Staring down an eight-run deficit in Game 2 of the 10U Little Tarheel State Championship with two innings remaining, there were no looks of defeat, no thoughts of surrender from the Washington All-Stars. As the team leaders and coaching staff pumped up the crowd, Zack Lilley stepped up to the plate, smashed a double to the gap in right-center and ignited a comeback, a rally that truly exemplifies the character and fight hidden within this special group of 10 year olds.

But when the final pitch was thrown on Sunday, despite a valiant effort from the tournament host in the final innings, the defending state champion Wendell All-Stars walked away from Field 4 of the Susiegray McConnell Complex with a second-consecutive title.

“It was a phenomenal all-star season,” said head coach Chip Edwards. “The boys played as well as they could and far exceeded my expectations. To make it through the winners’ bracket and to the state championship game, and to be runners up, it’s a great feeling.”

After a Hodges Manning long ball gave Washington a 1-0 victory over Wendell in the tournament opener on Thursday, the visitors had to battle their way through another four rounds in the losers’ bracket just to earn a rematch. And they did so in style, beating teams by double-digits runs, riding a deep pitching staff to the championship.

Washington was introduced to that newfound offensive firepower in Game 1, a matchup that hardly mirrored the teams’ first meeting.

Coach Edwards sent ace Eli Huynh to the mound after Huynh fanned 11 Wendell batters on Thursday. But Sunday was an entirely different story. The opposition opened the game up with seven first-inning runs on six hits, including a two-run bomb from Brett Fuller and a grand slam from Edward Apple.

The hitting continued in the second, as Wendell compiled another six runs on six hits — four singles and doubles from Drew Lamphere and Edward Apple. By the mercy rule, Washington dropped the first game, 13-0, in three innings.

In Game 2, Wendell continued its hot hitting. Brett Fuller again smashed a two-run homer in the first inning, but the Washington infield prevented the lead from ballooning, as Connor Edwards and Huynh came through with some nice plays.

In the second, Edward Apple and Dean Williams started things off with back-to-back singles and two batters later, Fuller came through again with a double to left-center, scoring Apple from second. A throwing error from the catcher would later bring Williams and Fuller around to score, as Wendell led 6-0 after two full innings.

Wendell tacked on another two runs in the third and held a commanding lead, but through the final three innings, Edwards and Hayden Moore shut down the opposition, holding the visitors to no runs and just two hits.

Despite a significant deficit, Washington stepped up to the plate in the fifth charged up. Following a Lilley leadoff double, Austin Cherry and Reid Apple lined back-to-back singles. Then Evan Waters came up and delivered the momentum boost Washington needed, a mammoth three-run homer over the wall in center, bringing his team to within four runs of the lead.

In the sixth, after a walk and a fielder’s choice, Lilley came through again with a long single to right field, bringing home Huynh. Cherry later reached on an error at short, which scored Keifer Boyd and narrowed the lead to two. But it wouldn’t be enough. Pitcher Adam Measley induced a ground out, a fielder’s choice and a pop out to first base to end the game.

“To all be from Little Washington, a lot of teams get kids various different areas to play on their all-star team. Not these kids,” coach Edwards said after the game. “All of them are from right here in Washington. That’s the best part about the fact that they’re a true all-star team.”

Washington received the runner-up trophy, a golden mitt, in the postgame ceremony and finished the tournament with a 3-2 record.