PORT NECHES — It was a hit batter that ended a dramatic game between the 12-year-old all-stars from Port Neches and Bridge City Friday.

Bridge City went into the bottom of the sixth down two runs and eventually had the bases loaded when a pitch hit Deegan King. Trey Lovelace crossed home plate to give the Cardinals a 10-9 victory.

Bridge City celebrated the Little League District 32 Major championship and now heads to Tomball on Tuesday for the sectional tournament.

“Port Neches is a great ball club,” Bridge City coach Todd Longron said. “We have been playing them since we were 8 years old and they won it twice and we have won it twice. I expected a great game.”

Bridge City was ahead 7-6 heading to the top of the sixth. It was only the second time the Cardinals trailed in the tournament. The first time came when Port Neches went up 2-0 after the top of the first.

Port Neches plated three runs to take a 9-7 lead.

Klate Gohlke, Josh Lefort and Gavin Bramblett all scored in the top of the sixth for the Indians.

Bridge City’s Ethan Oceguera led the bottom of the sixth off with a double and eventually came in to score to make it 9-8.

Dane Woolwine and Lovelace each and singles and came in to score to give the Cardinals the walk-off victory.

Oceguera finished with two doubles on the day with a single and scored twice.

He was especially effective for Bridge City on the mound. He pitched into sixth inning for Longron.

Longron said it was the first time he has used Oceguera in a championship game.

“I am very proud of our team,” Oceguera said. “We hit the ball pretty good tonight. We were still positive in the dugout after we fell behind. We rallied up and got some runs.

“I felt good on the mound.

I got a few strikeouts and didn’t walk many batters. Our team played great today.”

Longron was proud of his starting pitcher.

“He is a horse,” Longron said. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from him. He rose to the occasion. It was time to put him out there in a championship game and he did exactly what I expected from him.”

Tate Sandell and Kyle Mouton scored for the Indians in the top of the first.

Bridge City answered with four runs in the bottom of the first and then tacked on another run in the second to lead 5-3 after two.

Port Neches in the top of the second scored a run when K.J. Nevills cross home. Gohlke smacked a homer in the top of the fourth to cut the Bridge City lead down to 5-4.

Kaden Honeycutt answered right back for Bridge City in the bottom of the fourth win a homer of his own.

“It was the only times we have trailed this tournament,” Longron said. “We did not play as clean in the field as we normally do. Oceguera pitched a heck of a game. The one thing that always shows up for us is our lineup. We can score runs.

“All I had to tell the kids in the middle of the sixth was that we bat last. It didn’t matter where we were in the lineup.”

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Gabriel Pruett: 721-2436. Twitter: @PaNewsGabe