PORTER TOWNSHIP — There’s something enduring about baseball.

No clock. No shortcuts. Just execution, patience and the ability to respond when the moment demands it most.

Marian did exactly that Thursday.

Behind by two runs and down to its final three outs, the Colts rallied for a 7-6 Schuylkill League victory over Williams Valley, scoring six runs over the final three innings to complete one of their most dramatic wins of the season.

The comeback relied on an old-school approach — one Marian coach John “Pilsey” Petrilyak continues to trust.

“Hey they wanted to keep their third baseman back, then we’re going to bunt the ball,” Petrilyak said. “I don’t care what it is, what situation it is, if they are going to give us that (defense), we’re going to take it and make the other team pay.”

The decisive seventh frame began with a single from Jimmy Cannon, his second hit of the game. Jonathan Derr followed with a walk, and freshman Danny Lemus advanced both runners with a bunt single.

Alex Diaz then delivered the key hit, driving a double into the gap to bring home two runs. Moments later, Chase Grier added a well-placed bunt that allowed Lemus to score. Diaz raced home later in the inning to give Marian a 7-5 lead.

Lemus, who entered in relief in the third inning after starter Cole Jordan left with shoulder pain, made the rally stand up.

“I just went out and tried to do my best,” Lemus said. “The guys behind me gave me a lot of support. My fastball was my pitch, but I threw the curve when they weren’t expecting it. It really worked.”

Petrilyak praised the freshman’s performance.

“He is the hardest working player in practice, not that the other kids don’t hustle and work to get better, but he is very special,” Petrilyak said. “He has a future in this game, all he needs is to continue to play and it will come for him. It was unbelievable for a freshman to come in a situation like this.”

Marian took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Cannon singled to right field, scoring Noah Bauder, who had drawn a walk.

However, Williams Valley answered quickly.

The Vikings took a 2-1 advantage behind an RBI single from Fletcher Thompson and a sacrifice fly by Cayden Witmer. They added three more runs in the second inning, highlighted by Thompson’s triple, to extend the lead to 5-1.

“This place has been a curse for us,” Petrilyak said as his team fell behind.

Marian cut into the deficit in the fifth inning. Bauder walked and Roman Bednark singled before Cannon moved both runners into scoring position with a bunt.

Derr followed with a two-run single to make it 5-3.

Still, Williams Valley pitcher Mason Bowser limited further damage, finishing with eight strikeouts.

Petrilyak said his team needed to be more disciplined at the plate.

“... we were free swinging too early. I came and told the kids we were going to take a pitch ... we were helping (Bowser) by keeping his pitch counts down swinging at pitches that were up in the zone.”

That adjustment paid off in the seventh.

Williams Valley threatened in its final at-bat. A walk and a single put runners on base, but Lemus delivered a key pickoff, catching a runner leaning at second.

The Vikings later scored on a sacrifice fly by Gavin Trawitz to make it 7-6 and loaded the bases with two outs, but Lemus ended the game with a strikeout.

The win also reversed an earlier result this season, when Marian lost 9-7 to Williams Valley after giving up a 5-0 lead.

“We went back to old school,” Petrilyak said. “My dad would be very proud of me ... yes it would be a proud moment for my pop.”

LATE HAPPENINGS ... Marian has developed a pattern of late-game success, rallying for wins against both Palmerton and Minersville before Thursday’s comeback.

QUOTABLE I ... “Absolutely a big win; after playing Minersville two days ago and then to come down here where it is so hard to win,” Petrilyak said.

QUOTABLE II ... “We didn’t play a great baseball game today, but to come down here and do it the way we did, says a lot about the (direction) the team is headed,” the Marian coach said.

IT HAS ONLY BEGUN ... The Schuylkill Baseball League Division 2 race tightened further after Schuylkill Haven’s loss to Nativity. Haven, Williams Valley, Shenandoah Valley and Marian are all 6-2.

Marian 100 020 4 - 7 9 5

Williams Vy. 230 000 1 - 6 6 1

Jordan, Lemus (3) and Labenburg; Bowser, Green (6) and Thompson. W - Lemus. L - Green.

Records: Marian (8-3; 6-2); Williams Valley (8-2; 6-2).