In a game that was close from the outset, Cape Coral Red Knights pitcher MacKenzie Peterson was determined not to let her team lose the game on the mound.

Peterson overcame a rough first inning to overpower the surprising Cape Coral Gators as the Red Knights squeaked out a 3-2 win Wednesday night in the Lee County Little League Softball Championship at Burton Park.

With the win, the Red Knights (16-4) claimed the title that eluded them last year.

Peterson allowed the Gators four hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out seven. The Red Knight defense played solid, which allowed their three-run, second-inning outburst to hold up.

“This game was something else. We’ve relied all year on pitching and defense,” Red Knights coach Scott Peterson said. “In the first inning it let us down, but we held tough.”

Trailing 2-0 in the second, Red Knights catcher Gillian Takais singled off Gator starter Jessie Routte when shortstop Allie Slaughter couldn’t quite pull down a flare over the infield.

After Brooke Ciccone singled in shallow center, Nicole Rice reached when Takais beat a force attempt at third.

Takais scored the first run on a wild pitch, Mallory Volz’s suicide squeeze bunt got Ciccone home to tie the game.

Rice stole third and scored on another wild pitch to give the Knights what turned out to be the winning run.

It was Peterson who slammed the door, retiring 10 batters in a row at one point and not allowing a hit until the sixth inning on Haley Adams’ two-out single.

Amanda Higgins flied out to right to end the game.

“I was just trying to focus and pitch good. The defense did good,” MacKenzie Peterson said.

The Gators (7-8) drew first blood as Higgins led off by reaching on an error. After Hannah Holloway grounded out, catcher Abby Love tripled to put the Gators on the board.

Slaughter later singled to drive in Love to make it 2-0.

Routte pitched terrific for the Gators, going the distance in allowing three runs on four hits with one walk. She struck out five.

The bats just went cold.

“We were winning 2-0, we just couldn’t score any more runs,” Gator coach Patty Holloway said. “We surprised everyone. I’m so proud of these girls.”

Despite the tough loss, there were few tears in the Gators dugout as they realized how well they played.

There was jubilation on the other side, though.

“This feels great. Last year we were runner-up. It feels great to be champ,” MacKenzie said.

CC Gators 200 000 2 4 2

CC Red Knights 030 00x 3 4 1

W – Peterson. L – Routte.

3B – Abby Love (CCG).

In the Lee County Senior Softball Championship game, the Cape Coral Gators overpowered the Fort Myers Reds 16-3 to claim the title at Fleishman Park.