TAMAQUA - Aaron Mason wasn't in Marian's starting lineup at the beginning of the season.

But each time the freshman was given an opportunity, he made plays.None bigger than the one he produced Friday.Mason lined a two-out single down the left-field line in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Marian to a 4-3 win over Minersville, and a District 11 Class 2A title."It was the best feeling ever," Mason said afterward. "All of these guys have supported me so much through the season. It was just the best moment ever."Mason has proven to be a quick learner on a team that lost nine of 10 starters from last year's district championship squad."After the first game of the year, we made some moves and brought him up to courtesy run, pinch run, maybe (as) an extra stick, and an extra glove," Marian head coach Tony Radocha said. "And every time he got in, he just made smart decisions. He did well at pinch-hitting opportunities. And when Anthony Collevechio got injured, it was just a natural move."We had him (Mason) down in the order a little bit, and he had a knack for getting on base, and we thought, let's move him to the leadoff spot, and nothing seems to faze him." Mason carried the same approach to the plate Friday that he has utilized all season."If the ball's outside, I'm going to try to take it that way," said Mason, who finished with three hits. "If it's inside, I'll take it to right. My approach was, wherever the ball was pitched, that's where I'm gonna take it, and it was outside."They were pitching me outside a lot, so I was just trying to drive it that way. Earlier in the season, I was trying to pull the outside pitch, and it wasn't working. So I just worked really hard on staying that way, and hitting it to left field like that."Mason's hit scored Matt Doherty, who advanced to scoring position on a bunt from No. 9 hitter Mike Latoff."Mike Latoff did a great job getting the runner over to second base," said Mason. "Without that bunt, my hit wasn't really anything."The game-winning run was the Colts' (14-8) first since the opening frame.Jarod Paisley drove in two runs, before starting pitcher Ryan Cappel followed with an RBI single to score Paisley and put Marian up 3-0 after the first inning.Minersville (12-11) freshman pitcher Dominic Pizzico was able to keep the Colts in check before getting run support in the second inning when Blake Kopinetz made it 3-1 with an RBI single that scored Nolan Hoffman.The Miners added two runs in the third, as Matt Leiby scored on a wild pitch and an RBI single from Joe Karmazin tied it at 3-3.But that was all Minersville would get.Cappel got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning with a strikeout, and escaped the third inning with runners on first and second.The Miners left runners on second and third in the top of the fourth inning."I just wanted to throw strikes and let the defense work behind me," said Cappel. "They helped me out a lot when I was struggling a little bit. They did a really good job."Dan Keer entered after Cappel hit 100 pitches with one out in the sixth inning, and ended the frame with Gehrig Hossler left at third base.Hoffman gave Minersville one more chance in the seventh, reaching on a leadoff walk and advancing to third base. But again, Keer worked out of trouble and left him stranded."We thought he (Cappel) could mix up his pitches a little bit, and if we start him, then we can bring Danny in to close the door, and that would be a good game plan," said Radocha. "Minersville saw Danny a couple weeks ago, and they hit him pretty well. They're a great fastball hitting team, evidenced last night (in a 3-0 win over top seed Schuylkill Haven)."That's when we decided that Cappel was the decision, to keep them off balance, try to get a lead or keep it close, and Danny will come in and shut the door, and we'll trust our offense to take care of it."It worked.And now the Colts are back-to-back district champions.UP NEXT... Marian will play South Williamsport Monday in the Class 2A state playoffs at 4:30 p.m. at Pottsville's Steidle Field. South Williamsport is the District 4 runner-up.STRANDED... Minersville left seven runners on base through the first four innings, and stranded 10 in the game.LAST TIME... Minersville beat Marian 7-6 on May 10.BIG BAT... Cleanup hitter Max Nolter had two hits for the Colts.Minersville 012 000 0 - 3 6 2Marian 300 000 1 - 4 8 3Cappel, Keer (6) and Nolter; Pizzico and Andruchek. W - Keer. L - Pizzico.