MINERSVILLE – Just when it seemed like Marian had stolen the spotlight in a crucial late-season Schuylkill League Division II baseball showdown, Minersville found some thunder and lightning in its bats.

The Colts had pulled off a daring play in the top of the fourth, attempting to steal home. The play drew a balk, giving Marian a 2-0 lead — a big advantage with Cole Jordan cruising on the mound.

But patience paid off for the Battlin’ Miners, who erupted for four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Left-hander Logan Hutsko then took over, shutting down Marian in the final two innings to secure a 4-3 comeback victory.

Minersville never panicked, according to Hutsko.

“I didn’t feel like myself today — I just had to keep battling,” said the senior, who may have pitched in his final home game.

His manager, Shane Spotts, agreed.

“He was a bulldog at times out there,” Spotts said. “He’s been in a lot of big moments throughout his high school career, and I was proud of him.”

The game was largely a duel between two solid pitchers.

Marian struck first in the top of the first. Rocco Griguoli singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on Jimmy Conners’ two-out RBI single to right-center.

Jordan, who took the loss, was dominant early. He didn’t allow a hit through two innings and held the Miners at bay until the fifth, when he began to tighten up with back stiffness.

Minersville got its first hit in the third — a single by freshman Jason Correll. But the Colts turned a line-drive double play when Brayden Grant snagged a sharp liner off the bat of Hutsko and doubled off Correll at first.

In the fourth, Easton Schultz walked but was caught stealing on a hit-and-run. A.J. Halford followed with a 365-foot double to left-center but was stranded.

Marian added its second run in the top of the fourth. Cole DeFrancesco singled, stole second, reached third on a wild pitch and broke for home on a steal attempt. Hutsko balked on the play, allowing the run to score.

“I kept watching (Hutsko), and he was deliberate in his windup — that’s why I thought we could steal,” said Marian manager John “Pilsey” Petrilyak. “I just felt at that time we needed to score another run. It sure looked big for us.”

But things unraveled for Marian in the bottom of the fifth. Though Grant reached on a single, he was doubled off when second baseman Schultz started a double play, flipping to Grant Sukeena, who fired to first.

“That was a big help,” Hutsko said. “We have a pretty good infield and outfield, so anytime you get a double play, it helps me.”

The Miners followed with their breakthrough inning. Sukeena was hit by a pitch, and with one out, Logan Rizzardi walked. Correll singled in a run, and Hutsko helped himself with a two-run single. Nolan Plesnarski added an RBI single to give Minersville a 4-2 lead.

“We were kind of on the cusp,” Spotts said. “We got a lot of nice hits in that inning. The kids weren’t trying to do too much. We scored enough to win. That’s a good ball club — we may see them down the road.”

Marian answered in the sixth. Conners singled, and DeFrancesco followed with an RBI single. Grant bunted DeFrancesco to second, putting the tying run in scoring position. But Hutsko induced a groundout and a strikeout to escape trouble.

The senior lefty closed the door in the seventh, retiring the final three batters in order to keep the Miners in contention for the Schuylkill League tournament.

“There are a bunch of different scenarios,” Spotts said. “We have to take care of our business before we can look any further.”

PLAYOFF PICTURE ... The Division II playoff race remains tight. Shenandoah Valley has clinched a spot. Marian, Minersville and Nativity BVM are still alive. If Marian beats Mahanoy Area and Minersville loses to Williams Valley while Nativity wins, a three-way tie could emerge.

WEB GEMS ... Marian turned two double plays — one by Jordan on the mound and another by shortstop Mason Bauder. Minersville’s middle infield of Schultz and Sukeena also turned two.

HIT PARADE ... Marian finished with eight hits. Bauder, Conners and DeFrancesco had two each, while Griguoli added one. Minersville had seven hits: Plesnarski doubled and singled, Halford doubled, Correll had two singles, and Hutsko singled.

Marian 100 101 0 - 3 8 1

Minersville 000 040 x - 4 7 0

Jordan, Grier and Labenburg; Hutsko and Halford. W - Hutsko. L - Jordan.

Records: Marian (9-10; 7-6); Minersville (11-8; 8-5).