Bowmanstown is on the verge of something special.

The Blaze didn’t breakthrough Wednesday. But they’re close.

Though Bowmanstown’s season ended with a 6-3 loss to Emmaus in the second game of the Lehigh Valley Girls Softball League’s 12U best-of-three championship series, this is a program on the rise – and one that’s on the threshold of taking another big step forward.

And it could come sooner rather than later.

The Blaze bounced back from a 19-9 loss in the first game of the series to almost force a decisive rubber match against Emmaus to determine the league champion.

Emmaus took advantage of a quick start - building a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning – and got a solid pitching performance from Autumn Held, who went the distance and struck out eight. She worked out of several jams to preserve the win and the title.

“I’ve been with these girls – half of them since they were 8 (-years-old) – and this is our fourth season in the championship game, and we always came out second,” said Emmaus coach Michelle Kozy. “So we finally came out first, and it’s a good feeling. They really worked hard.”

Unfazed by the setback on Monday – and a weather postponement on Tuesday – Bowmanstown showed the confidence that produced a 10-1 regular season on Wednesday.

The Blaze cut into the deficit with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Leadoff hitter Sydney Frantz — who also pitched a solid game for Bowmanstown — started the rally with an infield hit, and eventually scored on a passed ball to make it 4-1.

Frantz stole second and moved to third on a single by Danica Getz. A two-out line drive up the middle off the bat of Jessica Heydt scored Getz and cut Emmaus’ lead to 4-2.

“That was more of what I was expecting,” Bowmanstown coach Jamie Frantz said of the close game. “They were happier tonight when they got here. It was a totally different mindset. When I was watching them, I was like, ‘All right, they’re here. They’re fine. They’re ready to play.’”

The Blaze threatened again in each of the next two innings.

Bowmanstown took advantage of some Emmaus (10-1 regular season) fielding miscues in the sixth to make it a one-run game when Hannah Barry scored to make it 4-3.

The inning ended when Held got a strikeout with runners at second and third base.

Held maneuvered out of her biggest jam in the fifth. A leadoff walk to Hailey Krock, a two-out single from Frantz and a walk to Megan Matsko loaded the bases with two outs.

But Held got a strikeout, leaving the bases loaded to keep the two-run lead intact, which loomed large after Bowmanstown would again leave runners in scoring position in the sixth inning.

“Against a pitcher like that, and a team like that, where you see there’s no holes, it’s very tough,” Frantz said of trying to erase the early deficit. “We hit the ball. We hit the ball. They were just everywhere we hit the ball.”

Emmaus added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning when Maddy Unser delivered a two-run double to make it 6-3.

“I’m just proud of how good we did in a tough Lehigh Valley League,” said Frantz. “We came in as small Bowmanstown into the league. I took them into the league in the fall to try it, and we went 14-2. So we didn’t sneak up on anybody.

“And out of my whole team tonight, only two girls (Matsko and Kelsey Balliet) we’re losing. That’s it. So none of these other coaches want to see us next year.”

THE FIRST TIME

… Emmaus defeated Bowmanstown 8-5 during their regular season meeting.

HOW MANY?

… Bowmanstown finished the regular season with the most runs scored in the league at 137.

Emmaus 210 100 2 – 6 8 4

Bowmanstown 000 201 0 – 3 5 3

Held and Bruckler; Frantz and Balliet. W – Held. L – Frantz.