ALLENTOWN – The Colts knew it would be tough to score runs in Friday’s District 11 Class 2A championship game.

They used the same approach that got them through the playoffs and into the district title game. But even the best approach might not have worked against Schuylkill Haven ace Brandon Schaeffer.

The senior Hurricane allowed just one hit while striking out eight and walking two in a 5-0 win that gave his team its first district title since 2015.

“He’s tough,” said Marian head coach Tony Radocha. “He’s got a very live fastball and he spots it very well, and he has a devastating slider. When he gets ahead in the count he puts that slider where he wants to. He was in control tonight. We got some good swing on the ball. We were just a little under it. We couldn’t barrel it up.”

Schaeffer allowed just two base runners through four innings, one on a walk and another via an error. His team had staked him to a 4-0 lead by the time Marian got its first and only hit of the game, a double by Matt Doherty in the top of the sixth inning.

Schaeffer upped his record on the season to 10-1, with his only loss coming in the Schuylkill League championship game. He brought an 0.79 ERA into the game and lowered it with a masterful performance.

“Brandon has been an outstanding pitcher not just tonight, but through the entire season and his entire career,” said Hurricane mentor Scott Buffington. “He’s in charge no matter what happens in front of him or behind him. He’s a very mature, very poised young man.”

Schuylkill Haven got Schaeffer all the offense he needed early in the game. After a pair of two-out walks, Shawn Davis (3-for-4, two RBIs, run) singled home Austin Clauser for a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

The Hurricanes (20-4) added two more in the fourth, again with two outs. Joshua Kalyan drew a walk off Colts starter Ryan Cappel and came home on a throwing error on Albe Evans’ infield single. A bases-loaded walk to Kobe Brish made it 3-0.

By that time Schaefer was cruising along.

While the Colts (13-10) tried to get the bat on the ball early in counts, they weren’t able to find the holes when they did hit the ball hard. Marian had five fly-ball outs in the first three innings, and would have had six if not for an error.

“All postseason, but especially today, we talked about coming out and looking for something early in the count,” said Radocha. “Get a fastball to drive because that slider can be so devastating. If we get one to drop here or there and get a couple runs on them, maybe they change their game plan, but it just didn’t come to fruition. They weren’t terrible at-bats. We just couldn’t barrel it up.”

Schaeffer got stronger as the game went on. He had just one out by strikeout through the first three innings and seven the rest of the way.

Haven added another run in the fifth when Schaeffer led off with a single and Davis followed with an RBI double. The Hurricanes capped the scoring when they pushed across a run on an error in the sixth inning.

For many of the Schuylkill Haven seniors, this was their second district title since coming into the program.

“These seniors were here [at Coca-Cola Park] as freshmen,” said Buffington. “We won a district title in 2015 when they were freshmen and now they got us back here for another one.”

The Colts, which have just two seniors in their lineup, end another season that included playing in a district title game. They won the past two district crowns. This year they were 7-6 at one point in the season and rallied to get 13 wins.

“To finish at Coca-Cola Park in the district championship game is not the worst thing in the world,” said Radocha. “It was a great experience.

“Being in the last two district championship games, to get back here is a credit to the kids. I wouldn’t have wanted to go through this journey with any other team than this one.”

NOT YOU AGAIN ... Schaeffer shut out the Colts in a regular season game, 10-0, in five innings on April 18.

PIAA PLAY … The Hurricanes will have some time to celebrate before they face the District 4 runner-up in the state playoffs on Monday, June 4.

NOT A BAD OUTING ... Cappel allowed just eight hits in the game, while striking out six and walking five.

WORKING THE PLATE ... Tamaqua’s Mark Onushco was the home-plate umpire for the district title game.

Marian 000 000 0 - 0 1 2

Schuylkill Haven 100 211 x - 5 8 1

Cappel, Derr (6) and Nolter; Schaeffer and Davis. W - Schaeffer. L - Davis.