg competed for the Section 6 title, but it was Lehigh that took the prize and will move on to the state tournament.

In its playoff opener on July 20, Lehigh squeaked by Blue Mountain, 4-3, on Cooper Horlick’s two-out, bases-loaded RBI in the sixth inning.

Lehigh had trailed, 3-2, but loaded the bases on a fielder’s choice, a base hit, and a walk.

On a first pitch to Alex Cser, the Lehigh catcher’s RBI single to left field tied the game.

“It was a lot of pressure, but I’ve been in that situation a lot of times in the regular season,” said Cser. “When the bases were loaded, I was like, I have to get a hit or get on base.”

Lehigh pitcher Cam Nauman shut down Blue Mountain with a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the sixth to clinch the win.

“It went to the sixth inning, and I had to block out all the noises and concentrate on my pitching,” Nauman said.

Blue Mountain’s third-out fly ball caused an outfield collision between Luca DeAngelis and Hunter Roth

“They both collided, and it was in Hunter’s glove, and Hunter kept it in his glove,” said Nauman. “If he did drop it, there would only be a man on first, and I could get the last out, but he caught it, and I was excited.”

DeAngelis had Lehigh’s first RBI of the game to tie Blue Mountain in the second inning and led off the fifth inning with a single past the second baseman.

Zack Broas doubled, and Nicholas Pinca’s RBI single tied the game, 2-2.

Blue Mountain regained the lead on an error in the bottom of the fifth.

“I told the boys, that 3 (runs) up there, we gave them those three runs,” said Lehigh manager Tom Cser. “That’s a hell of a baseball team over there. They’ve got a ton of good baseball players, a ton of good pitchers. That’s the lowest run total we’ve had all year so far. To give them three runs and be back at it again in the top of the sixth and have to come back, this team loves the theatrics, but that’s what it’s all about, I guess.”

Lehigh shortstop Pierce Steiner made three consecutive plays in the fourth inning as Nauman forced a pop out and two ground outs.

“Pierce did his job because Cooper plays up because it’s a bunting team,” Nauman said, “and anything hit behind Cooper, Pierce gets to that.”

In its second and third games, Lehigh defeated Stroudsburg, 22-3, and 8-3.