GRATZ - Years from now, when the members of the Orwigsburg and Upper Dauphin County Little League all-star teams look back on their youth, Wednesday's District 24 title game will definitely be a hot topic.
In what is most likely the highest scoring championship game in District 24 history, Orwigsburg outlasted UDC 24-18 to capture its first 11-12-year-old title since 2006.
The game featured 42 runs, 40 hits and eight home runs.
After the teams combined to score 20 runs in three-plus innings Tuesday, they added 22 more in just under three frames Wednesday.
Orwigsburg scored in every inning, at one point leading 19-7 before UDC scored 11 runs in the bottom of the fifth.
The teams used eight pitchers, while Orwigsburg's Dylan Biever and Blake Lipko each had five hits.
When the dust settled, Orwigsburg earned a trip to the Section 3 Little League Tournament that begins at 2 p.m. Saturday in Montoursville.
"This was one of the most exciting games I've ever been a part of," Orwigsburg manager Bill Holler said. "We kept battling and battling and we finally came through with the win.
"This was a complete team effort. I'm super proud of this team and how hard they all worked."
Orwigsburg led 13-7 in the top of the fourth inning
Tuesday when severe storms forced the game to be suspended.
When the teams resumed play, Upper Dauphin's Sawyer Morgan came in to relieve Maison Grow and recorded the final out of the fourth.
Billy Gerlott pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth of Orwigsburg, which then scored six runs in the fifth.
Alex Tidmore and Dylan Grace were both hit by pitches to start the inning. Derrick Yuengling and Biever added singles before Gerlott and Lipko each collected two-run hits and Preston Sincavage ripped an RBI double to give Orwigsburg a 19-7 lead.
On the verge of being beaten by the 10-run rule, Upper Dauphin responded with the 11-run inning that sliced the deficit to 19-18.
Jake Ramberger began the comeback with a two-run single, followed by a three-run home run by Chase Bond. Bond finished with three hits, including two homers, and had seven RBIs.
Hayden Bellis and Macklin Ayers hit a two-run and a three-run single, respectively, as the lineup batted around. Ramberger knocked in another run to get UDC back in it.
"That inning shows how this team doesn't give up," Upper Dauphin manager Jeff Lentz said. "We could have hung our heads and been done, but these kids never quit."
Tidmore opened the sixth inning with a solo home run to center. Biever, who finished 5-for-5 with two homers and seven RBIs, followed with a two-run single and Gerlott hit a two-run double that put Orwigsburg up 24-18.
Yuengling closed out Upper Dauphin in the bottom of the sixth, allowing one hit and striking out two to set off Orwigsburg's championship celebration.
"These guys work as hard as any team I've ever seen," Holler said. "They have a great chemistry and we're not gonna stop now."
Orwigsburg finished with 24 runs on 24 hits. Lipko went 5-for-6 with a home run, double and five RBIs, while Gerlott had four hits and four RBIs.
Ayers finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs for UDC, while Sam Kerwin had two hits, including a three-run homer.
Upper Dauphin's manager recognized Orwigsburg as a worthy champion after the game.
"Derrick Yuengling did a nice job in a tough spot," Lentz said. "Orwigsburg answered everything we did and they are a good testimonial to District 24 baseball. I think they'll represent us well." District 24 Champions
2014 - Orwigsburg
2013 - Cressona
2012 - Tri-Valley
2011 - Cressona
2010 - Rotary
2009 - Upper Dauphin
2008 - Rotary
2007 - Frackville
2006 - Orwigsburg
2005 - Railway Park
2004 - Upper Dauphin
2003 - Cressona
2002 - Cressona
2001 - Minersville
2000 - Orwigsburg
1999 - Ashland
1998 - Ashland
1997 - Railway Park
1996 - Railway Park
1995 - Frackville
1994 - Cressona
1993 - Railway Park
1992 - Ashland
1991 - Railway Park
1990 - Ashland
1989 - Saint Clair
1988 - Railway Park
1987 - Saint Clair
1986 - Cressona
1985 - Rotary
1984 - Rotary
1983 - Minersville
1982 - Minersville
1981 - Ashland
1980 - Railway Park
1979 - Railway Park
1978 - Railway Park
1977 - Minersville
1976 - Schuylkill Haven
1975 - Railway Park
1974 - Minersville
1973 - Minersville
1972 - Minersville
1971 - Mahanoy City
1970 - Saint Clair
1969 - Cressona
1968 - Rotary
1967 - Pine Grove
1966 - Saint Clair
1965 - Mahanoy City
1964 - Shen. North
1963 - Shen. North
1962 - Minersville
1961 - Mahanoy City
1960 - Mahanoy City
1959 - Mahanoy City
1958 - Schuylkill Haven
1957 - Hazle. Nationals
1956 - Saint Clair