The game even appeared to be over an inning before it was when the score was knotted at six in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded for Almaden and no outs. Saratoga brought its outfielders to the infield in order to give the team a shot for a play at the plate. But the fielders never touched the baseball. Steely-nerved Saratoga pitcher Kial Kaiser struck out three straight, sending Saratoga fans into a frenzy and the game into extra innings.

However, in the bottom of the seventh, after holding Saratoga scoreless in the top of the frame, Almaden got two runners on for Josh Wells, who launched a base knock into center field to score the winning run.

Playing in that type of game could make many players nervous, but according to Almaden manager Greg Asplund, the competitive nature of the tournament honed the teams' ability to stay focused in tough contests.

"In every game in this tournament, it's been 'look out for this team or that team,' " Asplund said. "So we've just told the boys to keep playing the way they've been playing, and we'll be OK."

"[Saratoga] is the toughest team we've played, though," he added.

The game wasn't close the entire time, as Saratoga built up a 5-0 lead by the end of the third inning in spite of some impressive pitching by Almaden's Daniel Del Carlo.

Saratoga scored in its first at-bat when Tyler Plesse doubled down the left field line, and Andrew Ferguson singled to the same spot to score Plesse from second. Saratoga got on the board again in the top of the second as Justin Douglass--who also pitched three scoreless innings--dropped a hit deep into right for an inside-the-park home run.

Almaden threatened in the bottom of the second by loading the bases with only one out. Matt Lee got on board with a base hit to right, while Troy Much and Michael Cerone drew walks. Vince Sunzeri stepped up to the plate and smashed one of the best hit balls of the night, a frozen rope up the middle which would have scored a few runs if Saratoga second baseman Andrew Harter hadn't snagged it and tagged second for a stunning double play.

Saratoga put together its most significant offensive production in the third inning. Cameron Borch hit the night's second inside-the-park homer to the wall in left field. The team put together a two-out rally a few batters later when Blair Parker and Harter got onto the basepaths with a walk and a base hit, respectively, and then were punched home on a hit from Plesse.

Almaden clearly needed a jumpstart for its offense, and the team got it in the top of the fourth inning. Saratoga's Andrew Chen and Ferguson were on second and third with two outs. Then Almaden's Cameron Meeks made a tough grab in right field to save his team and end the inning. Almaden came around in the bottom of the frame to score four runs. The team drew a number of walks and Eldon Hsiao had an RBI sacrifice in the effort. Wells, Del Carlo, Max Aiken and Lee all crossed the plate during the inning.

In the fifth, Almaden was challenging again, once more loading the bases with two away. With the score 5-4, Saratoga right fielder Philip Badrov made the saving play, a stellar grab for the third out of the inning.

Determined to nab an insurance run in the sixth, Saratoga did just that. Jonathan Keyes hit a single to left, followed by Harter's second base knock of the game. With two outs, Plesse came up big once again and aimed a double down the left field line to plate Keyes and make the score 6-4. Almaden, of course, tied it up in the bottom of the sixth, and the rest is history.

"It would not have been a great game if we hadn't played a great team," Asplund said. "We just told the boys to stay with it. Pitching and defense really won this one for us."

Members of the Saratoga District 12 all-star runner-up team are Andrew Harter, Derek Sun, Tyler Plesse, Andrew Chen, Andrew Ferguson, Teddy Rothschild, Philip Badrov, Justin Douglass, Alex Hansen, Kial Kaiser, Cameron Borch, Jeremy Goldman, Jonathan Keyes and Blair Parker.

Major division

They'll be home when they start out, but the Saratoga Little League major division all-stars hope to be a long way away from home by the time they finish up postseason play.

Saratoga will host the District 12 major division tournament that begins this week, hoping to come out with a title and take that tough first step on the rugged road to Williamsport, Pa., and the Little League World Series.

The district tourney begins on July 8 at Saratoga's Congress Springs Park when Los Gatos National challenges Almaden North and Cambrian Park meets Lincoln Glen in a couple of 5:30 p.m. games.

Saratoga will open the tourney on July 9, 10 a.m., against Los Gatos American. Saratoga will then challenge Quito on July 11 and Branham Hills on July 15 in a pair of 5:30 p.m. starts before wrapping up pool play on July 16, 12:30 p.m., against Cambrian Park.

The tournament will wrap up with playoff games on July 18 and the championship game on July 20.

10-year-olds

Like the 12-year-olds, the 10-year-old all-stars will also begin play this week, but the District 12 tourney is the only event in this age group.

Lincoln Glen will host the tourney, and Saratoga will face Cambrian Park (July 9, 3 p.m.), Almaden South (July 12, 5:30 p.m.), Lincoln Glen (July 15, 5:30 p.m.) and Los Gatos National (July 16, 12:30 p.m.) in pool play.

Like the major division, playoff games are set for July 18. The championship will be decided on July 19.