WATSONVILLE >> With one big swing of the bat, Drew Oppenheimer propelled the Los Gatos Little League Majors All-Stars into the Northern California State Tournament.

The catcher’s two-run homer in the top of the fourth to center field and a shutdown pitching effort from Lucas Bottoms were the difference as Los Gatos defeated Aptos 4-3 Monday night at the Pajaro Valley Little League complex to win the Section 5 title.

“He’s done that many times this season and just put one out in a very decisive way,” said Los Gatos coach C.T. Kalin. “I think it went halfway up the trees. It was kind of no chance of getting caught.”

Aptos center field Jacob Kissinger ran in a few steps at first, then ran back, but soon was left admiring the blast, like so many of the 200 or so folks in attendance.

“He didn’t miss that pitch, did he?” Aptos coach Troy Cope said. “It went pretty far into the trees, maybe over the trees.”

Oppenheimer’s blast broke a 2-2 tie after both teams scored in the third inning.

Timmy McNeil led off the third with a double and scored on a triple by Bottoms. Bottoms later scored on a dropped third strike/putout at first.

In Aptos’ half of the frame, Parker French got on base via an error with one out, after which Dominik Castillo was intentionally walked.

Ethan Kaemmerling drove in French with a base hit, with Castillo tying the score on an error.

French hit a solo homer in the sixth to bring Aptos to within one run. Aptos had runners on first and second with two out in the frame, but Bottoms got out of the jam with a ground out.

Bottoms, a long-legged right-hander, held Aptos to four hits and struck out eight before leaving with one out in the sixth due to the pitch count.

“He pitched phenomenal tonight. He had great command of all of his pitches,” Kalin said. “They were all working great for him. He was very efficient and very nearly pitched a complete game.

McNeil got the last two batters on strikeouts to end the game, earning a save.

“Aptos pitched great and played great. It was an awesome championship game and you could not say any more,” Kalin said.

Castillo took the tough-luck loss, scattering seven hits and striking out seven before giving way to Christian Almand in the sixth.

“We didn’t have our best hitting night, but we hit him. We battled back in the end, but we never got that last run,” French said. “After Christian closed them out there, I thought we had a big chance of coming back and winning.”

The loss brings an end to the season for Aptos, which went 4-0 to win the District 39 Tournament at Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz. Aptos’ only other loss in the Section 5 Tournament was to Los Gatos as well.

“It was a great run. I’m so proud of all these boys, they played really good, hard baseball. They went farther than a lot of people thought they would and it’s just been a privilege to coach them,” coach Cope said. “The gelled as a team and gave it their all, every single game.”

Los Gatos, meanwhile, returns here on Saturday when it opens play in the NorCal State Tournament.