MIDDLEPORT — Marian’s lineup may not feature the big boppers it had in previous years.
What the Colts do have, however, is some patient contact hitters that cause havoc for opposing defenses when they get on base.
That approach worked to perfection in Monday’s 12-3 victory over Shenandoah Valley in a Schuylkill League Division III game at Schuylkill Valley Stadium.
Marian capitalized on 11 walks and three hit batsmen, stealing nine bases and taking additional bases on four errors, four wild pitches and a passed ball.
K.J. Snerr paced the Colts’ nine-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases and three RBIs as Marian (3-1, 3-0 D-III) remained unbeaten in Division III play.
“We’ve been really patient this year,” Snerr said. “We’ve working a lot on getting our eyes down before we start hitting so that we can see different levels of pitching.
“We took a lot of time this year to really develop our hitters.”
Marian scored four runs in both the first and second innings, knocking out Shenandoah Valley starter Nick Gurski in the second.
Snerr had an RBI single to open the scoring, and Aaron DeAngelo capped the first inning with a two-run, two-out double. In the second, Dan Keer had a two-run single while two more runs scored on a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch.
In the first two innings, Marian had just four hits, but Shenandoah Valley pitchers issued eight walks and hit a batter.
“We’ve been preaching to the kids to get in your head what you want to do, and grind out at-bats,” Marian coach Tony Radocha said. “We’re making contact, but guys are getting frustrated because they’re not dropping. We’re getting back into the swing, starting to see more live pitching.
“Singles, bunts, steals, that wins ballgames. Small ball ... doing anything we can to score runs. We’re trying to grind things out.”
Shenandoah Valley scored single runs in each of its first three at-bats, but a pair of baserunning mistakes prevented the Blue Devils from putting together a big inning.
Right-hander Nick Kubishin battled through four innings before Dante Salerno closed it with three scoreless frames.
The two right-handers combined to allow five hits, striking out seven and walking four.
Kubishin took the hill in place of
scheduled starter Joe Nahas, who couldn’t play due to an illness.
“We talked to (Kubishin) this morning, and he said, ‘I’ll be ready to go,’ ” Radocha said. “He’s got a live fastball, he throws around the plate and he throws strikes. He did that, and he was able to set the tone. He was very effective.
“Dante, when you put him on the mound, he’s been shutdown. He’s got different pitches and he’s around the plate. When you throw strikes and rely on your defense, good things are going to happen.”
The Colts are heavy favorites to win the Division III title, and have outscored their three division opponents so far — Panther Valley, Mahanoy Area and Shenandoah Valley — by a combined score of 39-4.
Marian will be tested in its crossover games against the Division II clubs, but being able to grind out victories against divisional opponents should put the Colts on the fast track to the Schuylkill League playoffs.
“We have to re-tool what we did the last couple years,” Radocha said. “We don’t have those power hitters right now, but we’re having quality at-bats. Being patient, working counts, getting everybody involved and playing good team baseball.”
Game Summary
At Schuylkill Valley Stadium
SHENANDOAH VALLEY (3) — Krusinsky cf 4 0 1 0, Jacavage 1b 1 2 0 0, Gurski p-3b 4 0 0 0, T. McCole 2b 0 0 0 0, Dombrowski dh 4 0 2 1, I. McCole ss 4 1 1 1, Urbanavage c 3 0 0 0, Creasy 3b-lf 3 0 0 0, Grutza rf-p 2 0 1 0, Cespedes lf-p-rf 3 0 0 0. Totals 28 3 5 2.
MARIAN (12) — Salerno rf-p 2 3 0 0, Kubishin p-rf 5 0 1 0, Collevechio cr 0 1 0 0, Snerr c 4 2 3 3, Evitts ss 2 2 0 0, Paisley 2b 0 0 0 0, Keer dh 4 2 1 2, Maskornick cf 2 1 0 0, Schmidt 1b 2 0 1 0, Inama 1b 1 0 1 0, DeAngelo lf 3 0 1 2, Hinkle 3b 2 1 1 1. Totals 27 12 9 8.
Shen (1-3, 0-2) 111 000 0 — 3
Marian (3-1, 3-0) 440 022 x — 12
E — Shenandoah Valley 4, Marian 3. DP — Shenandoah Valley 3. LOB — Shenandoah Valley 8, Marian 12. 2B — Snerr, Schmidt, DeAngelo. SB — Salerno 3, Snerr 2, Evitts, Maskornick, Hinkle 2.
Shen Valley IP H R ER BB K
Gurski L, 0-2 1.2 4 8 8 5 2
Cespedes 3 3 2 0 5 0
Grutza 1.1 2 2 2 1 1
Marian IP H R ER BB K
Kubishin W,1-0 4 3 3 2 3 5
Salerno 3 2 0 0 1 2
HBP — by Gurski (Snerr), by Cespedes (Salerno), by Grutza (Salerno). WP — Gurski 2, Cespedes 2, Kubishin 5. PB — Urbanavage. T — 2:21.