WASHINGTON — Drawing kids from Beaufort and Pitt Counties, the Tar River 12U All-Stars may not have a single geographic identity, but on Friday, the team came together as one, ending the Bath 12U All-Star’s season in a one-run game that came down to the final out.

Bath entered the Little Tarheel District 7 Tournament as one of the favorites to win the 12U bracket. After falling to Williamston in the opener and defeating Plymouth in Game 2, head coach Doug Dixon’s team was looking to avoid elimination in the second round of the losers’ bracket.

But despite recording 13 hits to Tar River’s four, Bath would leave the bases loaded in five out of the six innings, failing to come up with that game-defining hit down the stretch.

Tar River ace Matthew Bailey escaped an early jam after singles by Carter Boyd and Doug Dixon and a walk to Matthew Adams loaded the bases in the first inning. Brock Adams was able to gun down Matthew Adams at home plate, but Boyd eventually came around to score on a fielder’s choice.

Tar River’s defense continued to bail out its starter, as Bath recorded seven hits over the next four innings. Head coach Rob Garrett’s team found a way to manufacture runs over the course of the game. With the score tied at one, singles by Dawson Cox and Matthew Rostar result in two runs for Tar River in the third.

In the final inning, Tar River turned a walk, Rostar single and infield error into another run, giving the team a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

But Bath wouldn’t go down without a fight. Boyd led off with a ground-rule double that bounced over the fence right-center and Cam Craig followed with a single to left.

Boyd came around to score on a groundout, as Baily walked Matthew Adams to put the game-tying runs on base. Coach Garrett pulled his starter for reliever Seth Garrett, who walked Ryan Woolard to load the bases.

Craig scored on a fielder’s choice, cutting the lead to one, but Garrett forced Tyler Modlin to groundout to second base, ending the game and Bath’s season.

For Bath, Boyd, Nate Van Staalduinen and Doug Dixon finished with two hits, while Matthew Rostar ended the day 2-for-2 with a walk for Tar River.

Bailey went 5.1 innings, striking out one and allowing just three earned runs. Garrett picked up the save.

With the win, Tar River advances to the semi-finals of the losers bracket, two wins away from the 12U championship game.