Mars' Trevor Heim (2) can't beat the force play at second base as Chartiers Valley's Caysen O'Keefe gets to the bag first. The Planets were defeated, 6-1, in the WPIAL Class AAA baseball semifinals Tuesday.

ROBINSON TWP — It's the game within the game — pitcher vs. hitter in a battle to get ahead in the count.

But with Chartiers Valley's Cole Horew firing a bevy of strikes, that was a near-impossible task for Mars' lineup.

Horew struck out three, did not walk a batter and surrendered just four singles as the Colts galloped to a 6-1 WPIAL Class AAA baseball semifinal win Tuesday afternoon at the Burkett Athletic Complex.

Horew worked 1-2-3 innings in the second, fifth and sixth frames. Only a fielding error kept him from doing so in the seventh.

“We wanted our hitters to work the count with him, but he got out in front of so many of them 0-1 and 0-2,” said Mars coach Andy Bednar. “When we put the ball on the ground, they (Colts) had trouble fielding them, but we hit a lot of pop-ups and that was disappointing.”

Chartiers Valley's suspect defense kept Horew from pitching a shutout. Two fielding errors in the bottom of the fourth led to an unearned run, with Jack Anderson scoring on the second miscue. The run shrunk the Colt lead to 3-1, but Mars left the bases loaded when Mike Colonello was forced out at home plate and Isaiah Johnson grounded out to end the inning. The Planets were then held without a hit in the final three frames.

“Cole has a four-seam fastball and a really good slider,” said Colts' coach Jim Jaskowski. “This atmosphere, in a big game, is not new to him. He's a confident pitcher and it showed today.”

Horew also starred at the plate, collecting three hits, including a triple. He scored the first of his two runs on Konnor Corchado's base hit in the top of the first for a quick 1-0 lead. Horew's three-base hit led off the third frame and he later scored when Tristen Zimmer singled him home.

Dave Anderson started on the mound for the Planets (14-6), but was unable to find the edge he had for much of the regular season. He was relieved by Dylan Rotz after allowing three runs on five hits with one strikeout and three walks in four-plus innings.

“He struggled getting his breaking ball over the plate,” Bednar said. “In every inning he pitched, the leadoff man reached base. Against a good team, that spells disaster.”

Rotz was touched up for three runs (two earned) in his three innings.

Corchado joined Horew with three hits in the game for the Colts (15-7).

Mars will face Knoch in next week's consolation game with a berth in the PIAA playoffs on the line.

“We talk to the team about different phases of the season, regular season and postseason,” Bednar said. “Now we are in a position to make the state playoffs. I don't think we'll have any trouble with the guys being motivated.”

Chartiers Valley 102 002 1 — 6 11 3

Mars 000 100 0 — 1 4 1

W: Cole Horew 7 IP (3K, 0BB). L: Dave Anderson 4+ IP (1K, 3BB).

Chartiers Valley (15-7): Brady Gulakowski 1B RBI, Dante Panucci 2B R RBI, Cole Horew 2-1B 3B 2R RBI, Tristen Zimmer 1B RBI, Konnor Corchado 3-1B R RBI, Steve Alauzen 1B RBI, Zack Pilowssoph 1B R, Reed Bruggeman R

Mars (14-6): Brandon Wetherholt 1B, Jack Anderson 2-1B R, Nico Romano 1B

Next: Knoch vs. Mars, WPIAL Class AAA consolation game, TBD