With the scored knotted at 1-1 in the seventh inning, the middle infield became the area that separated the Knights of Columbus and D.A. Lodge in the championship game of Oswego Little League’s preseason Novelis Tournament.

Alec Kunzwiler drove a two-run single over second base in the top of the seventh, and the defense came through in the bottom half of the inning as K of C defeated D.A. Lodge 4-2 on Saturday at Lagoe Field.

Kunzwiler later scored in the seventh on a passed ball. The runs held up after K of C second baseman Stevie Larkin caught a screaming line drive off the bat of Brandon Schultzkie with runners on second and third base.

John Solazzo drove in Trent Grimshaw on a fielder’s choice for D.A. Lodge’s only run in the bottom of the seventh. Grimshaw had reached on an error and went to third base on a passed ball.

Josh Carney, Tyler Larkin, and Brendan Broderick pitched the win for K of C. They combined for 13 strikeouts.

Brandon Schultzkie, Solazzo, and Nate Schultzkie pitched for D.A. Lodge. Brandon Schultzkie gave up one hit in three innings, while Solazzo led the pitchers with six strikeouts.

K of C went ahead 1-0 in the top of the third. With the bases loaded, McKenzie Fitzgerald walked to drive in Alex Kemper. With the bases still loaded, D.A. Lodge limited the damage by getting a strikeout and a force out at third base to end the inning.

D.A. Lodge tied the game in the fourth off two errors. Ryan Kearns advanced to second on an error and stole third base. Grimshaw got Kearns home on another error.

Nate Schultzkie got D.A. Lodge in scoring position in the top of the fifth. He singled and moved to third on two wild pitches. However, Larkin composed himself on the mound and struck out the next three hitters to end the threat.

The score remained tied until Kunzwiler hit what would be the game-winning two-run single in the top of the seventh.

Offensively for K of C, Kunzwiler and Kemper each had two hits. Adding a double was Robbie Wallace, and hitting a single was Carney.

Brandon Schultzkie led D.A. Lodge with two hits. Also contributing hits were Trent Grimshaw, Nate Schultzkie, and Ryan Kearns.