Lehigh Little League’s 10U All-Stars won a thrilling Section 6 extra inning playoff game, 2-1, against Council Rock Newtown on July 14 in Conyngham, Pa.

“It was about as tight a game as could possibly be,” said Lehigh manager Dave Cresci. “I think we just put the kids in the positions we think they’re going to be most successful in, and then they just executed.”

Lehigh took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

“I hit second with a single over the shortstop’s head,” said Lehigh infielder Colin Kelly, who got to third base on a passed ball. “They threw it to third, it got by him, and then I scored.”

Coach Cresci noted Kelly’s tremendous effort on defense at second base and shortstop.

“I dove between short and third and got the lead runner out. I threw to third to Johnny (Shireman),” Kelly said, “and made an out at second base.”

Lehigh held its lead until the fifth inning when Council Rock Newtown scored its first and only run.

Brady Collins was on the mound for Lehigh for six innings.

“A great defense behind me kept getting plays, which helped us,” said Collins, who came out of the game after 70 pitches. “I only had five pitches left, and if I went any more than 75, I would have to have four days’ rest.”

In the top of the seventh, Lehigh catcher Anthony “AP” Petko reached first base on his leadoff single before scoring the winning run.

“Past third base for a single, and then Stu (Marcus Stuart) hit a pop fly to right field and they couldn’t catch it, so I scored the winning run,” said Petko. “It was very exciting.”

When Stuart came up to bat, Petko was on third base.

“It went in between second and right,” Stuart said. “I just took off. I saw [Anthony] score. I was pumped up. I was cheering. I was so happy that we were almost going to win.”

Lehigh’s Zane Balaziuk took over pitching duty in the bottom of the seventh.

Said Collins, “All my teammates were in the dugout, and I was outside where the gate is, and I was saying to myself, ‘Come on, Zane. Come on, Zane.’”

Balaziuk started the game at shortstop and had eight putouts.

“I remember my double play that I had, hit up toward the mound, and I stepped on second and threw it to first,” Balaziuk said. “I was very excited for being able to close it. A ball hit to Jack (Cresci) at first (was the last out), and he stepped on first. We were pretty happy.”

Editor’s note: Lehigh’s 10U All-Stars would drop games 2 and 3 by scores of 10-0 and 7-2 to get eliminated.