File photo

The McKinleyville 12-year-old All-Stars got the rematch they wanted in their Section tournament on Monday night, and they took full advantage.

After dropping their opening game of the tournament to Chico Central on Saturday, the young McKinleyville players have now won back-to-back elimination games to work their way back to the championship round.

Including a 6-1 win over Chico Central on Monday night, a victory that avenged their earlier defeat and eliminated their opponents from the tournament.

However, it wasn’t all good news for McKinleyville on Monday, with the Junior League All-Stars losing for the second straight day to end their season.

Playing at the NorCal state tournament in San Jose, Mack lost 5-3 to MWLL and closed out tournament play 1-2.

Monday’s game was tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the seventh, but MWLL would scored a pair of runs for a walk-off victory.

The Mack 12-year-olds, however, remain in contention for their Section title and moved within two wins of advancing to their NorCal state tournament.

And after committing an unexpected eight errors in their first meeting with Chico, they came ready to play on Monday.

On the very first pitch of the game, Colton Hawkes hit a solo home run over the center field fence to give the Mack All-Stars a lead they would not relinquish.

By the time Chico went to bat, McKinleyville led 4-0, and with Tatum Brock delivering on the mound and a determined defense backing him there was no way back for Chico after that.

In addition to Hawkes’ big blast, Bo Battilochi added an RBI double and would score moments later in the big opening inning.

Brock also helped set the early tone, retiring Chico’s first three batters on just six pitches in the bottom of the first.

After a scoreless second, the Mack offense went back to work in the third, adding two more runs.

Battolichi continued his fast start to the game with a second RBI base hit.

The second run of the inning came on a hit-by-pitch by Reece Combs with the bases loaded.

Brock continued to impress as the game went on, allowing just two Chico players reach base through the opening three innings.

The young standout pitched a complete game on 67 pitches, allowing just four baserunners all game and striking out eight.

He gave up just three hits and one walk.

The McKinleyville defense played very well behind him, with a much improved performance from Saturday.

At the plate, McKinleyville racked up eight hits.

Combs had a double and three RBIs, while Tyus Scofield, Crew Hicks, Cooper Jones and Braden Tullis each also had a base hit.

The McKinleyville All-Stars will try to keep their season going and set up a winner-takes-all showdown on Wednesday when they face unbeaten West Redding on Tuesday night at 6 p.m.