SHENANDOAH – Down to its final out, Marian’s baseball team had some magic left.

Trailing host Shenandoah Valley by one run in the top of the seventh inning, Alex Kubishin was the right man at the right place and at the right time.

Colt coach Tony Radocha says that Kubishin lives for those kinds of moments.

Indeed that was the case Thursday afternoon.

After Matt Doherty drew a two-out walk, Kubishin took a swing on the first pitch offered and blasted it over the right centerfield fence at Marty F. DeLuca baseball field, and it was all that the Colts needed to edge the Blue Devils 4-3.

It was a key opening game win for the Colts (1-1, 1-0) as they look to defend their Division III crown in the Schuylkill Baseball League.

“Alex just can’t wait to be in these kinds of situations,” Radocha said. “He’s always wanting to be up batting with the game on the line. That was a big moment from a big player. He’s been chomping at the bit.”

Kubishin and his Colts teammates weren’t just anxious for the big moment, however, they were excited for any moment on the field.

“This is only our second game, some teams have played, four, five and six,” Radocha said. “It’s so hard to simulate game conditions in a gym or even the practice field. So it was nice to finally play another game.”

The Colt victory spoiled an upset bid by Shenandoah Valley (2-3, 1-1), which rode the terrific pitching effort of junior right hander Will “The Thrill” Conroy. The lanky 6-2 Blue Devil was working on a great outing before he was lifted on the 100-pitch limitation rule with one down in the seventh.

“He had a fantastic game for us,” said Shenandoah Valley coach Jeff Maksimik. “This was two really good baseball teams playing a really good game. From my perspective, we couldn’t ask for a better effort from all of our kids.”

Conroy had given up just five hits, struck out nine and issued three walks. Marian manufactured a two spot off of him in the top of the third. Quest Wilson singled, and one out later Aaron Mason slapped a double down the leftfield line. After Doherty drew a walk to load the bases, Kubishin worked a walk for an RBI and Mike Minchhoff brought in the second run via a sacrifice fly.

That was all the Colts’ offense could muster until the seventh.

The winning rally looked doomed at the start as Conroy struck out his final batter before Evan Kosar relieved and got a quick one-out pitch on a bouncer back to the mound. Doherty kept things alive with a five pitch walk and that set the table for Kubishin’s two-run blast.

The Blue Devils didn’t go silently in the home seventh as Evan Kosar drew a walk and moved to second on brother Owen’s bunt. With two outs, Conroy was intentionally walked, but Marian releiver Seth Derr got the final out on strikes.

“Nothing replicates a game scenario, we can do all the (batting practice) we want, but we needed this,” said Radocha. “Shenandoah is a competitive club. We’ve had some great games with them over the years.”

HACKING AT IT … Marian recorded six hits. Kubishin had a triple, a hgome run, and three RBIs to lead the way. Mason added a single and a double.

PITCHERS ... Minchoff started on the mound for the Colts, giving up two hits and two runs — none earned — before being relieved in the fourth.

ON THE GUN ... Millersville University assistant coach David Baker was on hand to scout Conroy, who was registering 86 mph consistently and topped out at 87.

Marian 002 000 2 - 4 6 2

Shenandoah 000 210 0 - 3 4 0

Minchoff, Derr (4) and Fristick; Conroy, E. Kosar (7) and Dombroski. W - Derr. L - E. Kosar.