Mars’ Zack Orosz slides safely into home as Chartiers Valley catcher Kasey Threats applies a late tag during Tuesday’s WPIAL Class 5A first-round playoff in Wexford. The Colts defeated the Planets, 8-6.Elizabeth Linton/Special to the Eagle

WEXFORD — Jason Thompson never had to question the effort of his Mars baseball team this season, a theme that continued in Tuesday’s WPIAL Class 5A first-round playoff against Chartiers Valley.

The Planets rallied twice, but never did pull even in an 8-6 loss to the Colts at North Allegheny High School.

“This game could have been a blowout, but it wasn’t and that’s a testament to our senior class,” said Thompson. “I can’t say I’m shocked, though, these kids never give up.”

Mars High School catcher, Nate Leshinsky, cheering for his team after hitting a double in the playoff game against Chartiers Valley High School this Tuesday at North Allegheny. (Elizabeth Linton)5/17/22

Mars first rallied from a 5-0 deficit and they got to within one by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Then, entering their final at-bat, the Planets trailed 8-4.

With one out in the seventh, Zack Orosz and Nate Leshinsky smacked back-to-back doubles to make it a three-run game.

After the second out, Ty Garver reached on a fielding error that allowed courtesy runner Chase Winstead to score. Charlie Bickel singled, chasing Colts’ reliever, Joey Vanzin from the mound in favor of Brendan Cruz, who struck out Shane Klinefelter to end the game.

“Brendan has a rubber arm,” said CV coach Curt Cairns. “We had him loosening up earlier in the game, but he can come in without many (warmup) pitches and get it done.

“We knew we’d be going to him if it got to be a high-leverage situation.”

The Planets (14-6) had two golden opportunities to break open the game. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, Klinefelter, Jake Johnson and Johnny Fratto drew three consecutive walks from Colts’ starter Drew Evans.

But the left-hander escaped the inning unscathed, inducing a flyout and striking out two to end the threat.

“We’ve faced fantastic-hitting teams all year and Drew has been able to get out of situations like that,” said Cairns. “He’s definitely our ace.”

Mars starting pitcher Tom McLaren retired 12 straight batters between the first and fourth innings, but ran into trouble in the fifth.

A fielding error and three straight base hits brought one run home. A bases-loaded walk to Kyle Witte forced in another and with one out, Kacey Threats’ RBI-single made it 4-0.

Trey Wagner of Mars High School smiling as he takes a lead off second base at the playoff game against Chartiers Valley High School at North Allegheny this Tuesday. (Elizabeth Linton)5/17/22

Jackson Fox took over on the mound and got out of the inning, but not before the Colts (10-11) pushed across another run.

Mars answered with Trey Wagner’s two-run single in the bottom of the fifth. Wagner and Orosz later scored on a groundout when Matt Mroz and Colts’ first baseman AJ Scalise collided.

Mars trailed just 5-4 at that point, but Vanzin got out of the inning, setting the stage for Chartiers Valley’s three-run seventh that proved to be the difference.

Threats and Cruz singled home one run apiece and Charlie Caputo tripled home another.

Mars stranded 10 base runners in the game, seven of them in scoring position.

Thompson was focused on the good from the season, which included a section championship.

“It was a lot of fun this season,” he said. “The kids played for each other, there were no egos.”

Chartiers Valley 100 040 3 — 8 10 3

Mars 000 040 2 — 6 8 2

W: Drew Evans 4.1 IP (4K, 5BB). L: Tom McLaren 4.1 IP (2K, 1BB)

Chartiers Valley: Kyle Witte 2-1B 2R RBI, Kacey Threats 2-1B 3RBI, Charlie Caputo 3B R RBI

Mars: Johnny Fratto 2B R, Trey Wagner 1B R 2RBI, Zack Orosz 1B 2B 2R, Nate Leshinsky 1B 2B RBI