PINE GROVE – Marian’s baseball team picked up a piece of hardware Monday evening, but it wasn’t the one it wanted most.

Another Schuylkill League Division 3 baseball crown and the spoils that come with it are a nice addition to the trophy case in Hometown. But the bigger prize — a league championship — isn’t going to happen this season.

Division 1 champ and defending league titlist Blue Mountain jumped out to an early six-run lead on its way to a 7-3 semifinal victory.

The Eagles (18-3) used the long ball and some great defense to earn a championship game date with Division 2 champion Schuylkill Haven on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Hurricanes fended off North Schuylkill, 4-1, in the other semifinal.

Marian (11-9) tried slipping an early noose on the heavy-hitting Eagles by starting southpaw Hunter Fristick. The junior had little history on his ledger, but Colt coach Tony Radocha liked the potential.

“We thought about using Hunter because he can spot the ball,” explained the fourth-year Marian skipper. “He throws offspeed stuff, and Blue Mountain can hit the fastball a ton.”

Indeed, there is power in the lineup for Blue Mountain. Drew Grace, a Kentucky commit who is only a junior, put a charge on Fristick’s third pitch of the game, connecting for a no-doubt-about-it solo home run.

An inning later, highly-recruited middle infielder Billy Gerlott was taking Fristick for a ride when he slammed an opposite field three-run homer over the 348-foot sign in right center.

“We got that early lead and were exited. You could feel the energy we had,” said veteran Blue Mountain manager Tommy Kramer. “But then they bring in Cappy (Ryan Cappel), and he did a great job for them. Cappy hit his spots, his location was good, and he just took a lot out of our bats.”

Ironically, Cappel once attended Blue Mountain, and surely had a feel for the Eagles lineup. He came in with his team down 6-0, before quelling the thunder the Eagles had going.

“Ryan did a big time job for us,” Radocha said after watching Cappel allow just two hits and two runs in four-plus innings of relief. “We can second guess ourselves all we want (about not starting Cappel), but we tried keeping them off balance early with Fistick.”

Cappel settled into a rhythm in the third and fourth innings, setting the side down in order, before issuing a walk in the fifth. He proceeded to retire four more batters without damage, before a walk and an RBI single from Gerlott produced the seventh and final Blue Mountain run in the sixth.

Marian battled back against Blue Mountain starter Grace, who gave way to Gerlott with two outs in the sixth.

The Colts struck for two runs in the sixth as Matt Doherty and Alex Kubishin each had singles in the frame. Marian’s inning could have been even bigger if it had not been for a superb play by Blue Mountain second baseman Brent Kaunas that limited the damage.

The Colts scored one more time in the seventh when Kubishin unloaded with a laser shot in the left center gap to chase home Aaron Mason. But Gerlott wiggled out of trouble, ending the game with a strikeout.

“I’m proud of the way we battled, we stuck our nose into the battle and we nearly came away with a win,” said Radocha. “Hey, my hat goes off to Blue Mountain and coach Kramer … they’re as good as advertised.”

THROWING LEATHER … There was some great defense on both sides, with most coming at the hot corner. Marian third baseman Doherty and Blue Mountain’s Jack McKivigan each had five chances that they handled flawlessly.

HITS EQUAL … Both teams had six hits, but the Eagles two home runs were big, with Gerlott driving in four runs with his single and homer. Kubishin and Doherty both had two hits for Marian, while Quest Wilson and Cappel each had one hit.

UP NEXT … Marian opens defense of its District 11 Class 2A championship on Monday.

Marian 000 002 1 - 3 6 2

Blue Mtn. 150 001 x - 7 6 0

Fristick, Cappel (2) and Nolter; Grace, Gerlott (6) and Tidmore. W - Grace. L - Fristick.