No worries
MARS — Brendan Malone is confident.
The Mars manager has reason to be.
“We're always confident. We're the four-time champions,” Malone said. “Until someone beats us three times in August, we're not nervous at all.”
Mars has won four straight Eagle County League titles and got off to a good start on its fifth with a 5-4 win over rival Mars II in Game 1 of the best-of-five championship series at Marburger Field Friday evening.
Mars staked starting pitcher Jim Devine to a 5-0 lead with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the third inning.
Malone doubled in a run, Dan Penberthy singled home two and Brian Slavicek capped it off with a two-run home run to right.
If Mars wasn't confident before that inning, it sure was after it.
“When you are in the championship series and you get a 5-0 lead with Jimmy Devine, you chalk it up in the win column,” Malone said. “He did great. We expect that from Jimmy. When we throw him out there, we expect to win.”
It wasn't easy, however.
Mars chased Mars II starter Nick Comport after the Slavicek home run, but C.J. Weigand came in and quelled the Mars' bats.
Weigand gave up just one hit in 3 1/3 innings of relief.
“C.J. was absolutely huge tonight,” said Mars II manager Eric King. “I didn't know who I was going to use out of the pen tonight. When C.J. has come out of the pen this year, he's done well, and he pitched extremely well.”
Weigand kept Mars II in the game and allowed for a rally that just fell short.
Mars II scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning against Devine. Alex Ziegler doubled home a run and Tim Geibel and King also had RBIs in the frame.
But Devine settled down, got out of the inning and retired six in a row to end the game.
The two teams played six times during the regular season with Mars winning four.
Mars II won once and the other game ended in a tie.
“We're familiar with each other,” Malone said. “It's a friendly rivalry. We've played each other a ton.”
King said if there wasn't already an incentive to get fired up to play in a championship series, squaring off against Mars spiced things up even more.“This is a big rivalry,” King said. “It definitely makes it easier to get up for these games. Every time we play these guys we give it our best and they give it their best. It's always a good battle when we play these guys.”Game 2 was scheduled for 3:15 p.m. Saturday at Callery.Mars II will turn to Geibel on the mound.Malone smiled when asked who would pitch for Mars Saturday.“We're going with Mr. Rob Fester,” Malone said. “The veteran. Mr. Father Time.”Fester, 48, has a rich history with Mars and with the Eagle County League.He was the Mars manager until Malone took over.Malone said Fester still does his share of managing during games.“It's too hard for me to coach and play at the same time,” Malone said. “So he takes over so I don't have to think about it.“He's 48 and he can still pitch,” Malone added. “We're not just throwing him out there. We expect to win.”Mars II 000 040 0 — 4 5 0Mars 005 000 x — 5 5 1W: Jim Devine 7IP (6K, 1BB). L: Nick Comport 2.2IP (0K, 4BB).Mars II: Alex Ziegler 1B 2B RBI, Eric King RBI, Cullen Hinderliter 1B, John DeWalt 1B, Tim Geibel 1B RBIMars: Ryan Jones 1B, John Tavarez 1B, Brendan Malone 2B RBI, Dan Penberthy 1B 2-RBI, Brian Slavicek HR 2-RBISaturday: Mars at Mars II at Callery, 3:15 p.m.
