CALLERY — In retrospect, the climb appeared to be a monumental task.

That just makes it all the sweeter when you reach the top.

Wes Hillegas and Josh Rape rapped first-inning RBI singles to stake Mars II to an early lead as the team went on to post a 4-0 victory in Game 4 of the best-of-five Eagle County League Championship Series Thursday, capturing its first title in the process.

"It's awesome," said Rape, who also serves as the team's manager. "What we've worked for to try to get to this point, we finally got a good nucleus of players that we were able to keep together."

Mars II entered the playoffs as the No. 5 seed with a 15-13-1 record. It defeated Cranberry Township two games to one in the first round, then downed Mars 3-1 in the semifinal series before recording a 3-1 advantage over Freeport.

"We were 1-8 against the teams we played in the playoffs," said Rape. "Good teams find a way to win. We did not hit the ball too well early in the playoffs, but we found ways to win."

Mars II starting pitcher Scott Jordan was a key reason Thursday, limiting Freeport to five hits with six strikeouts and two walks.

But Mars II also managed only five hits in eking out another win.

"Our pitching staff shut them down to hardly any runs or hardly any hits," said Rape. "After Wednesday's win, Scott was texting me almost 24 hours strong, telling me how much he was ready. He did a great job and kept us in the game."

"We just didn't come up with the big hits when we needed them," said Freeport player-manager Wayne Greiser. "We're missing our leadoff hitter and No. 2 hitter (Cy and Carter Haponski) and our No. 5 hitter (Bill Daugherty), so other guys got stepped up in the order.

"(Mars II) did a great job coming up with the clutch hits and we didn't," he added.

Mars II scored two runs in its first at-bat when Ryan Leonberg singled with one out and John Crummy drew a walk from Freeport pitcher Kevin Rayburn.

Hillegas drove in Leonberg with a single as both runners advanced to second and third on the throw home. After Matt Rovnan struck out, Rape's single scored Crummy, but Hillegas was thrown out at home by right fielder Luke Westerman.

Mars II made it 3-0 in the second when Phil Double opened with a single and Derec Ciafre walked. After a fielder's choice put runners on the corners, Brian Hart struck out, but catcher Mike Totos' throw to catch Anthony Ciafre stealing was overthrown and Double easily trotted home.

Anthony Ciafre, though, was thrown out trying to advance to third base.

In the fourth inning, Rovnan's leadoff home run gave Mars II its 4-0 lead and Jordan made it stand, although it was not easy.

In the Freeport fifth, a two-out double by Jordan Moore was followed by a popout by Greiser. The next inning, Westerman opened with a double and, one out later, Jon Bastian walked.

James Connelly lofted a sacrifice fly to put runners at first and third before Dan Penberthy flied out to end the frame.

In the seventh, Freeport brought the tying run to the plate, but, with one out, Mars II completed a double play to end the game.

Despite the loss, Greiser saw his team come together as the season progressed, giving the team a bright future.

"Early on, it was like an all-star team," said Greiser, as players from different communities joined the team. "We hit our stride at the end of the year and won 10 in a row."

After Mars I won seven league titles since 1995, now Mars II has one of its own to share with the community.

"The last thing (Mars I manager-pitcher Rob) Fester told me after the semifinals was to bring it back here. Don't let it go," said Rape.

Freeport 000 000 0 — 0 5 2Mars II 210 100 x — 4 5 0W: Scott Jordan (7 IP) 6 K, 2 BB.

L: Kevin Rayburn (6 IP) 5 K, 2 BB.

Freeport (26-14-1): Aaron Brown 1B; James Connelly 2-1B; Jeff Kauffman 1B; Jordan Moore 2B; Luke Westerman 2B

Mars II (23-16-1): Ryan Leonberg 1B; Wes Hillegas 1B, RBI; Matt Rovnan HR; Josh Rape 1B, RBI; Phil Double 1B