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The McKinleyville 12-year-old Little League All-Stars broke a late tie in an elimination game on Sunday to keep their hopes of a NorCal state championship alive.

One day after suffering their first loss of the 2023 playoffs, the McKinleyville players defeated Maidu 10-6 to remain in contention in Stockton.

Several players stepped up in the win, including Cabella Carper, who hit a two-run home run in the sixth to break a 4-4 tie and put her team ahead at a crucial time of the game.

Pitcher Carson Hicks also was instrumental in the win, throwing six strong innings as McKinleyville made some defensive adjustments that paid off, shifting the infield to second base.

“He was super effective for us,” head coach Quintin Carper said of Hicks, who threw a complete game on 79 pitches and had no walks and two strikeouts.

The shift was also super effective, thanks in large part to the play of second baseman Teoh Arredondo, who impressed throughout, including making six straight defensive outs at one stage of the game.

Leftfielder Everett Gruetzmacher also played well defensively and made an outstanding diving catch to help inspire his team.

At the plate, Cabella Carper provided the offensive highlight of the game, but she wasn’t the only McKinleyville player to shine as the team answered the call with the season on the line.

“All of the kids stepped up,” Quintin Carper said. “We had a lot of situational bunts. We were playing the game, as we like to say. All the big hitters hit the ball well.”

The win lifts McKinleyville to 7-1 on the postseason and sets up another elimination game on Monday against the host team, Sunset.

“It was another team win,” the coach said of Sundays’ performance. “They all stepped up when they had their names called.”

A win on Monday would give the McKinleyville players a day off before resuming tournament play on Wednesday.