Thirteen runs crossed the plate in the first two innings and it looked as if the Newtown Babe Ruth U12 championship between defending champ My Place Pizza and newcomer Rushefski Consulting was going to turn into one amazing slugfest.

But in the final four innings the pitching and the defense took over and, in the end, it was Rushefski earning the championship by a count of 7-6.

My Place scored four runs in the first inning and then two more in the second behind hits from Caitlin Cosgrove, Annie Hull, Joanna Barry, and Rachel Marcucilli. Rushefski, though, was just as hot at the plate and scored three runs in the first inning and four more in the second behind Katie Kirrane, Samantha Ross (2-for-3 on the night) and Sara Pollock.

Despite the offensive explosion, Hull and Cosgrove pitched well for My Place while Elissa Robertson pitched well for Rushefski (with Kristen Brassard and Anne Marie Davis make some solid catches in the outfield).

But after two innings, the offenses settled down.

And the pitching duel began.

With a 7-6 lead, Kate Bowen took to the mound in the third inning for Rushefski. She fanned two batters and made a nice defensive play to retire the side. Then Jenna Legros toed the rubber for My Place and whiffed three batters in a row.

In the fourth, shortstop Katie Schmidt made a nice catch to retire the first My Place batter. Bowen then whiffed a batter and, after a walk put a runner at first, Robertson gunned the runner out attempting to steal.

In the bottom of the fourth, Bowen lashed a one-out single for Rushefski. She stole second and advanced to third on a ground out. But Hull, at first, ended the threat with a great catch.

In the top of the fifth, Bowen struck out the side and in the bottom of the frame Legros struck out two Rushefski batters with an insurance run (Sara Pollock) sitting at third base.

And in the top of the sixth, with Bowen still on the mound, it was the Rushefski defense (Kirrane at short, Ross at first, and Robertson at third) making three strong plays to finish off My Place.

Bowen tossed four near perfect innings (she allowed no hits, but one walk) and struck out six batters along the way. Sarah Peck scored a run and Emma Kelly-Knickerbocker played well to held lead Rushefski to the win.

Rushefski also earned a 15-9 playoff win over Taunton Press.

In that game, Davis made a great catch in left field to close out the win. Kelly-Knickerbocker, Pollock, Kirrane, Bowen, Schmidt and Robertson all collected hits while Bowen and Robertson combined on the mound for the win.

For Taunton Press, Tina Sanchez and Marley Koschel sparked the defense with solid plays in the field while Megan Brayton and Maxx Zimmer added fine plays in the infield. Melissa Fracker went 3-for-3 with a triple, two singles and four RBI. Jordyn Good also had a double while Meg Barbour and Koschel each singled twice.