Lehigh Little League’s second showing in the Section 6 12U all-star tournament resulted in its elimination after losing to District 30’s Warwick, 5-4, through intermittent rain showers on July 18 in Lehighton.

“Today, we had hits here and there, put a few runs on the board, but it just didn’t happen,” said Lehigh manager Mike Kashner.

Similar to Lehigh’s first game in the Section 6 tournament, Lehigh struck in the first inning.

Andrew Erfle was hit by a pitch, Brayden Kashner singled, and Mac Pavlish was hit by a pitch to load the bases. JT Solano’s RBI single to right center field scored Erfle for a 1-0 Lehigh lead, its only lead in the game.

“We got on base, put pressure on them,“ Coach Kashner said. “We just couldn’t get those big hits.”

Warwick capitalized on two hit-by-pitches when Kyle Cohen smashed a single to left field and put Warwick ahead, 3-1.

Pavlish scored Lehigh’s second run in the third inning, sliding under Warwick catcher Connor Markowitz’s tag after a wild pitch.

Warwick tallied two more runs in the bottom of the third, but Lehigh pitcher Willie Cruz got out of a bases-loaded situation with three straight strikeouts.

“We knew, when this started out, we were built on our pitching,” Coach Kashner said. “I don’t think we scored more than five runs in any of the five games we played. That’s really just not who we are.”

But Lehigh came close to breaking that maximum five-run total against Warwick.

In the top of the fourth, Erfle hit a sacrifice fly, and Kashner had a double to right center, scoring Gio Sciarra and Liam Parry, who each walked, and Lehigh trailed 5-4.

Warwick loaded the bases again in the fifth, but Cruz escaped with two strikeouts to end the inning.

Lehigh’s Luqkai Dickson led off the sixth with a line drive to left field, Erfle singled with one out, and Warwick put the game away on a sudden double play.

“I’ve known these guys since they were six, so it’s tough. They meant everything,” said Coach Kashner after thanking and consoling his players. “I said our goal was simple. It was to give them the experience to, one day when they’re older, look back and say that was the best summer of my life. I hope we achieved that.”