San Fernando Valley : A Superior Court judge in Glendale has ruled: Play ball.

Superior Court Judge S. James Otero not only returned two all-star Glendale teams to the ranks of Little League contenders, he ruled that they must face each other in an elimination game Thursday.

“The winner of that game will play the so-called tournament champion” tonight or Saturday, said Phillip R. Marrone, the Burbank attorney who represents the players’ parents.

The two all-star teams had been forbidden to play in the district championship by national Little League officials because they had played in a charity event.

According to Marrone, the judge agreed that irreparable harm would come to the players, many of whom are in their last season of Little League eligibility, if they were not allowed to complete the season.