FREEPORT — It wasn’t the opening to the game that Jarrett Heilman is used to. It certainly wasn’t the one Freeport’s pitcher was hoping for.

In Thursday’s Butler County Area Baseball League loser’s bracket final against Cranberry Township at Market Street Park, Heilman allowed the first two batters of the game to reach base.

Evan Schneider drilled a double and Clayton Blucher singled. Soon after, Schneider scored on a double steal.

Heilman found his form, however, striking out the side with no further damage. It began a stretch of 19 straight batters retired by the Mercyhurst University recruit in Freeport’s 3-1 victory that sends it to Saturday’s championship round at Pine Richland.

“The top of Cranberry’s order, I think it’s the best in the league,” Heilman said after his effort, which included 14 strikeouts and no walks. “Those first two hits, it rattled me inside a little. But as a pitcher, you just have to stay composed, take a timeout and focus on the next batter.”

Heilman’s streak of consecutive outs was broken when Blucher singled with one out in the seventh. The former closed in style, striking out Jacob Coon and Matt Stanick to end the game.

“I’ve seen games when Jarrett looks really good for a while, but other innings, not so much,” said Freeport manager Joe Hotalski. “But this is definitely one of his best games all year. He was phenomenal.”

“I tip my cap to him,” said Cranberry manager Larry Stelitano. “He threw strikes and we didn’t respond the way we’re capable of.”

Freeport (14-2-1) needed Heilman’s dominating performance because after scoring three runs in the first inning off Cranberry starter Michael Waitlevertch, it was unable to score on reliever Matt Lewis.

The final six innings of the game belonged to the pitchers, though they kept their opponent off the scoreboard with different styles.

Heilman is a power pitcher. His fastball snaps when it hits catcher Garrett Ben’s mitt and that velocity makes it even more difficult to hit his off-speed pitches. Lewis does not possess overwhelming stuff, but he was just as effective in shutting out Freeport over the final five innings.

Lewis set Freeport down in order via strikeout in the second and finished the game with six strikeouts, two walks and allowed just two hits.

“Pretty much everything he threw was off-speed, but he pounded the zone and we didn’t adjust,” said Heilman, who was 0-for-2 at the plate against Lewis.

Cranberry’s 1-0 lead soon melted away in a frustrating bottom of the first inning. Waitlevertch hit Matt Grove with a pitch, but was on the verge of getting out of the frame unscathed. But with two outs, three walks and two hit-batsmen followed. Austin Kepes and Ben were both credited with driving in a run after getting hit by a pitch and Heilman walked to bring in a third run.

“(Waitlevertch) did well against Freeport earlier in the season, but this just wasn’t his day,” Stelitano said. “I feel bad because I know he’s a competitor.”

Pine Richland (13-3) is unbeaten in the tournament. Freeport will have to beat PR twice to claim the title.

Cranberry finishes the season with a record of 12-6.

“There was a time when I didn’t think we’d get to touch the field this season (because of the virus),” said Stelitano. “We ended up playing 18 games.

“We got to play baseball and that’s the most important thing.”

Cranberry Twp. 100 000 0 — 1 3 0

Freeport 300 000 x — 3 2 0

W: Jarrett Heilman 7 IP (14K, 0BB). L: Michael Waitlevertch .2 IP (0K, 3BB).

Cranberry Township (12-6): Evan Schneider 2B R, Clayton Blucher 2-1B

Freeport (14-2-1): Bradyn Clark 1B R, Alec Asti 1B

Saturday: Freeport vs. Pine Richland, championship round, at Pine Community Park, 6 p.m.