It sure wasn't pretty, but the Marian Fillies were able to clinch the Schuylkill League Division 3 title on Monday with a 9-7 victory over Schuylkill Haven.

The Hurricanes (10-9, 5-7) came into their game with the Fillies winning eight out of their last nine and looked determined early to grab the "W."Haven jumped out to a 2-0 lead after Megan Ditzler scored a run in the first off an Elizabeth Bayliff double, and Cheyanne Reichert knocked in a run in the second with a single.The 'Canes didn't have to face the Fillies ace in Bethany Shaud, who was given the day off due to some soreness. Insert Mackenzie Joy, who was able to battle throughout the day and get her first victory of the season. Joy gave up just five hits, while four errors helped Haven score seven runs."We gave Bethany the day off because she was a little sore and Mackenzie came in and did a great job for us," said Marian coach Joe DeAngelo. "She was able to get her first complete game and she never got rattled out there."A lot of things didn't go her way today, but she kept fighting through it."Business certainly picked up after the first two innings.The Fillies (12-6, 9-3) were able to capture the lead in the bottom of the third after scoring a run in the second and two in the third. Brianna Wimmer was the heavy hitter on the day for the Fillies, getting the first two of her four RBIs in the third with a double that scored Nicole Salerno and Joy.Then came the fourth, which was similar to a few scenes from the motion picture "The Sandlot."There were two rundown plays, a dropped ball at home plate that scored a run, and a total of four errors between each ball club. Haven scored five runs in the inning and didn't even collect a hit.After all that, however, Marian answered right back to tie the game at 7-7.It was Wimmer that came through once again with two more RBIs and Salerno added an RBI to help the Fillies score four runs."Basically, I just took advantage of the pitches that were thrown to me," said Wimmer. "They were right in my wheel house and I was able to get some runs in for us. I just hit better in those situations. When my team is cheering me on and my adrenaline is up there I play with a lot more confidence."In the fifth, it was Bryianna Pearson's turn to play the hero as she belted a double to left center field that scored the eventual game-winning runs for the Fillies."We certainly went out with a bang today and we were able to get a victory," said Pearson. "We all play with calm minds and we kept battling at the plate throughout the day. Whenever we were down we came right back and that's a true testament to the character of our team."Now, with the Division 3 title behind it, Marian's site is set on the always tough Schuylkill League playoffs. It seems, the Fillies are playing their best ball of the year and most importantly their most confident ball up to this point in the season."We always preach to our girls to play with confidence and it looks like we're getting there," said DeAngelo. "You can see when we're in a battle like we were today that the kids are responding and fighting through the adversity. They showed a ton of resilience today and that's what you need when entering postseason play."Sch. Haven 110 500 0 - 7 5 3Marian 012 420 x - 9 10 4Svenson and Personette; Joy and Salerno; W - Joy. L - Svenson.