FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Marian’s good luck charm was front and center after the Colts stunned District 11 Class 2A favorite Tri-Valley, 1-0, Wednesday afternoon at North Schuylkill’s Robert Wetzel Baseball Field.

Cletus was held in the arms of manager John “Pilsey” Petrilyak as players gathered around him.

“He was with my father-in-law’s for 70 years before he passed away and I bring him with me every game and the kids have fun with him,” Petrilyak said of the plastic monkey replica. “You see he is holding the banana and it never has been eaten.”

Cletus has traveled plenty over the years, but ultimately execution decided the district championship for the Colts.

“Defensively, we played lights out ... we played like we were meant to be in the state (playoffs),” the second-year manager said.

Grier was the center of attention all afternoon. Every pitch drew the crowd’s attention from start to finish. Tri-Valley, known for its hitting and station-to-station offense, never found its rhythm.

Petrilyak was direct in his assessment.

“Grier wasn’t (pitching) well earlier in the year, but when we played Minersville in the playoff he really threw a gem.”

Tri-Valley had dominated Marian sports teams dating to the fall football and volleyball seasons. The Colts lost to Tri-Valley, 3-0, in the District 11 football playoffs. Marian’s volleyball team also fell to the Bulldogs in the postseason, and the softball team lost Tuesday in the District 11 Class 1A championship game.

That changed Wednesday.

Shortstop Roman Bednarek helped end Tri-Valley’s biggest threat in the sixth inning with a key double play that will be remembered for years. Marian’s coaches brought the corner infielders up to cut down the tying run with one out. Bednarek shifted toward second base, fielded a one-hop ground ball cleanly and threw to Jordan at first base for the double play.

“I wanted it hit to me, I wanted to make the play,” Bednarek said. “When I got it and threw to first, I wanted to throw it as fast as I could. I was confident all game long.”

Bauder shared that confidence at third base.

“If I don’t think about it, I’m fine. It’s when I think that gets me in trouble,” Bauder admitted.

Senior left fielder Cole DeFrancesco, who pitched as a sophomore and junior before settling into the outfield this season, called Grier’s performance “lights out.”

DeFrancesco also made a key defensive play tracking down a fly ball near the left-field line.

“The way it came off the bat I had a good look at it, but then it started to drift, but I stayed with it. I was reading it and then it really took off, but the most important thing I caught it.”

The Colts struggled offensively for much of the game. They finished with five hits, all singles, including two infield hits. Rocco Griguoli, Bauder, Lemus and Grant each singled.

Tri-Valley also had five singles. Doyle and Schwalm had two hits apiece, while Jaxson Bruso and Klock added the others.

Doyle kept hitters off balance with a strong curveball, and mixed in a changeup. Grier matched him, relying heavily on his slider throughout the game.

Grier threw 85 pitches, including 59 strikes. Doyle finished with 93 pitches and 60 strikes.