CALLERY — Josh Rape pitched one of his most memorable games Wednesday — and it couldn't have come at a better time.

The Mars II player-manager shut out top-seeded Mars I on four hits in a 2-0 victory at Callery Borough Field one night after his team absorbed a 15-0, 19-hit drubbing in Game 2.

Wednesday's win gives Mars II a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five Eagle County League semifinal series.

Rape struck out nine and walked one. He fanned five of the last six hitters he faced and Mars I sent 23 batters to the plate, just two over the minimum.

"My arm felt more life as the game went on," said Rape. "That's the best I felt all year. My catcher, John Crummy, I have to give him all the credit. He called a great game. He kept the hitters off-balance."

The game was still in doubt until the seventh inning, when Mars II broke through against pitcher Matt Colella.

With one out, Crummy singled and Matt Rovnan drew a walk. Wes Hillegas followed with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead.

After Colella struck out Derec Ciafre, Chet Shaffer laced an double that scored pinch-runner Ryan Ganter, but Hillegas was thrown out at home to end the inning.

Rape closed out the game by striking out Matt Nowaczynski and Mike Bruno before inducing Dan DeMarco to pop out.

"Josh pitched a great game," said Mars I manager Rob Fester. "I give him all the credit in the world. We've had pretty good success against Josh.

"Matt's a good pitcher in his own right. It was a battle of two good pitchers. Their guy just did a little better," he added.

Colella struck out six and walked three while also limiting Mars II to four hits. He walked Brian Hart and surrendered a double to Ryan Leonberg to open the game, but escaped without any damage.

He didn't allow another hit until Crummy's safety in the seventh inning.

"Crummy did a good job getting on and Wes came up with the big hit and Chet's been doing that for us all through the playoffs," said Rape. "As soon as we got someone at second and put Ganter in, I knew we would score."

After Tuesday's blowout loss, Rape was hopeful his team could score early, but that wasn't the case.

"After we won Monday (a 4-2 extra-inning victory), we came out flat Tuesday. We want to try and ride the momentum and score a couple of runs early (today)," Rape said.

Mars I, the defending champion which has reached the finals nine of the past 14 years with seven championships, will try to bounce back.

"We've got to win (today) before we can think about winning two," said Fester. "Our backs are against the wall.

Mars II 000 000 2 — 2 4 0Mars I 000 000 0 — 0 4 1W: Josh Rape (7 IP) 9 K, 1 BB.

L: Matt Colella (7 IP) 6 K, 3 BB.

Mars II (19-15-1): Ryan Leonberg 2B; John Crummy 1B; Wes Hillegas 1B, RBI; Chet Shaffer 2B, RBI

Mars I (26-7): Matt Nowaczynski 1B; Mike Bruno 1B; Paul Westwood 2-1B

Today: Mars I at Mars II, Marburger Field, 6 p.m.