Mars' Thomas McLaren delivers a pitch during the baseball game against Woodland Hills on Monday in Adams Township. McLaren pitched five innings, striking out six batters and not issuing any walks in the Planets’ 10-0 victor over the Wolverines. Photography by Joseph Ressler

ADAMS TWP — The Mars baseball team was busy on the basepaths during a 10-0, Senior Day home romp over Woodland Hills Monday afternoon at home. All but one batter reached base for the Planets in the five-inning contest.

The dominant showing was yet another step towards Mars’ first section title since 2017. It was especially rewarding for Ty Garver and Trey Wagner, both of whom overcame obstacles to lace up their spikes this year.

“This night’s special, being with the kids I’ve played with since I was tiny,” said Wagner, a left fielder who underwent two hip surgeries and dealt with a sports hernia a season ago. “It’s emotional, it’s sad, but it’s bittersweet.”

Before the prior school year started, Garver tore his labrum. He tried to play through it, but eventually got to the point where it hurt him too much to throw.

“We’re not taking anyone lightly, that’s for sure,” said Garver, adding that he’s grateful to play injury-free in front of family and friends. “We’re trying to win out.”

It helps that the Planets (8-3) do their best to keep steady.

Mars' Trey Wagner runs to first base after getting a hit during the baseball game against Woodland Hills on Monday in Adams Township. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle 4/25/22

“It doesn’t matter who we play, we don’t want to take any opponent lightly,” Mars coach Jason Thompson said. “That’s one of our objectives is to always compete. No matter if we’re up 10, down 10, close, doesn’t matter who we’re playing. (We’re) just constantly competing.”

The Planets’ ace, Thomas McLaren, entered having given up 13 hits in 12.1 innings of work thus far. He gave up a double down the right line on the first pitch of the game. A pop-out on an attempted sacrifice bunt and two strikeouts followed, and McLaren stopped a promising opportunity for the Wolverines to score in its tracks.

After that opening knock, McLaren wound up sitting down the next ten batters in order. He only needed 55 pitches to get the win. Woodland Hills (0-10) only managed two inconsequential hits on the day.

“He has great command,” said Wolverines coach Mike O’Leary of McLaren. “He was hitting on the outside corner and we struggled early chasing up. A pitcher like that, you can’t help him, and our bats — minus a couple of them — (have been) pretty dead all year.

“It was a tough matchup coming in. And we knew that.”

Jake Johnson, Johnny Fratto, and Garver each accounted for three runs. Mars almost batted around in the second frame. This all after the batters in spots one through seven came across in a 10-8 loss to Shaler this past Saturday.

“Like the entire year, it was a team performance,” Thompson said. “Really, one through nine, the kids all came to play. We had good approaches at the plate. We just kept things consistent.”

Fratto, Wagner, Garver, Nate Leshinsky, Matt Mroz, Lucas Kuremsky, and Jacob Apffel were all honored as part of the day’s festivities.

Mars has won six of seven and will visit the struggling Wolverines (0-10) on Tuesday for the second leg of the teams’ season series. Mroz will toe the rubber for the Planets.

Woodland Hills 000 00x x — 0 2 1

Mars 233 2xx x — 10 9 0

W: Thomas McLaren 5IP (6K, 0BB). L: Nate Scheer (0K, 1BB)

Woodland Hills: Noah Hutcherson 2B, Nate Scheer 2B

Mars (8-3,6-1): Johnny Fratto 3B 2B RBI 2-R, Jake Johnson 2-1B 2B 3-RBI 3-R, Trey Wagner 3-1B RBI, Zack Orosz RBI, Matt Mroz R, Ty Garver 1B 2-R

Tuesday: Mars at Woodland Hills