BANGOR – In a game that featured plenty of offense, spectators and volunteers alike figured a home run or base hit would decide Wednesday’s Senior League World Series matchup between U.S. East and U.S. Southwest.

Unexpectedly, it was defense that decided this one, a 10-8 Bloomfield, N.J., win over Tulsa, Okla., in a Pool B clash at Mansfield Stadium.

The U.S. East representatives turned two double plays – including a huge 3-6-3 twin-killing to end the bottom of the sixth after Tulsa had pulled within two runs with runners on the corners.

Bloomfield turned another in the bottom of the seventh, a 4-6-3 job, after Tulsa’s Drew Chism singled to open the inning.

“Two of the hardest ones you’re ever going to find, right?” Bloomfield manager Rob Chiaravalloti said. “3-6-3, [that] hardly ever happens in a 16-year-old game.”

Bloomfield all but clinched a spot in Friday’s semifinals, moving to 3-0 in pool play while Tulsa tumbled to 1-2.

Coming in, Bloomfield knew this was a game it had to win. Had it not, both teams would’ve been 2-1 and tiebreakers would’ve possibly come into play.

“Before the game, we all got together and said, ‘this is the most important game we’ve got,” Chiaeavalloti said.

Bloomfield got things going quickly with two runs in the top of the first, on a Jason Chesterman RBI single then Matt Mazzolla was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

As was the case all game, however, Tulsa responded with a productive inning of its own.

The boys from the Sooner State plated two in their half of the first, getting a sacrifice fly from Joel Martin. Then Jon Reed slammed an RBI double into the left-center field gap.

“They can hit the ball. We had to play a little bit deeper [in the outfield],” Chiaravalloti said. “They’re a good hitting team.”

New Jersey seemed to blow the doors open with a five-spot in the top of the third, keyed by a Jason Chesterman RBI triple and Vinnie Del Vecchio RBI single, making it a 7-2 game, but once again, Tulsa refused to quit, scoring three runs in their half, two of which came on a RBI triple by Reed.

Del Vecchio gave Bloomfield two key insurance runs in the top of the fifth with an RBI single and later scored on an error to make it 10-5.

Wade Ambrose singled in a run in the fifth to make it 10-6. Then Martin knocked in two more with a single to bring Tulsa back to within two, but that’s as close as it would get.

All the offense overshadowed another stellar relief appearance by Reed, who pitched four innings, scattering three hits and two earned runs while striking out five.

“He throws strikes and he throws hard,” said Chiaravalloti.

Ironically, before the bottom of the sixth, New Jersey may have had a little extra motivation from a song that public address announcer Bob Beatham played as they took infield: “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen, a native of Freehold Township, New Jersey, where the East Regionals were played.

U.S. EAST 10, U.S. SOUTHWEST 8

Bloomfield, N.J. (3-0) Tulsa, Okla. (1-2)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

V. Del Vecchio, ss 5 1 2 3 Robinette, 2b-ss 0

Miller, 3b 4 0 0 0 Comfort, rf-2b 0 3 0

Chiaravalloti, 1b 3 1 0 0 Martin, p-ss 3 2

Monroig, rf-p 3 2 2 1 Reed, ss-p 4 3

Petrillo, 1b-2b 2 2 0 0 Mantle, ss-c 0 0

Chesterman, lf 2 1 2 2 Chism, c 3 0

Delli Paoli, lf-rf 1 0 0 0 Ambrose, 1b 3 2

Penberthy, cf 1 0 0 0 Polly, 1b 0 0

Bataille, cf 1 1 0 0 Deason, 3b 3 0 0

Mazzolla, c 2 0 1 2 Galbraith, cf 4 0 0

Andrade, c 1 1 0 0 Maner, lf 2 0 0

J. Del Vecchio, 2b 1 1 0 0 Way, lf 1 1 0

Szuhany, p-lf 2 0 1 1

Skidmore, p 0 0 0 0

Totals 28 10 8 9 Totals 25 8 8 7

New Jersey 205 120 0 – 10

Oklahoma 203 012 0 – 8

E-Monroig; Robinette 2, Deason; LOB-Bloomfield 7, Tulsa 6; 2B-Martin, Reed, Galbraith; 3B-Monroig, Chesterman; Reed, Way; DP-Bloomfield 2, Tulsa 1; S-Skidmore; SF-Szuhany, Martin; Ambrose; SB-V. Del Vecchio, Miller, Andrade, J. Del Vecchio, Szuhany; Robinette 2

New Jersey IP H R ER BB SO

Szuhany (W, 1-0) 5 1/3 6 7 7 3 2

Monroig 1 2/3 2 1 1 3 0

Oklahoma IP H R ER BB SO

Martin (L, 0-1) 3 5 7 5 4 4

Reed 4 3 3 2 2 5

HBP-Mazzolla (by Martin), Chiaravallot (by Reed); Robinette (by Szuhany), Comfort (by Szuhany); WP-Monroig, Szuhany; Reed; PB-Mazzolla; Chism; T-2:30; ATT-350