Not only that, but they trailed, 5-1, to Bakersfield, California and had managed just one hit in their previous four innings.

Manager Michael Minner’s kids needed something special to happen.

Guess what?

It did.

Charleston manager Michael Minner celebrates the Fighting Squirrels’ walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh of Game 9 of the Babe Ruth 16-18 World Series. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

“Sometimes I just believe in magic,” Minner said after the Fighting Squirrels scored two runs in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh for a walk-off, I-don’t-believe-what-I-just-saw, 6-5, win over the Pacific Southwest Region champions. “I believe if we play the game the right way and hang around, we’ll have a chance to win. Our guys believe in that.

“We were blessed with a little magic here today.”

Drew Reischman collected three hits, Turner Fritts and Will Pratt added two apiece, and all three found themselves in the middle of the craziness that gave the Midwest Plains Region champs their second win of the tournament.

“To be on the big stage against California, which you know is one of the better teams here, is a tribute to our kids, their families and how they do things,” Minner said.

But no could have foreseen the way the final innings unfolded on another beautiful day at Diethrick Park.

Bakersfield second baseman Elijah Pascual fires to first for the out. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Trailing 3-1 after three innings, 4-1 after four and 5-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, Charleston appeared ready to drop to 1-1 in the American Division, because Bakersfield starter Brady Salyards was dealing.

But the Fighting Squirrels opened the sixth with singles by Fritts and Pratt, which sent Salyards out of the game and reliever Milo Viallobos into it with runners at first and second. A groundout moved them up a base, an error scored Fritts, and Pratt closed the gap to 5-3 on Bobby Wright’s groundout.

The momentum was slowly shifting.

After Pratt, who came on in relief with one out in the sixth, retired Bakersfield in order in the top of the seventh, the Fighting Squirrels worked their magic against Viallobos in the bottom of the inning.

Cole Nichols led off with a single and, one out later, Reischman singled, putting runners at first and second, but only momentarily as Fritts then hit a chopper in front of the plate. The throw to first pulled Bakersfield’s Austin Hubbell off the bag and everyone was safe. Viallobos was then called for a balk, which plated Nichols, cutting the deficit to 5-4.

That was merely the prelude to the wild finish.

Pratt then hit a hard groundball to second baseman Elijah Pascual, who appeared not to field it cleanly and rather than throw home to try and cut down the tying run he threw Pratt out at first as pinch-runner Ajay Sager crossed the plate safely. Fritts kept on running hard to third and Hubbell’s throw skipped away, allowing Fritts to score the winning run, which set off a wild Charleston celebration.

“We got some fastballs early in counts (late in the game), we put a little pressure on and then a little magic happened,” Minner said. “We play hard. I couldn’t be prouder of my kids. This is just a big-time win. We needed this one. … People that were here today saw a great baseball game.”

Bakersfield managed only five hits — two of them doubles by Cory Blackburn and Andru Marion — but took advantage of six walks by Charleston starter Brevin Yarbro — to help it score three runs in the third, one in the fourth and one in the sixth. The last two runs were the result of sacrifice flies by Pascual and Marion.

“Early, we had a few too many walks and spotted them some runs,” Minner said. ” … Each inning we told our guys to keep our approach. Finally in the sixth we said, ‘Go and get some hacks.'”

The Fighting Squirrels did just that and will now take their unbeaten record into today’s 2:30 p.m. game against Lynn, Massachusetts.

“It will be hard to live up to his one,” Minner said.

Meanwhile, Bakersfield (1-1) will meet Northern Fairfax County, Virginia at 5 p.m. today.