While the Bennett's Creek 9-10 National All-Star baseball team took its final step to the District 6 title Monday evening at Cradock in Portsmouth, the 13-14 boys moved into the title picture.

The youngsters held on for their second win of the tournament over Churchland, winning 9-6. The 13-14 squad put the finishing touches on a 14-6 victory over Charles Peete (CP) with three runs in the last inning.

The 9-10 BC team joins its Senior counterpart in state competition, while the 11-12 teams were eliminated early.

The 9-10 team got off to a quick start, as Nick Smith, Julius James, Tucker Rhoads and Trevor Riggs scored in the first inning. But the BC bats went dry for the next three innings, allowing Churchland to cut the lead in half.

Then Rainer Marfio started off the fifth by bunting for a single, and Justin Thomas knocked a one-bagger of his own. Lee Willis whacked a double to centerfield to drive both in, and Smith walked. Bryce Strong blooped a single down the rightfield line to score Willis, and Smith scored when Matthew Boone grounded out. Churchland scared BC by pushing across four runs and loading the bases in the last inning, but Trrevor gloved a pair of pop flies in right field to end the game. The team begins state play July 22 in Charlottesville.

The 13-14 team also jumped ahead early, pushing across five runs in the first inning. CP scored in the third, but Ty Alexander hammered a bases-loaded triple off the left-centerfield fence to knock home three runs in the fourth, and Quany Arrington later drove home Tommy Quick to up the lead to 9-1.

BC pushed over two more runs in the fifth, but CP started hitting, getting within 11-6 going into the final inning. With one out, Ty smacked another triple, and scored when Zach Lamb reached on an error. Zach scored on a blown pickoff attempt, and Quany walked, went to second on an error, and came in when Dan Archibald reached on another error.

Late Tuesday night, BC squared off with Olive Branch, who handed them their only loss of the double-elimination tournament. Should they win, they'll play again tonight for the title.

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com