BRIDGE CITY — Whether it was a baseball game or waiting game, things went Bridge City’s way.

Saturday’s Little League District 32 Majors (12-under) Tournament game against Port Neches was paused by approximately 15 minutes because of a protest from Port Neches on a scoring play in the fourth inning. Bridge City had just broken a 3-3 tie, and the disputed run — which was upheld after district officials placed a phone call to the Little League state office in Waco — became part of a four-run inning that swung the pendulum to Bridge City in its 11-3 win Saturday.

J.T. Fielder, who started on the mound, gave the hosts — who actually batted in the top half — a 4-3 lead in the fourth on a one-run double. Ethan Oceguera then batted into a fielder’s choice with a throw to home, and Deegan King was ruled safe when he ran across the plate and the catcher appeared to drop the ball.

But Port Neches manager Bobby Chiasson argued King should have slid toward home or avoided the tag by rule. The umpire originally upheld the safe call before the dispute was launched with district officials hearing the matter, prompting the phone call during the lengthy pause.

“Our catcher was clearly waiting on the runner,” Chiasson said. “The runner took two steps before he got there and didn’t do either. He didn’t slide and he didn’t try to avoid the tag and try to run through the tag. Basically the leg hit our glove and knocked the ball out, which was my protest.”

The delay itself didn’t cool off BC’s bats. Reid Peco and Jude Danks each singled in a run to expand the lead.

“It was real big for us after that long delay,” BC manager Todd Longron said. “They lose the appeal, and we keep scoring runs. That’s when the tide turned, right there.”

BC added four more runs in the sixth, led off by Danks’ one-out triple. Macoy Marze drove in two runs with a double, Cade Smith doubled in another and Ashton Landry sacrificed on a grounder for the last score.

Fielder and Danks each had two hits.

“We were just trying to do what we do best,” Fielder said. “We’re sluggers. Everybody on this team can hit the ball out of the park. That’s what we were trying to do, trying to get the bats going.”

King, Landry and Fielder each singled to lead off the game, with Fielder, Oceguera (hit-by-pitch) and Coop Longron (single) each driving in a run. That gave Fielder, who retired the first-inning side in order and struck out four, a nice cushion to start with.

“It felt really good to go against a team we really wanted to beat,” he said. “The fastball was good, got a couple strikeouts. Infield was playing amazing. Outfield was doing good. All-around good defense.”

Port Neches tied the tilt in the third with Caleb Faulk’s one-run single and Kyle Mouton’s two-run single.

Oceguera struck out six in 2 2/3 innings of relief, with Coop Longron retiring the final batter. Jaxson Marchand tossed four K’s for Port Neches and Faulk fanned three.

Bridge City will host Hamshire-Fannett, which beat Port Arthur, at 7 tonight for a spot in Tuesday’s winners’ bracket final at either Nederland or Chambers County. Port Arthur will host Port Neches at 7 tonight.

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews