SCHUYLKILL HAVEN – As they say in baseball lingo, he hit it on the screws.

Schuylkill Haven’s first baseman Shaun Davis drove a fastball on the screws to left centerfield in a scoreless Schuylkill Baseball League Division II-III crossover game against Marian.

Davis took Colt starting pitcher Adam Kaslicka for a two-run homer that ignited the Hurricanes to a 10-0 win in five innings Wednesday afternoon. The home run was one of three extra-base hits the winners produced in an eight-hit attack.

As much as Davis was the big knocker, there was veteran southpaw Brandon Schaffer, who had command of most of his pitches as he allowed but four hits to the Colts; three coming to Alex Kubishin who had two singles and a double. The only other hit was a single from Brandon Cann.

“Schaffer’s as good as advertised,” said Marian skipper Tony Radocha about the Potomac State-bound hurler. “He was the pitcher of the year last year, and there’s a reason.”

The loss was the first in league play for the Colts (4-2, 4-1). Haven, which lost for the first time this season on Saturday at Schuylkill Valley, goes to 4-0 in the league, 8-1 overall.

Marian had a hard time bunching hits, and Kubishin was the lone hitter to advance to second and third in two of his three at bats. In the first, Kubishin singled and stole second, and after a walk to Max Nolter, Schaeffer reared back and sent the next two batters down in order. Marian went silent in the second, and before Kubishin beat out an infield roller for the second hit in the third.

“At this point in (Schaffer’s) high school career, you would be surprised if he didn’t give you a good effort,” offered veteran Haven manager Scott Buffington, now in his 41st year. “You know he’s going to battle no matter who he is pitching against.”

When Davis’ shot rocketed out of the park, it seemed to fuel the ‘Canes approach. The eventual winners went on to score five more runs in the inning, then put this contest in the books in the fifth with a three-run uprising. Two errors then a Jake Luckenbill double produced two runs before Josh Kaylan lined a hot shot single towards short plating the winning Mercy Rule run.

“Right now our magic number is 10,” said Radocha about what his team needs to do to qualify for a postseason tournament spot. “We’re young, very young. We start two seniors, four juniors, sophomores, freshmen, that’s where we are right now.”

KICKING IT AROUND … Radocha wasn’t pleased with his team’s defense, which committed five errors. Haven had only one error and that was on a catchers interference when Nolter’s bat hit the receiver’s glove.

JUMPING OUT … “The ball doesn’t travel well to left center, but that ball was hit. It got out of here in a hurry,” said Buffington of Davis’ scorcher.

SHORT ARMS … Marian couldn’t throw its ace Ryan Cappel, who threw 50 pitches in a snowed out game the day before.

MILLER TIME …

Mason Miller may have given the Colts a shot in the arm. The sophomore righthander came on and did a solid job in a relief role.

Marian 000 00 – 0 4 5

Sch. Haven 070 03 – 10 8 1

Kaslicka, Murphy and Nolter; Schaeffer and Clauser. W – Schaeffer L - Kaslicka