ESCANABA — The battle for the District 10 softball title went down to the wire here Thursday as the Escanaba Minor Little League All-Stars (age 8-10) squeezed past Gladstone 2-1.

“What an exciting game,” Esky manager Danica Humbert said. “It always is with Gladstone. Both teams played with heart. It was a great tournament.”

The victory sends Esky to the state tournament at Cheboygan where it will open pool play against the District 6 champion Friday noon.

Isla McCarty, who reached base on a walk, advanced twice on a passed ball and scored the game-winner on a throwing error in the fifth inning of this pitcher’s duel.

Winning pitcher Amaya Humbert, who struck out the side in the sixth, fired a two-hitter, finished with 16 strikeouts, walked three and hit a batter.

“My outside pitch was the best today,” she said. “I think it kept them a little off balance. It feels great to be going to the state tournament. That’s not too far away. I think that will give us a little bit of an advantage.”