FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — The clock struck midnight for Marian’s baseball team Thursday on the campus of North Schuylkill School District.

The culprit just happened to be a very good team.

Southern Columbia weathered several Marian rallies and used its experience to hold off the Colts in the late innings, earning a 5-3 victory and moving within one win of playing for a PIAA Class 2A championship.

Few would have expected Marian to remain in the game after falling behind 5-0. Its offense was held in check by Southern junior pitcher Levi Everitt, while the Colts’ typically reliable defense committed some uncharacteristic mistakes early.

Still, there was plenty of fight left in the youthful Marian squad. When the Colts finally landed a counterpunch against the Tigers, the outcome looked far from settled. Unfortunately for Marian, it could not overcome the early deficit.

“That’s a quality baseball team, we know they’re young, they’re scrappy,” Southern Columbia manager Mike Myers said.

In the opposite dugout, Marian mentor John “Pilsey” Petrilyak was gracious in defeat.

“That team is going to win the state title ... I believe,” he said before departing for the bus ride home.

The early deficit stemmed from a three-run first inning by the Tigers. Brayden Andrews reached on a walk, advanced after a dropped fly ball and scored on a single by Kole Myers. Andrew Yost followed with a flare to right field that scored Caden Hopper, who had reached on the error. Another Marian error loaded the bases before Andrew Novak delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

“When you get those extra outs, you have to take advantage of the situation,” Myers said. “That gave us a big plus, and we got off to that early lead which helps a pitcher.”

The outlook became even bleaker for Marian when Southern increased its lead to 5-0 in the second inning.

With one out, Andrews drew his second walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Myers single. After Yost walked, Petrilyak called on Cole Jordan to relieve Chase Grier.

“(Cole) came on and stopped the bleeding,” Petrilyak said.

The momentum Southern had built quickly disappeared as Marian mounted a comeback.

In the fourth, the Colts scored three runs to climb back into contention. Rocco Griguoli, Marian’s hottest hitter since returning to the lineup in early May, sparked the rally with a double. Griguoli finished 2-for-2. Noah Bauder walked, and freshman Danny Lemus followed with a bunt single to load the bases.

Jordan drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, before pinch-runner Jason Ashfield scored on Brayden Grant’s two-run double to left field.

Marian continued to threaten, and appeared poised to cut further into the lead in the sixth inning. However, as Frank Sinatra once sang, “Luck Be a Lady Tonight,” some bad fortune intervened.

Lemus singled to open the inning. One out later, Grant was ruled out on a bunt attempt for running inside the first-base line as the throw sailed into right field. Lemus had advanced to third on the play, but was sent back to first. Everitt then escaped the inning with a groundout to end the threat.

“Our kids always had fight, it was an awesome year,” Petrilyak said. “(The loss) will burn for a couple of hours and tomorrow we will start working at it again.”

MOTIVATION ... “It was a great spot for our kids to be in ... next year we go down to single A ... it should propel us I believe,” Petrilyak said.

QUOTE II ... “All of our underclassmen really worked themselves into a (starting) spot ... Danny Lemus, as a freshman, we don’t talk enough about him, he played awesome. I think he was 3-for-3 today,” the Marian skipper said of his team’s growth.

NEVER GIVE UP ... “I hope that’s me in them, I never quit,” Petrilyak said while praising his team’s comeback effort after falling behind 5-0.

TIGERS ARE GOOD ... Southern Columbia’s athletic programs have long been known for success, and this baseball team is no exception. The Tigers feature speed at the top of the lineup, and a promising young catcher in freshman Gavin Richards. Richards framed pitches well and showed poise throughout the game.

NEARLY EQUAL ... Southern out-hit Marian 8-6. Myers led the Tigers with a double, a single and two RBIs. Andrews had two singles. For Marian, Lemus collected three hits. Griguoli singled and doubled, while Grant also doubled. FAREWELL ... Marian bid farewell to seniors Cole Defrancisco, Ethan Labenburg and Jonathan Derr.

Marian 000 300 0 - 3 6 2

Southern Columbia 320 000 x - 5 8 0

Grier, Jordan (2) and Labenburg, Reaman; Everitt and Richards. W - Everitt. L - Grier.

Records: Marian (20-5); Southern Columbia (17-4).