ELMA - For the better part of five innings, South Highline National was positioned for a monumental upset that would kept its hopes for a championship alive, but a last-ditch comeback, instead, set the continually battling squad on the road out of town.

Bryce Pulver's five and one-third innings of no-hit pitching were offset by District III champion Centralia's one-out sixth inning rally as the Hub City boys dealt District VII champion South Highline National out of the 2010 state Little League baseball 11-12 year-old Majors All Star tournament 3-2 on Monday, July 26, at Smith-Murrey Park in the 10th Street Park Complex.

Trailing 2-1, Centralia's come-from-behind winning hand consisted of a final frame rally. After Pulver struck out the leadoff batter on five pitches, District III Centralia's Nolan Wasson lofted a single into left field, igniting the attack and ending Pulver's no-hit bid. Jake Sutton delivered a double down the right field line to move Wasson to third. Wasson then scored on a wild pitch to force a 2-2 deadlock.

Jordan Wood then hit a slow rolling ground ball to shortstop Evan Galando, who threw high to catcher Jared Scott as Sutton slid home to under the tag score the winning run and end South Highline National's state title hopes.

"The kids played great defense today," said District VII manager Dave Galando. "We're not a great hitting team, but we squeezed out two runs and tried to hold on. You've got to give a tip of the hat to them (the Centralia All Stars). They got the hits that won the game. I'm real proud of our boys. Our 11-12's haven't been to state in some time. We only had 14 try out for All-Stars, but we made it a nice time at state. Bryce was just mowing them down. It was a tough effort."

National opened the game with Evando Galando slamming a double to right field. Ryan LaFrombois followed up with single with Galando holding his ground at second base. Centralia hurler Sutton responded by striking out the next three batters.

As the game progressed, it turned into a mound duel between Pulver and Sutton.

Pulver pulverized the Centralia hitters from the outset, craftily pitching a perfect game through three complete innings by making batters swing early looking for strikes. Sutton did his part by giving up no runs on one hit over the following three innings.

In the fourth inning, the Hub City 12-year-olds took the lead on an unearned tally. A South Highline National infield error allowed District III's leadoff batter to reach third base. Following a line out to the third baseman, a pitch that hit home plate and rolled up the catcher's arm and over the fence behind home sent the runner to home plate for a 1-0 Centralia lead.

Keeping his composure, Normandy Park's Pulver registered an infield line out and strikeout to end the inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, South Highline National unloaded a salvo to take the lead. In his first at bat of the game, David Johnston bounced a single through the middle with one out and continued on to second base when the Centralia centerfielder bobbled the ball. Evan Galando then drew a four-pitch walk to set up runners on first and third.

"It was really cool," said Johnston. "I haven't gotten a hit in a long time. My favorite part is running the bases."

Although the next batter struck out, Pulver stepped up to deliver a clutch, run-scoring single to tie the game at 1-1 and the Nationals gained the lead when a two-base infield error on the play gave Galando an opportunity to break for home to score the lead run that held up until District III's stunning sixth inning rally.

As the innings mounted, Pulver knew he was pitching a no-hitter, but kept his focus throughout.

"I thought about it," he recalled. "I had confidence in my pitching and was concentrating on trying to get the ball past them. I used fastballs up and low and in with my curve. It's been cool traveling around and being here. We had great teamwork."

In Pulver's two-hitter, he recorded eight strikeouts.

Sutton also pitched a complete game for Centralia, allowing four hits and striking out nine while walking two batters.

Centralia was coming off a dramatic 2-0 loss to defending state champion and last year's Little league World Series participant Mercer Island.

Although National's stay at state was short-lived, the voyage to the elite 13-team state was memorable.

"It was really fun," expressed Joey Urquhart. "I really had fun. The entire experience has just blown me away. It was great staying in hotels, playing games and watching games."

Players representing District VII champions South Highline National are David Johnston, Giani Orsillo, Darius Saelee, Joey Urquhart, Daniel Russell, Tyler Eaton, Conor Davidson, Jared Scott, Bryce Pulver, Ryan La Frombois and Evan Galando.

Manager David Galando is assisted by coach Tim Eaton while Lance King is league president. Mike Wydick works as district administrator.