The Auburn Little League 12U All-Star team captured the Washington State Little League Championship this Saturday with a 3-2 win over defending champs Mercer Island in Elma.

The win qualifies the team to move on to the Northwestern Regional competition, beginning Aug. 6 in San Bernardino, Calif. The winner of the tourney competition – featuring teams from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Alaska – will move on to the Little League World Series, conducted annually in Williamsport, Pa.

“This is awesome, truly awesome,” Auburn’s Coach Dale Wilson said. “It’s cool to see the kids set a goal and meet it.”

Coming into the game against the defending-champs Mercer Island, the Auburn boys had become accustomed to winning big.

In their four previous games in the championship tourney, the Auburn squad had squashed their opponents, scoring a whopping 37 runs and allowing just four opposing runners to cross the plate.

Previously, Auburn had beat Mercer Island 5-2 in the semi-finals to qualify for the title game. Forced into the consolation bracket, Mercer Island qualified for the rematch with a 11-0 win over West Valley.

Saturday was a little different for Auburn with Mercer Island pitcher David Emanuels forcing the team to prove that they could eke out a win playing small ball.

Mercer Island jumped out to a quick lead in the first, scoring a run before the game settled into a pitchers duel, with Emanuels squaring off against Auburn’s Isaiah Hatch, who replaced Ikaika Nahaku in the first inning.

Mercer Island scratched out another run to take a 2-0 lead in the third inning, putting the pressure on Auburn.

With the game winding down in the sixth inning, things looked bleak for boys in green and gold. The team responded, however, mounting a three-run rally to grab the lead 3-2.

Dillon Row got things started by legging out an infield grounder and then scoring the team’s first run of the game.

Tyler Tan also got on base drawing a walk. With one out Mercer Island made a pitching switch, replacing Emanuels with Michael Bantle. Dillon O’Grady also drew a walk and Casey Manning got on board with an infield blooper. Hudson Byorick got on base on an error by the Mercer Island third baseman, with O’Grady scoring.

Robbie Wilson got the winning RBI in the game.

The Mercer Island boys went down in order in the final frame, giving Auburn the victory.

“Mercer Island is a great team,” Wilson said. “Their kid came out and pitched his heart out and it was a good pitcher’s duel. That’s baseball. Championships are won at the hill. They both threw their hearts out and we just came out on the winning end this time. It could have gone either way.”

“I still don’t know what we’re doing right now,” he continued. “This is awesome, the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. The light in their eyes and watching them set a goal and go after it…it’s fun watching 11- and 12-year-olds pour their heart and soul into something.”

The 2010 Little League Baseball Western Regional Tournament begins for Auburn at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 6 in San Bernardino, Calif. against Wyoming.

For more information visit the Western Regional tourney Web site.