CRANSTON — The King Philip Little League U11 all-star team beat Coventry in a thrilling 3-2 victory to win the State Championship at Michael P. Varrato Field in Senator John Chafee Athletic and Recreational Complex on Thursday night.

Pitcher Riley Boughton jumped in the air and ran toward the third baseline to lead the team in celebration after he struck out Coventry’s Cal Bixby to end the game in the sixth inning.

Boughton got Coventry to pop up twice for two quick outs. The pitcher made a diving catch on the third base line for the first out and first baseman Lucas Andreozzi called off Boughton and caught a fly for the second out.

Coventry threatened to tie the game when Jacob Moore fisted a two-strike, two-out hit off Boughton into right field to give the team new life.

Up walked Coventry’s big Ben Brown to the plate. In the second inning with one swing of the bat, Brown walloped a towering bomb over the left field fence to give Coventry a 2-1 lead.

Fearful of another blast, King Philip Head Coach Cory Santerre stepped in and told the home plate umpire that the team was going to walk Brown, putting runners on first and second. Boughton then struck out Bixby in three pitches to end the game.

With the game knotted at 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning, King Philip’s Matt MacDougall lead off with a bunt single down the third base line. He moved to second base on a fielder’s choice. Colby Konz fouled off several of Gavin McCoy’s pitches before walking to give King Philip runners at first and second with one out.

With McCoy tiring, Carson Jerome hit a swinging bunt five feet in front of home plate. Jerome bolted up the first baseline as Coventry catcher Brady Shaw pounced on the ball and threw to first base from his knees. First baseman Ben Brown stretched towards second base to make the catch and record the out.

Coach Santerre saw the attention on the close play at first and decided to sneak MacDougall home. MacDougall running from second base to third, took off towards home and had a huge smile on his face when he stomped on home plate unscathed to give King Philip a 3-2 lead. Both Shaw and McCoy were caught sleeping on the play, ogling at first base and waiting on the call.

King Philip last won the U11 state trophy in 1984.

Catch the full game story in this week’s Bristol Phoenix.