Waterford — Dave Mewha, who has coached his older children before in all-stars — baseball and softball — didn't expect this one, too.

The job of managing the Mystic 11-12-year-old Little League all-star baseball team was supposed to fall to Brian McGugan, whose son Cam is Mystic's catcher. McGugan, however, got called to action with his National Guard unit and joined the celebration by telephone late Thursday night, early Friday morning for him in Afghanistan.

Mystic won the District 10 title over Waterford 3-2 on a game-winning home run in the bottom of the sixth inning by Jason Erb, the first batter up.

“It was four in the morning there and he was on the phone,” Mewha said of Brian McGugan. “We had a second banner that said, 'This one's for you, coach McGugan' and we're having all the kids sign it. He got called up late last year. … I'm supposed to be retired.”

Mystic, which swept the best-of-three series from Waterford, winning the first game 6-4 on Tuesday, advanced to the Connecticut Section 3 tournament and will play Tuesday in Killingworth.

Mystic got 4.2 innings from starting pitcher Ramiro Zavala, who struck out 10 and walked five, allowing just three hits. It also got a home run off the bench from Nick Carney that gave Mystic a 2-0 lead in the fourth and a stellar throw from Ryan O'Connor in center field which gunned down a Waterford runner at the plate.

Waterford persevered, however. With two outs in the fifth, Mason Concascia singled home Gavin Hernandez with the team's first run, pulling to within 2-1. In the sixth, Jordan Elci led off with a home run to right-center field to tie things.

Waterford left the bases loaded in the sixth when Caleb Mewha struck out the final two batters.

Erb, who made an error in the fifth, quickly made it up for it leading off the bottom of the sixth, ending any suspense.

“I like it a lot,” said Erb of advancing to the state level. “We've been there two years ago (as 9-10-year-old all-stars) and it was a fun experience.”

“The first five games of this thing, he was only out twice,” Mewha said of Erb, Mystic's first baseman. “You couldn't get him out.”

Waterford and Mystic each finished 4-0 in pool play in the district tournament and won their respective semifinal games to match up in the final round.

Waterford manager Mike Rocchetti said he knew his team wouldn't give up.

“Two tough ones,” Rocchetti said of the series. “But the kids never died. When we beat Pawcatuck, we were down four runs. We came back three times (Tuesday against Mystic). The kids never gave up, so I didn't expect them to quit.”

Rocchetti was complimentary of both teams. On Waterford's side, Hernandez made a diving play at third base and shortstop Will Rocchetti made an unassisted double play, tagging the lead runner before stepping on second base for a force.

“I don't think there were two errors in the two games,” Mike Rocchetti said. “If you came here and watched and were asked how old these kids were, I don't think you would say 12.”

Logan Avin pitched a complete game for Waterford, allowing just six hits, two by Erb.

v.fulkerson@theday.com