ELIZABETHVILLE - Colten Gessner tossed a gem.
The starting right-hander for Upper Dauphin County pitched a complete game shutout and only allowed one hit.
UDC used Gessner's pitching and a potent offensive attack to defeat Orwigsburg 12-0 in four innings in a District 24 Little League 10-11-year-old semifinal game Friday evening.
UDC moves on to the District 24 championship Sunday against Pine Grove/Tremont (4-1), an 11-1 winner over Ashland in the other semifinal. Game time is 5:30 p.m. in Elizabethville.
"He was one hit away from a perfect game and it was as good as I've seen him throw all season," UDC manager Jeff Lentz said of Gessner. "He certainly rose to the occasion."
Orwigsburg sent 13 batters to the plate, only one of whom reached base successfully.
Chris Holler recorded the only Orwigsburg hit of the day, a double, to put an end to Gessner's perfect game in the top of the final frame.
Gessner retired the Orwigsburg players in order for three straight innings before Holler's hit, keeping all the momentum on UDC's side.
Gessner needed just 41 pitches in the complete-game effort, striking out four and getting seven infield outs.
The UDC defense played the part behind the lead role of Gessner, playing mistake-free baseball with no errors.
"That's been our key all season," Jeff Lentz said. "You need to trust your defense."
Completing the near-flawless performance was a spectacular offensive display from UDC.
The UDC offense put together nine hits for 12 runs in just three innings at the plate.
Six different UDC players recorded hits in the contest.
"It's hard to pitch around us," Jeff Lentz said, referring to the all-around hitting. "It makes us tough to beat."
UDC exploded early, and Orwigsburg was never able to stop the bleeding.
Chase Bond, Connor Reed and Macklin Ayers each singled in the first inning to highlight the four-run frame.
Sam Kerwin and Ayers recorded RBIs to put UDC ahead early.
In the six-run second inning, Bond blasted a two-run homer to put his signature on the frame.
"He's a great hitter," Jeff Lentz said of Bond. "He does a fantastic job."
Hunter Lentz and Gessner added singles in UDC's second-inning outburst, an inning in which they sent 10 batters to the dish.
"I just wanted to go up and hit line drives," Hunter Lentz said. "I wanted to score some runs for my team."
Lentz did score some runs for his team, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Reed also added a double to cap the inning.
"There is not a kid who spends more time in the batting cage than Connor Reed," Jeff Lentz said. "It certainly pays off."
UDC capped the scoring in the bottom of the third with two more runs.
Maison Grow and Lentz added singles in the frame. Kerwin rapped an RBI double for UDC to round out the nine-hit attack.
"We're going to have to come ready to play on Sunday," Jeff Lentz said.
This will be the third time the two squads face off this all-star season.
UDC emerged the victor in both contests. UDC won in a tournament before districts, 10-6.
UDC also defeated Pine Grove/Tremont in a four-inning, Pool 1 game on Thursday evening, 14-2. Upper Dauphin (5-0) has outscored its opponents 70-7 in District 24 play.
"They're scrappy,'' Jeff Lentz said of Pine Grove/Tremont. "They're going to put the ball in play and we have to make the plays." Game Summary