The Auburn Little League 10-11 All-Stars came so close in their quest for a District 10 title and a berth to the state tournament Friday.

Federal Way National rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull out a dramatic 6-5 victory in the district championship game at the Federal Way National League Complex.

It was a painful loss for a team that rolled to the finals but came up short in two attempts to oust Federal Way National in the double-elimination playoffs. Federal Way National stayed alive, routing Auburn 11-0 in 4½ innings Thursday to force a winner-take-all game Friday.

“I loved how hard they competed all tournament long,” said an emotional Auburn manager Tom Watrous. “I loved how hard they battled tonight. I loved that they never stopped believing in themselves. … It’s tough.”

For Auburn, Emilio Feliciano allowed three runs in 3⅔ innings, leaving the game because of the 85-pitch limit. Landen Richards blasted a pair of doubles, drove in two runs and scored twice, and Andrew Shrader doubled, singled and drove in two other runs.

Joseph Krahner hit a three-run home run in the first inning and scored the winning run off a throwing error in the sixth. Lucas Koenig went the distance. Jake Gleason doubled.