Win No. 3 for the Continental Little League All-Star team was one that came with a lot of late-inning sweating.

Continental scored two runs in the top of the sixth and held on for an 8-6 win over Greenfield on Tuesday at Elliott Doglione Field in Salinas.

With the victory, Continental improved to 3-2 in Group B. It sits in a tie for third place with idle Manzanita, also at 3-2. In the chase for a spot in this weekend’s final four, both of those teams are looking up at Salinas National, which improved to 4-1 after receiving a forfeit victory.

Continental's two-run decision is the closest win in Group B play and the third game in both groups combined decided by one or two runs.

Jonah Contapay and Joseph Salmeron scored the two decisive runs.

With one out in the sixth, Contapay tried to bunt, but the ball went foul. The Greenfield infielders crept in, and Contapay bunted on the next pitch, beating the throw to first.

Up stepped Salmeron, and he smacked the ball to right-centerfield. Contapay sprinted around the bases and came home to give Continental a 7-6 lead.

"He just pitched it, and I swung. I didn't know where the ball was going," Salmeron said.

After a strikeout, Daniel Miranda came to bat, and he hit a single to plate Salmeron.

Relief pitcher Toby Rosales pitched a perfect bottom of the sixth to end the game.

Greenfield dropped to 0-5 with the loss.

Continental rolled early, going up 4-0 before an out was recorded in the game. Greenfield answered back, tying the game at 4-4 with its quartet of runs in the second. Jesus Soto (infield single), Johnny Garcia (walk), Dominic Dominguez (single) and Angel Alvarez (walk) all scored.

Then came the back-and-forth battle to grab the lead.

It was Continental who claimed it in the third inning. Toby Rosales walked, and Contapay pinch ran for him. Jacob Aquinaga hit a grounder that ate up a Greenfield infielder, and Contapay went to third.

With Jessiah Sabado batting, Aquinaga and Contapay executed a double steal, with Aquinaga going first. Contapay sped home and beat the throw there, giving Continental a 5-4 lead.

Greenfield did not back down.

Dominguez led off the bottom of the fourth by hitting a 15 footer for a single. Michael Hernandez then worked a walk, bringing up Mitch Slama, who slammed a double to the wall, plating both Dominguez and Hernandez and giving Greenfield a 6-5 lead.

Continental avoided the shutdown half-inning. In the top of the fifth, Miranda hit a single, and the ball was bobbled in the outfield, allowing Miranda to get to second. After a flyball, Aquinaga ripped a single that scored Miranda, tying the game at 6-6.

Continental took the lead one inning later.

Jaime Soto and Oscar Villagomez were Greenfield's two pitchers, combining to get 12 strikeouts.

Dominguez went 2-for-2, reached base three times and scored twice.

Continental wraps up group play Thursday at Ferrasci Park against Salinas American. Greenfield, meanwhile, will try to get a win back at Elliott Doglione Field against Atlantic.

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