FREEPORT — Freeport has been riding a hot streak in the latter half of the Eagle County Baseball season.

With a possible championship looming in the distance, the squad doesn't want to see it end.

Freeport used a pair of Jordan Moore two-run singles and the complete-game, four-hit performance by Kevin Rayburn to hold off Mars II 4-2 in Game 1 of the league's championship series Saturday at Swartz Field.

"We've continued what we did at the end of the season," said Freeport manager Wayne Greiser. "We're getting the big hit and the pitchers are throwing strikes."

Rayburn limited Mars II to just four hits with five strikeouts and four walks although Mars II did send the go-ahead run to the plate in the seventh inning.

"We rode him this season," said Greiser of Rayburn. "I pitched him Mondays and Fridays normally. Now, with a couple of guys back, we've got a couple more arms.

"We gave him the ball (Saturday) and knew that he would throw strikes. He keeps us in the game. Mars has some good arms, so we're not expecting a lot of hits," Greiser added.

Mars II (20-16-1) had jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Wes Hillegas led off with a double, moved to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Josh Rape.

Chet Shaffer would get a two-out single and Derec Ciafre followed with a walk, but Phil Double struck out to end the threat.

Freeport (26-11-1) answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame when, with one out, James Connelly singled and Mike Totos and Jeff Kauffman each drew a walk to load the bases.

Moore then smacked a two-run single to make it 2-1. After a fielder's choice advanced the runners to second and third, Hillegas induced Luke Westerman to ground out to avoid any more damage.

In the fourth inning, Mars II received a pair of one-out walks to Hillegas and Rape, but could not cash in when Ryan Leonberg struck out and Shaffer grounded out.

"For part of the season, the first half of the order hit and then in the second half, the bottom of the order hit," said Rape, also the Mars II manager. "We've been getting runners in scoring position, but not able to get the clutch hits."

Freeport extended its lead to 4-1 when Dan Penberthy opened with a walk and Connelly followed with a single. A sacrifice bunt by Totos moved the runners into scoring position before Moore laced another two-run single.

Walks to Ryan Clark and Westerman loaded the bases, but Hillegas got Cy Haponski to ground out.

Mars has just 10 hits over its past three games and 14 over four games, but the team did score Game 3 and Game 4 semifinal victories over Mars I with a combined six hits to reach the championship final.

It almost pulled off some late heroics Saturday when Hillegas doubled to open the seventh and Rape reached on an error to bring the tying run to the plate.

Leonberg's groundout plated Mars' second run, then Shaffer drilled a deep fly ball that Aaron Brown was in perfect position to catch for the second out.

Derec Ciafre singled on a two-strike pitch to bring up Double, who flied out to right field to end the game.

"We knew it would be a close game. We know the whole series will be tight," said Rape. "We didn't come to play (Saturday). Everyone seemed dull. We needed a little bit of life out of everyone."

Mars II 010 000 1 — 2 4 0Freeport 020 200 x — 4 5 1W: Kevin Rayburn (7 IP) 5 K, 4 BB.

L: Wes Hillegas (4 IP) 4 K, 5 BB.

Mars II (20-16-1): Wes Hillegas 2-2B; Josh Rape RBI; Ryan Leonberg RBI; Chet Shaffer 1B; Derec Ciafre 1B

Freeport (26-11-1): James Connelly 2-1B; Jeff Kauffman 1B; Jordan Moore 2-1B, 4 RBI

Today: Freeport at Mars II (Callery Field), 6 p.m.