It was right there for the taking.

Marian was in Tri-Valley’s kitchen. It just needed to get one more hit, and one more defensive play to hand the Bulldogs their first league loss of the season.

But there is no margin for error when playing Tri-Valley, which appears to be the team to beat in the Schuylkill Baseball League Division II. This nine has pitching, hitting and seldom beats itself.

Tri-Valley proved that Wednesday, scoring four runs in the top of the seventh to pull away for a 7-2 victory over the Colts.

The win improves Tri-Valley’s early season to 4-0 in the league and 6-1 overall. Meanwhile, Marian falls to 1-3 in the circuit and 5-4 overall.

What this outcome came down to was pure execution. With the Bulldogs feeling the Marian heat, the eventual winners found a way to pull out the win.

Knotted at 2-2 in the top of the fifth, Tri-Valley pushed across an unearned run when pinch hitter Levi Murray reached first on a two-out error, then scooted around the bases and scored thanks to Braxton Schwartz’s double. Schwartz belted a fastball offering from Mason Gibson, who was stellar on the bump throughout his six innings for the Colts.

“We do the little things right, and that’s all you can ask for,” said Tri-Valley manager Jordan Lehman.

That showed again in the top of the seventh when the Bulldogs scored four times to secure the win. They strung together three hits, with the big blow a Jonas McGrath two-run double.

Before that uprising, the Bulldogs scratched out solo runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Tri-Valley had but three hits total in those rallies. All of Marian’s scoring came in the fourth. The Colts’ tying rally got started when Chase Patrilyak walked and Joey Walko singled to center. Both Marian runners came around to score on a rare Tri-Valley error to make it 2-2.

Gibson was tough for the Colts, and on most days would have chalked up a “W” but Tri-Valley found ways to hit in the clutch. During his stint, Gibson allowed but seven hits, striking out four, giving up four runs, three of which were unearned.

“This is driving me crazy,” said veteran Marian skipper Tony Radocha. “You know, we’re a good team. We’re not doing the little things at the opportune times, and it’s really hurting us.

“We have guys in scoring position, and we need to put the ball in play more. This is just pure fundamental baseball ... that’s all it comes down to.”

MAKING PLAYS … There was some standout play in the field by both sides. Tri-Valley leftfielder Jake Tietsworth snagged a hard-hit liner off the bat of Walko in the sixth. Marian first baseman Mike Gelatko went to his right to field a grounder, and Gibson did a perfect job of covering the bag for an out at first.

FIGURES DON’T LIE … Gibson threw 84 pitches in six innings, 59 for strikes.

AT THE PLATE … Aidan Nye, Brody Smith and Schwartz all had two hits for Tri-Valley. Jake Bobish and Walko both singled for Marian.

Tri-Valley 001 110 4 - 7 10 1

Marian 000 200 0 - 2 2 5

Leonard, Miller (5) and Nye; Gibson, Hinkle (7) and Walko. W - Leonard. L - Gibson.