When the dust settled at Fleishman Park in Fort Myers Saturday, it was difficult to decide if the Cape Coral American and South Fort Myers 10-11 year-old All-Stars had played the best game they’d ever played, or the most surreal.

It might have been both.

Cape American overcame two late South rallies and a controversial play to capture the District 9 Little League 10-11 Baseball championship 5-4 thanks in part to timely hitting and near-flawless defense.

“It might have been the best Little League game I’ve seen,” said Cape American head coach Derek Hoines. “To see that in an eight-inning game with 9- and 10-year-old kids is amazing.”

With the game tied 2-2, Cape started its rally when Milton Cuyler and Lamont Johnson singled off South’s Justin Warren. Barron Northorp broke the tie with an RBI double to left to score Cuyler.

“I was nervous. I had two strikes, but I put the bat on the ball and made it happen,” Northorp said. “It was a tiring game, especially when it’s 100 degrees.”

Trey Koza gave Cape a 4-2 lead with a sacrifice fly and Levi Shuck drove in another on a groundout that caromed off South third baseman Connor Parnell to shortstop Justin Hughes, who made the putout at first.

“I always preach that big innings start with the bottom of the order, getting on base for the guys at the top,” Hoines said. “Our subs made some big plays. They all contributed.”

In the bottom of the inning, South rallied. Parnell walked with one out off Cape’s Jose Rodriguez. After Robert Wegielnik singled, Warren singled to drive in Parnell to make it 5-3.

After Evan McKenna drove in another on a fielder’s choice to make it 5-4, Hoines called on Cuyler, who had only pitched to one batter the entire postseason, to face Niko Alsante, who popped out to end the game.

Cape American was three outs away from defeat, trailing 2-1 in the sixth when they rallied to tie it.

Northorp and Koza led off with walks against South pitcher Dominic Ursitti and reliever Cameron Wademan, respectively. Warren came on to give up a single to Shuck to load the bases.

Tony Rios flied out to McKenna in center, who threw to second to get Shuck, who tagged on the play with Northorp scoring to tie the game at 2-2.

Koza, who went to third, was sent home by Hoines on a steal, but was cut down to end the inning. Cape contended that time was called for an appeal beforehand, causing a delay while the umpires sorted things out.

South loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning, but Koza struck out Warren and McKenna to end the inning.

After Koza’s RBI single in the third put Cape ahead 1-0, South took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on Warren’s RBI double and Ursitti’s fielder’s choice.

Shuck, Cape’s starter, went five innings allowing six hits and three walks with two strikeouts. He got help from a double play in the second that cut down Matt Powell at the plate.

“I did OK. The defense helped a lot. They couldn’t have helped me out more,” Shuck said.

Ursitti matched Shuck, allowing two hits and four walks. Wademan made a double-robbing catch in the second, while Alsante made a great double play in the first to snuff an early rally.

Cape American heads to sectionals Friday at Fleishman Park.

CCA 001 001 03 – 5 6 1

SFM 000 020 02 – 4 10 0

W – Rodriguez. L – Warren. S – Cuyler.

2B – Northorp (CCA), Powell (SFM), Hughes (SFM), Parnell (SFM).

Fort Myers American 19, Cape National 7: In a game earlier Saturday, the Fort Myers American 11-12 (Majors) team erupted for 10 runs in the third inning to blow out Cape National 19-7 in a game ended after the top of the fourth by the mercy rule.

The game, which determined the No. 2 seed in Pool 2, eliminated Cape National.

Cape American, the winner of Pool 2, hosts Hancock, the No. 2 seed in Pool 1, at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

After Cape National took a 2-0 lead early, FMA scored three in the first and six in the second before their third-inning outburst.

Cape added five in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough to keep the game going.