ORWIGSBURG - Trailing 8-1 when the rain came in the top of the third on Thursday night, the Marian Fillies knew it would be a monumental task to beat No. 1 seed Minersville in a District 11 Class A semifinal when the game resumed on Friday afternoon at Blue Mountain.

The Fillies wound up losing 12-2 in five innings, but managed to threaten in both the third and fourth frames.When play resumed, Kayla Merchinsky was on first base and Nina Curran had a 1-2 count on her with one out. Curran and Alexa Nemeth both reached safely to load the bases, but Minersville pitcher Laykin Hughes got a strikeout and ground to end the threat.The Miners scored four runs in the bottom of the inning before the Fillies would load the bases again in the fourth.Abby Burkhardt singled and after a walk, Kayla Merchlinsky singled to load the bases. Shannon Skotek managed to get a walk to force home a run, but that was all Marian could muster."Down seven runs and having to go back over there today was a tough task, but the girls refused to go down easily and kept battling," said Marian head coach Joe DeAngelo."After a 1-3 start, the team really made progress as the season went on and to make it to the district semifinals was a great accomplishment."The Fillies, who were beaten twice during the regular season by the Miners (12-0 and 9-0), drew first blood on Thursday and scored a run in the first inning.Merchlinsky reached on an infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Skotek, went to third on an infield error and scored on an outfield error.The Miners answered with eight runs in the bottom of the inning putting together four singles and chases Marian starter Kayla Knight, who was relieved by Nemeth.Merchlinsky finished the game going three-for-three,while Burkhardt went two-for-three.Minersville, whose only two losses this year came against Pine Grove, will now face second-seeded Williams Valley on Tuesday at Blue Mountain in a 4:30 start for the district title.Marian 100 10 - 2 7 2Minersville 804 0x - 12 10 3Knight, Nemeth (1) and Hill; Hughes and Brophy. W - Hughes. L - Knight.