Bob Steiner knew his team would have good pitching.

But it's his team's hitting that is opening eyes around the Butler County American Legion baseball league.

Mars currently sports two of the top five hitters in the circuit.

Ryan Lynch is second in the field with a .528 mark and Charlie Jaicks is third at .522.

Weston Hillegas' .465 effort and Adam Spithaler's .452 average adds depth to the BCAL's most potent lineup.

Mars' top three pitchers — Hillegas, Chip Hasek and Alex Clark — are thriving off all of the run support they have received.

Mars (12-1) is averaging 11.2 runs per game and has scored in double figures in nine of its 13 contests this season.

"It definitely helps taking the mound knowing you're going to get that kind of run support," Hillegas said.

The squad's lone defeat was a 3-0 loss to Butler City in the season opener.

"It's always an unknown how your season is going to go in this league," said Steiner, in his 11th season as the team's coach. "The (Mars) high school team was right around .500 this season and we thought we could have a good legion team."

Mars is giving up just 2.5 runs per game.

"We knew we'd be in good shape with pitching, but the hitting has been such a big surprise," Steiner added. "Plus, we're playing well defensively. You put all three of those together and you've got yourself a pretty good team."

"I would have to say this is the most balanced legion team I've been on," said Hillegas, a right-hander who plans on joining Penn State's club team as a freshman. "We've all played together in high school, too."

"Every member of this team has contributed this season in one way or another," said Steiner.

Jaicks, who is playing his first year of legion baseball in his final year of eligibility, has added a key spark to the team.

Along with his torrid batting pace, Jaicks has seen 11 of his 24 hits go for extra bases — a total that includes six doubles, four triples and a home run.

Not surprisingly, Steiner has placed Jaicks in the clean-up spot in the batting order.

"At the end of the high school season, I got in a bit of a groove," said Jaicks, who is headed to Allegheny College to play basketball. "And I've just been able to keep that going. Sometimes, the ball just looks so much bigger coming in."

Jaicks has logged a few innings on the mound for Mars, but most of his time in the field is spent at shortstop.

"That's where I played back when I first went out for baseball in second grade. It's my natural position. And I thank Coach Steiner for giving me the chance to play there," he said.

Mars has not advanced to the regional tournament since 2003. To get there this season, the team would have to either win the BCAL's regular season title or the league's postseason championship.

Of course, winning both is not out of the question for this group.

"I think we can go as far as we believe we can," Jaicks said. "We just have to put our hearts into it."