HARLEYSVILLE – Like a bolt of lightning, it took one jolt to knock Marian’s baseball team to its knees.

A small miscue led to a big inning, and the Colts were never able to recover as they dropped a 7-2 decision to Dock Mennonite in the opening round of the PIAA State Baseball Tournament on Monday.

“We couldn’t get out of our own way there and find a way to close the door,” said Marian manager Tony Radocha about the Pioneers’ five-run second inning. “They took advantage of our miscues; it was something we’ve been prone to all season.

“That’s the ball game when you really look at it. They’re an aggressive, well-coached team. At this time of the year, they’re all good teams, and good teams take advantage of mistakes you make.”

All the damage in the frame came with two outs and no one on base. Starting and losing pitcher Brian Hinkle seemed in command in the home second. He had tossed all of five pitches to retire the inning’s first two batters.

Then on the sixth pitch, a ball dribbled in front of home plate. The dribbler was cleanly fielded, but errantly thrown to first.

The implosion was about to commence.

The Pioneers (20-2) seized the moment. Corey Brennan swatted a run scoring double, and nine-hitter Josh Macio singled in Brennan. Before the outburst was complete, winning pitcher Nate Lapp, Brayden Kratz and Sammy Laux also had picked up hits.

“When you face a guy like Hinkle, who is always throwing strikes and changing up speeds, you have to take advantage of your opportunities,” said Dock Mennonite manager and former Philadelphia Phillies player Erik Kratz. “I have so much confidence in our kids to find a way. It’s not anything that I have done.”

Kratz pointed out that most of his players are multiple sport athletes.

“They’ve done it all from basketball to soccer,” he said. “They come out and play hard ... they’re athletic. I’m excited I can come here and have the opportunity to coach them and cheer them on.”

Once Lapp got the lead, he just seemed to take control on the bump. He would get lifted after throwing 104 pitches in 5 and two-thirds innings, striking out 10 and allowing six hits.

After the District 1 champs scored two more runs in the home fourth to make it 7-0, Marian tried to battle back, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the fifth.

Hinkle collected his third single of the game to get things started for the Colts. He came home when Chase Petrilyak uncorked a double. Petrilyak eventually scored on a wild pitch. But it proved too little, too late as the Colts were retired without a threat in their final two at-bats.

“When you look back on it, these seniors lost their freshman year to COVID,” Radocha said thinking back. “Then they had to go through the ups-and-downs rebuilding a program after losing some tremendous senior talent that season. For them to culminated it with a district championship, and a berth in the state tournament, is an outstanding accomplishment. Hats off to them.”

TOUGH OPPONENT

… The Pioneers were very well-schooled, and made few mental errors.

COLTS HITS ... Marian’s top of the order was hot, led by Hinkle’s three singles in four trips, and Petrilyak’s double and single. Jake Bobish had the only other Marian hit.

MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

… Methacton High School is tucked away from all major access roads, and it was not a great place for fans to have to find.

A SALUTE

… Radocha praised his coaching staff, and also the departing seniors - Matt Martin, Joe Walko, Andrew Baran, Chris Chambers, Rawlin Melendez, Bobish and Petrilyak.

KRATZ CAN YAK

… Erick Kratz kept his team alive, and the men in blue on their toes all day long as he chattered from his third base coaching box the entire game.

Marian 000 020 0 – 2 6 1

Dock 050 200 x – 7 10 0

Hinkle, Bobish (4) and Walko; Lapp, Kratz (6) and Laux. W – Lapp L – Hinkle.