ADAMS TWP — Even truly dominant pitching doesn’t always lead to a win.

Mars’ baseball team was on the wrong end of that fact Wednesday afternoon.

Planet starter Dylan Rotz and relievers Will Bednar and Frank Craska combined to pitch seven straight no-hit innings (from the 5th through the 11th) in a meeting with visiting North Hills.

But the game remained tied until the Indians scored the eventual winning run with Jordan Pitchford’s RBI-single in the top of the 12th, handing North Hills a 2-1 victory in a battle between the top two teams in Section 1-5A.

“Our pitching staff has done a great job all year long,” said Mars coach Andy Bednar. “We battled today, but just couldn’t get the big hit.”

The loss dealt a serious blow to the chances of Mars (9-5, 8-2) winning the section title outright. Both of the Planets’ section defeats this season have come against the Indians (14-3, 9-2).

Craska relieved Bednar to start the 11th frame and set North Hills down in order. However, Steven Miller singled to lead off the 12th and moved to second base on Brian Farabaugh’s sacrifice bunt. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Pitchford tallied his team’s fifth and final hit of the game.

Craska escaped the inning without allowing any further damage, inducing Billy Welsh to hit into a double play. But North Hills reliever Garrett Barto retired the Planets in order in the bottom of the inning to cap the victory.

“It’s a shame someone had to lose this game, but I’m glad it wasn’t us,” said North Hills coach Randy Miller, whose Indians are now in the same section with Mars after previously being in separate classes. “We had Mars on our schedule as a non-section game the last four years. Andy (Bednar) is a great coach and he has a strong program.”

The Planets had their chances. In the eighth, they had runners on first and second with two outs, but Barto struck out Will Bednar.

Mars stranded the winning run at second base in the ninth and 11th innings. In between was its best chance.

Craska came to the plate in the 10th frame with the bases loaded and only one out. He hit the ball sharply, but to second baseman Miller, who began a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.

During Mars’ pitching trio’s seven no-hit frames, Planet hurlers had only to work around a pair of walks and one hit-batsman.

“I just tried to keep the kids in a positive state of mind,” said Coach Miller. “As long as you keep hitting, good things will happen.”

Mars encountered an old nemesis in the bottom of the first frame. Junior pitcher Joey Pusateri, who had shut out the Planets 3-0 in mid-April, was on the mound.

“I don’t like throwing a kid twice against the same team in one season,” said Miller, “but with the success he had against Mars the first time and the way he’s been dealing, we went with him.”

Pusateri pitched five shutout innings and was leading 1-0 when Mars tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. He hit Brandon Wetherholt with a pitch to start the inning. Spencer Croskey moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Jack Anderson drew a walk before Craska singled home Wetherholt.

Pusateri pitched seven innings with seven strikeouts and two walks.

“Early in the count, we didn’t want to swing at his pitches, we wanted to swing at our pitches,” Andy Bednar said. “I thought we hit him better today, but didn’t have much to show for it.”

Mars has already secured a WPIAL playoff berth. Whether it wins the section outright, shares it, or settles for second or third place will be determined in the coming days. The Planets play at Fox Chapel today and host Hampton Monday.

“We have to quickly forget about this one and get ready for Fox Chapel,” said Andy Bednar.

North Hills 000 100 000 001 — 2 5 1

Mars 000 001 000 000 — 1 7 2

W: Garrett Barto 5 IP (5K, 3BB). L: Frank Craska 2 IP (0K, 0BB).

North Hills (14-3, 9-2): Anthony Ruggieri 2B, Garrett Barto 2B, Steven Miller 1B 2R, Jordan Pitchford 2-1B RBI

Mars (9-5, 8-2): Brandon Wetherholt 1B 2B R, Spencer Croskey 1B, Dylan Rotz 2B, Frank Craska 1B RBI, Evan Homison 2B, Joe Craska 1B

Today: Mars at Fox Chapel