Tré Dolan hit a walk-off two-run single for the 12U Slidell Cardinals with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth inning to propel his team to a 5-4 victory over Rayne Heat in the inaugural United States Specialty Sports Association Global World Series championship game.

His hit scored Kevin Hare with the tying run and Cody Doucette with the game winner.

“My best friend Drew (Kennedy) was on deck and he told me all we needed was a base hit to win it,” Dolan said. Dolan said the count was 1-0. He said he hit an inside fastball up the middle.

“I was looking for that pitch because they struck me out on it the last time,” Dolan said.

Dolan said he was pumped to get the game-winning hit.

“I couldn’t believe it happened,” he said. “I’ve done it in a regular inning, but it was exciting to do it in the last inning of the game.”

The open tournament was played in Orange Beach, Ala., and there were 24-teams in each age group.

Hare began the winning rally with a single down the right-field line. Doucette beat out a bunt for a hit. Collin Legaspi laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over to second and third with one out. Tyler James walked to load the bases. After Peyton Wineski’s line drive was caught by a diving first baseman, Dolan came through with his game winner.

Joseph Gennaro of Madisonville pitched a complete game for the win. He allowed one earned run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Drew Kennedy and Dolan did a great job behind the plate.

Cai Suprean drove in Khalil Bijou in the second inning with a single to right to give the Fighting Cardinals a1-0 lead. Bijou had singled to left and stole second.

The Heat responded with all four of their runs in the third inning to take a 4-1 advantage.

Slidell, which went 4-3 in the tournament and finished the summer at 21-21-3, scored once in the third on a throwing error and then cut the lead to 4-3 on K.C. Kass’ pinch-hit RBI single to left field. It was Kass’ third pinch-hit RBI of the tournament.

The Cardinals were also helped out by their defense.

Kennedy ran down a runner at third from behind the plate on a missed suicide squeeze bunt attempt. Suprean made an over the shoulder diving catch at first. Gennaro came off the mound to make two good plays. James and Legaspi were money at shortstop and second base and Doucette gunned down a runner at second base from his centerfield position.

The championship victory avenged an earlier, last inning, come from behind, 10-7 defeat to the Heat in pool play.

Slidell coach Ricky Suprean said he was proud of his team.

“I told the kids after we won that if you believe in yourself and you believe in your teammates, you can do something special,” Suprean said. “Last year we came in second place and two years we came in third. It’s a credit to the kids that they had the perseverance to stick it out despite the fact they played against much better competition.”

The games were either six innings, but there was a one hour 40 minute time limit.

After struggling through pool play at 1-3, the Fighting Cardinals defeated the Madison Jaguars 5-2 to begin the bracket round.

Dolan’s three-run home over the left field fence in the fifth inning gave the Slidell squad its margin of victory.

Doucette was tough on the mound. He pitched four innings and allowed no earned runs on four hits.

Gennaro picked up the win in relief with no earned runs allowed. He gave up one hit, walked one, and struck out three.

James opened this the game with a triple and scored on a wild pitch.

Bijou had two hits, an RBI and four stolen bases, while Dolan also posted two knocks.

In the semifinals, the Fighting Cardinals defeated the Covington Tribe 6-3.

Doucette nearly threw a complete game, going four and two thirds, allowing three runs on four hits, while walking three and striking out two.

Hare struck out the last hitter looking to pick up the save.

Kennedy’s clutch two run triple down the right field line in the third inning gave the Slidell team the breathing room they needed. Kass later blasted a pinch hit RBI double to deep left in the fourth inning.

Dolan was three for three with one RBI.

Gennaro was one for one with two RBI. Suprean was two for two.

The defense also came through in this one. James made the play of the game with an over the shoulder catch with a runner on third in the fourth inning. Legaspi then caught a line shot off his shoe tops to end the threat.

Dolan and Kennedy were once again outstanding behind the plate.

Ryan Terrell continued his excellent base running with two more runs scored.

Dolan finished the tournament with a .737 batting average. He had 14 hits and 13 RBIs to go with three doubles and two home runs.

Kass hit .600 in a pinch-hitting role. Suprean and Gennaro each hit .500. Legaspi was perfect in the field at second base on 25 chances. It was his third consecutive World Series without making an error. Doucette was perfect on 13 chances.