JEFFERSON TWP — Three down, one more to go — thanks to a little help.

When the calendar turned to May, the playoff hopes of the Mars baseball team were on life support.

But three straight section wins later, including a 7-4 victory over Knoch Monday afternoon, and Mars suddenly is very much alive in the WPIAL Class AAA playoff race.

"They actually are tough to read," said Mars coachAndy Bednar about his players. "When their backs are against the wall, they step up and make big pitches and get clutch hits and make big plays. When I think they are down, they get up."

Mars (8-10 overall, 7-6 in the section) required a little help Monday and got it.

The Planets needed Blackhawk to beat New Castle, and the Cougars obliged with a 10-4 victory.

Mars also needed Pine-Richland to beat Hampton, and the Rams did, 12-6.

Now, all the Planets have to do is beat Hampton Wednesday and they are playoff bound.

"The kids have really responded," Bednar said.

So has Charlie Jaicks.

The senior hit a two-run home run in the third inning to give Mars the lead for good and threw two innings of no-hit relief to earn the save.

He also hit a home run against Ellwood City last week in a 6-5 win.

"Charlie has been playing great," Bednar said. "He's provided us a spark in the leadoff spot and he's really picked it up lately."

D.J. Cannon got the win for the Planets, striking out six and walking just one. Two of the four runs he surrendered were unearned.

Cannon gave up only three hits.

"When you get three hits, you're not going to win too many ballgames," said Knoch coach Curt Schnur. "Either (Cannon) pitched a great ballgame or we didn't do what we needed to do at the plate. You pick one."

Knoch left-hander KevinBacon picked up the loss, received quite a scare and sparked a 25 minute debate among the coaches and the umpires in the process.

With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Jaicks hit a line drive that hit Bacon flush on the bicep of his left arm.

Schnur wanted to replace Bacon with Zach Mayes, who pinch hit for designated hitter DerrickClark in the bottom of the fifth.

But Mayes, who hit for Clark in the seventh spot in the order, would have had to replace Bacon in the sixth spot in the order — a baseball rules no-no.

Schnur didn't have any eligible bench players left, so Bacon had to stay in the game and move to left with ErikChristensen moving from left to the mound.

It made little difference in the outcome of the game, however.

That happened long after Josh Bender tripled in two runs in the fourth inning and ZachZollner doubled and came around to score on a wild pitch in the fifth to make it 5-2.

Mars added two more unearned runs after Bacon left the game to lead 7-2.

AustinLeffler doubled home two runs — both unearned — on the bottom of the sixth inning, but Jaicks came in and slammed the door by retiring all six batters he faced.

While Mars will be playing for a playoff spot Wednesday, Knoch will be playing its final game of the season at Highlands.

"We're going out to win the last game," Schnur said. "It's no different than all the other games. It's no fun to lose. Hopefully, we'll come through with a win."

Mars 002 212 0—7 10 2Knoch 100 102 0—4 3 2WP: D.J. Cannon (5 IP) 6 strikeouts, 1 walk.

LP: Kevin Bacon (5X\c IP) 3 strikeouts, 1 walk

Mars (11-8, 7-6): Charlie Jaicks 2-1B, HR, 2-RBI; Zach Zollner 2B; Josh Bender 3B, 2-RBI; Alex Clark 2-2B

Knoch (8-10, 5-8): Dan Pickard 1B; Austin Leffler 2B, 2-RBI; Justin Demek 1B, RBI

Wednesday: Knoch at Highlands; Hampton at Mars