Tanner Walacavage came up big for Ashland in Wednesday's District 24 Little League 9-10-year-old Tournament championship game.
The left-hander pitched a four-inning no-hitter and struck out eight to lead Ashland to an 11-0, four-inning victory over Pottsville Rotary.
Ashland, which finished the tournament undefeated, scored all 11 of its runs in the bottom of the third inning to win the game on the 10-run rule.
The victory advances Ashland (6-0) to the Section 3 Little League Tournament, which begins Monday at a District 15 site.
"Tanner is incredible. He throws strikes and is powerful," Ashland manager Frank O'Neill said. "He's just excellent."
Walacavage and Rotary starter Darren Yost each tossed a pair of scoreless innings before Ashland erupted in the bottom of the third.
Gavin Whalen started the high-scoring inning with a single to left field. Walacavage was walked and an error by Rotary put Dalton Zelwalk on first, loading the bases. Three singles in a row by Evan Stanakis, Patrick Cooney and Michael Zahodnick gave Ashland a 4-0 lead.
With only one out, Ashland was eager to keep its offense going in that same pattern.
A Rotary error allowed Cooney to score and a walk to Jonas McGrath once again loaded the bases.
At this point in the game, Rotary replaced Yost with Javon Jacoby.
"I thought it was either going to be a slugfest or a pitchers' duel, but basically a really good game," O'Neill said.
After Jacoby came in to pitch for Rotary, a fielder's choice forced a runner out at second, but allowed Ashland to score a run. A throwing error scored another runner, taking the score to 7-0.
Walacavage and Dillon O'Neill then hit back-to-back RBI singles to center field.
Another Rotary error allowed Zelwalk to reach safely and scored O'Neill, giving Ashland a 10-0 lead.
Another error and a single by Cooney to right field gave Ashland its final run of the game.
"What you saw during the third inning is what we do every inning, pound the ball," Frank O'Neill said. "Everyone was a key player today."
It was Ashland's first appearance in the District 24 Little League 9-10-year-old championship game.
"This is a special group of kids and I can't stress enough how proud I am of them," Frank O'Neill said.
Rotary finished with six errors. The Pottsville stars' only baserunner came in the second inning when Jacoby drew a walk.
"We have the type of team with the ability to put runs on the board, but I have to give my hats off to Ashland," Pottsville Rotary manager Joe Quirk Jr. said. "Their pitcher was lights out today and did a phenomenal job.
"There's nothing to hang our heads about. It's a bummer it has to end like this, but somebody has to win and somebody has to lose."