PINE GROVE - It was an uphill climb from the onset on Tuesday evening for Marian in its District 11 1A matchup with rival Nativity.

The Hilltoppers got out to a commanding 8-0 lead through the top of the fifth inning, and while the Colts showed some signs of life later on, they just couldn’t dig themselves out of that hole as Nativity came away with a 9-4 victory.

“Their pitcher threw a great game, especially early,” said Marian head coach Tony Radocha. “They just did a great job of taking advantage of what we gave them and they were able to put the ball in play.

“They got all those runs across early, and then they just went into cruise control. We were able to make some nice adjustments, but it was just a little too late and we ran out of magic there.”

Neither offense could get going in the opening two frames, but then Nativity got hot from the plate, scoring eight runs over the next three innings to get out to the big 8-0 advantage. Nolan Ferhat, Bennett McNamara, Ryan Sickle and Nick Wagner all came through with RBIs during that stretch, with Sickle and McNamara knocking in two runs apiece during the huge four-run fourth inning.

“We made a lot of contact today, and we were working on that a lot at practice coming into this game. We really stressed that this past week,” said Nativity head coach Chris Polm. “The biggest thing we’ve been really telling the guys is when you’re ahead in the count, 2-0, 2-1, 3-0, swing the bat like you’re ahead in the count, and they did that today.”

While the Hilltoppers’ offense kept the pressure on the Colts, Nativity pitcher Justin Sickle kept the pressure off his ball club by dominating the first five innings by not allowing a hit and striking out nine.

However, the Colts were able to get to Sickle in the sixth, starting the inning with four straight hits. Jake Bobish and Lachlan Segedy both knocked in runs, and the Colts also were able to score a run later in the inning on a bases-loaded walk after Sickle departed the game to cut the Nativity deficit to four.

But the Hilltoppers were able to escape the sixth without any further damage to carry an 8-4 lead into the seventh.

Nativity was then able to add an insurance run in the top of the seventh to extend its lead to five and Ferhat, who came into relieve Sickle in the sixth, sat down the Colts in order in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the win.

“Nativity was the better ball club today, and that shows because they’re the team that is moving on,” said Radocha. “But I’m still proud of the way our kids battled. We had a great season. We’re of course sad that it’s over, but we’ll look back on this season with positivity and enjoy the great moments.”

NEXT UP

... Nativity will face Schuylkill League Division II champion Tri-Valley on Friday in the District 11 1A championship game at Schuylkill Haven.

SOLID SEASON

... The Colts ended the season with a 12-9 record, and finished third in the Schuylkill League Division III standings at 8-5.

Nativity 002 420 1 - 9 11 1

Marian 000 013 0 - 4 4 1

Sickle, Ferhat (6) and Eades; Bobish, Gibson (5), Hinkle (6) and Walko. W. Sickle. L. Bobish.