ORWIGSBURG - It's challenging enough just walking on to Blue Mountain's Patton Field to compete with the "Big Blue Machine."

However, it's darn near impossible when that "Big Blue Machine" is churning out hits and runs like a well-oiled machine.Yesterday afternoon, Marian learned that lesson the hard way, as Minersville needed just four innings to assemble a 15-0 District 11 Class A semifinal victory over the Fillies. With the win, Minersville (18-3) advances to Tuesday's championship game against defending District 11 and PIAA State Champion Williams Valley (a 1-0 semifinal winner over Tri-Valley in eight innings).Minersville's 15 runs came on 18 hits, which set a new Minersville playoff record for hits in a game."They just hit the ball up and down the lineup. That's why they're the machine," stated Marian head coach Joe DeAngelo. "Right from the start, they set the tone with their bats."Minersville's first six batters of the game reached base (on five singles and a fielding error) to set the wheels in motion. Adrienne Kroznuskie, Emily Mealey and Morgen Woodford all had RBI-singles, while Leah Leshko's fielder's choice RBI groundout scored Lindsey Snyder.After sending eight batters to the plate in the first inning, the Battlin' Miners sent another nine hitters to the plate in the second frame, as they tacked on another four runs to increase their lead to 8-0.Following a Reighly Melochick triple to deep center field, Emily Mealey's single to left plated Melochick and Adrienne Kroznuskie. Courtesy runner Mallory Ebert scored on a fielding error, while Lindsey Snyder came around to score on a Morgen Woodford fielder's choice ground out."We've been hitting very well for a while now, but I was a little worried about this game because we haven't been able to practice for the last few days," said Minersville head coach Dave Homa. "The big thing was jumping on them early because I think it relaxed everybody. Once we scored four runs in the first, I think it took a lot of what Marian does very well (bunting and running) away."While Minersville was busy crushing the ball all over the field, pitcher Riley Gerenda was keeping the Fillies bats at bay.Marian (17-5) sent just 15 batters to the plate, and the Fillies lone hit was a single to center field by junior Bryianna Pearson in the top of fourth. Aside from two four-pitch walks in the second inning, Gerenda retired the other 12 Marian hitters, while striking out five.After a scoreless third frame, Minersville's hit parade continued in the fourth, as the Battlin' Miners scored seven runs on eight hits. Snyder and Kroznuskie doubled in the inning, while pinch hitter Maura Bentz tacked on a two-run single. Lindsey Snyder then ended the contest with a two-run infield single to score Melochick and Kroznuskie.With two hits in the game, Adrienne Kroznuskie (two hits, three runs, two RBI) set a new Minersville freshman record with 46 hits on the season. Kroznuskie broke the previous freshman record for hits in a season set by Sarah Walasavage in 2010.Reighly Melochick went a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs scored, while Lindsey Snyder added three hits, three runs and two RBI. Emily Mealey (two hits, three RBI), Morgen Woodford (two hits, three RBI) and Rachel Sterner (three hits) all played key roles in the winning effort."This Minersville team doesn't have many weaknesses and every out is tough to get, added DeAngelo. "They're a machine. They always were and they always will be.""As far as the season on a whole though, I'm really proud of this team. We won 17 games and I'm not sure how many teams in school history have that many wins, if any," concluded DeAngelo. "We got back to the District semifinals, won the Division (Schuylkill League, Division III) and had great senior leadership throughout the season that led us to those heights. I think we created a little bit of excitement around Marian softball this year that we can hopefully build off of."Marian 000 0 - 0 1 5Minersville 440 7 - 15 18 0Shaud and Nemeth; Gerenda and Woodford. W - Gerenda. L - Shaud.