EMMAUS — Justin Marykwas recently finished his first season pitching at Lehigh Carbon Community College.

On Friday, he pitched another gem for the Carbon Monarchs legion baseball team. Marykwas allowed just three hits and one run in six innings as the Monarchs defeated Emmaus, 9-1, at Emmaus Community Park in a Lehigh Valley Legion contest.

“I felt good,” said Marykwas, a 2018 Jim Thorpe graduate. “I was locating my pitches well. My curveball was breaking well and so was my slider.”

Marykwas also pitched a shutout against Lower Mac earlier in the season. He’s been one of the leaders for head coach Donnie Rehrig’s pitching staff this summer.

“I would say the top end of our rotation is pretty solid,” Rehrig said. “In the middle of the rotation, I think we have some guys that can compete. So I think pitching right now is going to be our strength.

“I think when we have everyone here, I think we’ll be pretty solid defensively.”

The offense gave Marykwas some breathing room in the fourth inning. After holding a 1-0 lead early, the Monarchs (3-1) scored five in the top of the fourth to put the game out of reach.

With the bases loaded, Michael Bozilesky scored when Emmaus pitcher Steven Doddy was called for a balk. Two batters later, Jared Joyce singled to left field, scoring two more runs for the Monarchs and increasing their lead to 4-0.

Ian Hubbard then recorded a sacrifice fly, and Noah Snisky scored on an RBI single from Zach Searfoss.

“It really does boost my confidence up when we got some runs under our belt,” Marykwas said.

“We have good pitching, and we also hit very well. I think we’re overall a great team. We have good chemistry. We’ve been playing together for years now.”

Emmaus got on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the frame on an RBI double from Zane Cook.

The Monarchs would get that run back in the sixth when pinch-hitter Jared Marykwas ripped a single to left field that scored Jake Taras.

Joyce, who finished with four RBIs, blasted a two-run double in the top of the seventh to close out the Monarchs’ scoring.

“Overall, I think we’re playing good baseball,” Rehrig said. “We have some things we can clean up defensively. We have guys playing out of position.

“But for the most part, these guys are coming every day, playing hard, hustling and picking each other up.”

OPPORTUNITIES SQUANDERED

... Things could have been even worse for Emmaus, as the Monarchs left 11 runners on base. Carbon left the bases loaded in the fourth inning when Logan Pagotto grounded out for a fielder’s choice force out at third base.

UP NEXT

... The Monarchs (3-1) next face Allentown on Monday at Lehighton High School. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

Monarchs 001 501 2 - 9 10 4

Emmaus 000 100 0 - 1 3 2

Marykwas, Taras (7) and Hubbard; Lehman, Doddy (4) and Ward. W - Marykwas. L - Lehman.