The top-two teams in the Washington Junior Babe Ruth Baseball League met on Thursday at the Susiegray McConnell Complex in Washington with sole possession of first place up for grabs. And when the dust settled, it was Coastal Car Connection that slugged nine hits and came through with an 8-1 win over PCS Phosphate.

Entering with a league-best 10-1 record, PCS Phosphate of Washington knocked off Coastal Car Connection of Bath earlier in the season, 4-2, in a matchup that came down to the wire. But with only a couple days left in the regular season, head coach Kevin Cutler sent ace Zach Woolard to the mound in hopes of putting the visitors in prime position to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the Junior Babe Ruth playoffs, which begins Monday at the Susiegray McConnell Complex.

Woolard’s command was hardly immaculate, but he worked his way out of bases loaded jams, picked up crucial strikeouts when needed and trusted his defense. He went the distance for Bath, allowing one run on six hits and seven walks, striking out 10.

“Zach Woolard did a great job on the mound tonight,” Cutler said. “Just an awesome job. We had a couple situations where he had the bases loaded and he fought real hard to get out of it.”

On the first pitch of the game, Woolard beaned leadoff man and starting pitcher Chris Sulc. After forcing two consecutive groundouts, a walk and a single to the right side of the infield by Will Crisp plated Sulc and gave PCS Phosphate an early advantage.

Coastal Car Connection struck back in the second inning for three runs on hits from Braedon Burbage and a two-RBI single from Brantley Cutler. After a rough frame, Sulc settled down and retired the next six batters, but would again fall into trouble in the fifth.

The first four batters reached for Bath — a single from Tanner Alligood, a double to the fence from Brantley, an error at third base and a single to the gap in left-center from Parker Boyd. After Sulc walked another two batters, he was relieved by Tyler Harrell, who shut the door with two-consecutive strikeouts, evading further damage. Coastal Car Connection tallied another three runs in the inning, brining their lead to 6-1.

Through the final three innings, Washington left a total of six base runners stranded, as Woolard allowed just two hits — a triple from Cooper Anderson and a single by Braxton Phelps.

“Probably out best outing of the season,” Cutler said. “We’re 9-1 and we have to win out last two games to be regular season champions. We’re in good position.”

Alligood, Boyd, Burbage and Cutler, who finished with a game-high three RBIs, all notched two hits apiece on the afternoon.

Improving its record to 9-1, Bath is seeking its fourth-straight regular season championship as the postseason single-elimination tournament draws near. Since 2012, the team has pieced together a 42-3 record.