MARS - After scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning, the Mars American Legion baseball team was shutout in its final five at-bats.

But that was more than enough offense for Mike Skurko.

Skurko surrendered a lone run on four hits as Mars eliminated Zelienople from the Butler County American Legion playoffs with a 3-1 decision in a semifinal game Thursday evening at Marburger Field.

The league's playoff championship, pitting Mars (14-8) against Saxonburg (19-2), is scheduled for 6 p.m. today at Highfield Park.

Zelienople's lone tally came on Mike Koska's solo home run in the top of the fourth inning.

"It was a high inside fastball," said Skurko. "It wasn't that great of a pitch, but (Koska) was able to get his bat on it. I've got to take my hat off to him for getting to it."

Skurko made up for it with his performance before and after the home run.

He scattered the other three hits - harmless singles coming in the first, fifth and sixth innings. He struck out seven and, though he hit a batter with a pitch, he walked none.

"I was pretty accurate today," said Skurko. "I didn't have any walks, and when you're consistently throwing strikes, it makes things a lot easier on you out there."

Zelienople starter Jared Rectenwald pitched a solid game of his own, but he was let down by his defense in the only inning Mars managed to score.

Two fielding errors in the bottom of the first inning allowed Ryan Lynch, Mitch Conner and Adam Spithaler each to come home with an unearned run.

"We did what we always do," said Zelienople coach Tom Schneider. "We had a few errors at the beginning of the game that really hurt us."

Though Mars coach Bob Steiner considers Skurko to be one of his aces on the mound, he wasn't sure if the three-run lead would hold up.

"At that point, it's so early in the game, you just don't know," said Steiner.

The game quickly turned into a pitchers dual in the second inning.

Aside from Koska's home run in the fourth frame, only three Zelienople batters reached base safely from the second inning through the seventh.

Rectenwald answered by retiring nine of 11 batters in the second through the fourth inning.

Even when Mars threatened to add to its lead in the bottom of the fifth - with the bases loaded and one out - Rectenwald got Skurko to line into a double play.

"This was an excellent, low-scoring game," said Steiner.

While Zelienople (10-12) saw its season come to a close, Mars' win adds to an impressive string the team has been riding since the mid-point of the regular season.

After 10 games, Steiner's squad was 5-5, but it now has won nine of its last 12 games.

"The biggest reason for our play in the last few weeks has been the pitching of our top three guys - Skurko, Wes Hillegas and Dan Pierre," said Steiner.

Notes:

Saxonburg recently claimed the BCAL regular season title. If it defeats Mars today, the former will represent the BCAL at the Region 7 Tournament, to be held the week of July 25 in State College. … If Mars takes today's contest, then the same two teams will meet in a best-of-three series to determine the league's representative at the Region 7 Tournament.

Zelienople 000 100 0 - 1 4 2

Mars 300 000 x - 3 6 0

WP:

Mike Skurko (7 IP) 7 strikeouts, 0 walks.

LP:

Jared Rectenwald (6 IP) 5 strikeouts, 3 walks

Zelienople (10-12):

Mike Koska HR, Shannon Nagel 1B, Greg Slack 1B, Ryan Mann 1B

Mars (14-8):

Ryan Lynch 2B 3B R, Adam Spithaler 2-1B R RBI, Mitch Conner 1B R, Mike Skurko RBI, Dan Pierre 1B, Calvin Brooks SB

Today:

Mars vs. Saxonburg, BCAL Playoff Championship, 6 p.m. @ Highfield Park