Cranberry's Jake Clinefelter (54) tries beating the throw to Mars catch Joe Sibeto during his team's 6-1 win Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Game 3 of the Eagle County Finals at Mars Boro Field. Cranberry has a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 series.

MARS — When it comes to the Eagle County League, there is no better time to be playing your best baseball than right now.

Considering the opponent, Cranberry Township turned in arguably its most complete victory of the season in Game 3 of the championship series against Mars Tuesday evening.

The team's offense generated 16 hits, including home runs from Brandon Pouch and Dave Coradi, and pitcher Branden Schlick gave up just three hits in going the distance in a 6-1 win at Mars Boro Field.

Cranberry now holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series entering Wednesday's Game 4 at North Boundary Park.

Cranberry tallied at least one hit in every inning and managed at least two hits in five of seven frames.

Pouch provided the first spark with a solo home run in the top of the first inning.

Mars had a chance to post a big inning against Schlick in the bottom of the first, but came away with just one run.

With one out, he issued back-to-back walks to Brendan Malone and Dan Penberthy and both runners advanced on a balk.

Schlick struck out Jim Musgrave before giving up an RBI-single to Garett Goslaw. Mars stranded runners at second and third base when Joe Sibeto grounded out.

“He had a rocky start,” Coradi, Cranberry's center fielder, said of Schlick, “but he got into a rhythm after that and calmed down. He built off his own momentum and what we were doing at the plate.”

Mars tried to break that rhythm in the bottom of the fifth. Trailing 4-1, the hosts received a double from Matt Johnston, and a pair of walks to Rick Krist and Penberthy to load the bases with two outs.

For the second time in the game, Schlick came up with a huge strikeout of Musgrave and Cranberry held onto its three-run lead.

“That was big,” said Cranberry player/manager Bill Clinefelter. “Branden stepped up today after a not-so-stellar performance against Mars II in the semifinals. He saw what Dave (Cricks, two-hit shutout on Monday) did for us in Game 2 and wanted to match that.”

“I thought we hit the ball better today,” said Malone, Mars' player/manager. “Their defense made some nice plays. We need those balls to start falling in.”

Mars starter Nick Gross pitched all seven innings. He surrendered the home run to Coradi in the top of the seventh.

“We didn't give him much help offensively,” said Malone. “That makes it tough on a pitcher.”

Every player in Cranberry's lineup had at least one hit. Three players — Joel Shaffer, Pouch and Steve Anderson — tallied three hits.

“It seems like we have momentum right now no matter who the (opposing) pitcher is,” said Coradi. “We're putting the ball in play and feeding off each other.”

Cranberry Twp. 110 020 2 — 6 16 0

Mars 100 000 0 — 1 3 0

W: Branden Schlick 7 IP (6K, 4BB). L: Nick Gross 7 IP (1K, 1BB).

Cranberry Township (26-4-1): John Brittner 2B R, Joel Shaffer 2-1B 2B R RBI, Brandon Pouch 2-1B HR, Reed Tomlinson 1B, Dave Coradi HR, Steve Anderson 3-1B 2R, Ben Murray 2-1B, Ian Steigner 1B 2RBI, Bill Clinefelter 1B

Mars (28-4-1): Brendan Malone R, Garett Goslaw 1B RBI, Joe Sibeto 1B, Matt Johnston 2B

Wednesday: Mars vs. Cranberry Township, Game 4 at North Boundary Park, 6 p.m.