The Mars baseball team stayed in the WPIAL playoff race, thanks to some timely hitting.

The Planets got two singles and three RBI from Anthony Ciafre, and pitcher Lee Lawver picked up the win as Mars toppled New Castle 11-7 Wednesday afternoon.

Lawver struck out one and walked eight in four innings, but he lasted long enough to get the victory.

Mars (8-8, 5-4), now in third place in the section, will host Blackhawk today in another big section matchup.

In other games:

• Brandon Bonzo and Zach Wheeler each tallied three hits as Moniteau clubbed Rocky Grove, 14-3.

The Warriors scored at least four runs in three different innings.

• Stush Antoszyk doubled and singled, but Knoch fell to Blackhawk 13-3 in six innings.

• Garrett Molloy homered as Grove City nearly upended undefeated Hickory in a 4-3 loss

Mars 243 101 0—11 11 2New Castle 211 030 0— 7 7 3W: Lee Lawver 4 IP (1 K, 8 BB).

L: Surgenovic 3 IP (1 K, 0 BB).

Mars (8-8, 5-4): Anthony Ciafre 2-1B, 3-RBI; Luke Gruber 2-1B; Lawver 2-1B; Andrew Rush 2B, 2-RBI

New Castle (8-7, 5-5): Kirkwood 2-1B; Surgenovic 2-1B

Today: Blackhawk at Mars

Moniteau 005 040 5—14 14 3Rocky Grove 010 010 1— 3 8 3W: Dakota Campbell 7IP (6 K, 1 BB).

L: Bell 2IP (1 K, 1 BB).

Moniteau (2-10): Brandon Bonzo 3-1B, Zach Wheeler 2-1B 2B, Dakota Campbell 2-2B, Josh Loos 1B 2B

Rocky Grove: Bell 2-1B 2B

Today: Moniteau at North Clarion

Knoch 001 020 x— 3 7 2Blackhawk 115 051 x—13 13 1W: Ben Rawding 6 IP (7 K, 4 BB).

L: Dave Govan 2⅓ IP (1 K, 4 BB).

Knoch (8-7, 4-6): Stush Antoszyk 2B, 1B

Blackhawk (9-4, 6-2): Austin Wulf 2-1B, HR

Today: Highlands at Knoch

Grove City 000 201 0—3 7 1Hickory 000 003 1—4 8 4No outs when winning run scoredW: Tyler Armstrong 7 IP (9 K, 0 BB).

L: Jim McConnell 6 IP (7 K, 6 BB).

Grove City (5-9, 3-5): Garrett Molloy HR; Tyler Mosser 2-1B; Casey Shay 1B, 2-RBI

Hickory (8-0): Lucas Gurrera 2-1B; RyanSzabo 1B, 2B

Today: Grove City at Franklin

Maura McCaslin struck out 12 batters and allowed two hits as Moniteau blanked Rocky Grove 4-0.In other action:• Lauren Snyder had a triple, double and two singles to lead a 13-hit attack as A-C Valley defeated Clarion-Limestone, 9-7, Tuesday.<B>Moniteau 003 100 0—4 6 0Rocky Grove 000 000 x—0 2 1W:</B> Maura McCaslin 7 IP (12 K, 2 BB). <B>L:</B> Lowry 7 IP (8 K, 1 BB).<B>Moniteau (9-1, 7-1):</B> Alex Guercio 3B, 1B, R, RBI; Ashley Pisor 3B, RBI; Amber Neff 1B, R, RBI; Autumn Neff 1B, 2B, RBI<B>Rocky Grove:</B> Peterson 1B<B>Monday:</B> Keystone at Karns City<B>C.-Limestone 011 200 3—7 14 2A-C Valley 003 150 x—9 13 3W:</B> Karly Kaufman (3 K, 3 BB). <B>L:</B> Krysta Fuller (10 K, 4 BB).<B>Clarion-Limestone:</B> Jade Walker 2-1B, Rachel Callen 3B 3-1B, Steph Lutz 2B 2-1B, Bri Bennett 1B, Heather Clover 1B, Ali Edmonds 1B, Sarah Wolbert 1B, Leah Flickenger 1B<B>A-C Valley (5-6):</B> Lauren Snyder 3B 2B 2-1B, Shannon Bartley 2B 2-1B, Karly Kaufman 3B 1B, Meghan Cratty 1B, Kelli Davis 2-1B, Nicole Wetzel 1B<B>Friday:</B> A-CValley at Clarion