MARS — Pitcher Weston Hillegas needed a GPS to find the plate in the third and fourth innings.

The Mars II right-hander walked four batters and hit two in those two frames, but only two runs scored.

Hillegas settled down Monday night to pitch a nine-inning gem, shutting down Mars I in a 4-2 extra-inning win in Game 1 of the best-of-five Eagle County League semifinal series.

"He was unbelievable," said Mars II manager Josh Rape. "They are a power-hitting team and he shut them down.

Mars I had six hits — all singles. Hillegas' wildness didn't hurt him because he was able to wiggle out of bases-loaded jams in the third and fourth innings.

"I'm not going to lie," Rape said. "We were pretty nervous. Bases loaded in a tight game two innings in a row, but he buckled down and did what he needed to do to get out of it."

Rape contemplated taking Hillegas out after the fifth inning, but he decided against it.

With the score tied at 2 heading into the eighth inning, Rape again toyed with going to a reliever, but he stayed with Hillegas.

When Mars II scored two unearned runs in the top of the ninth, Rape sent Hillegas out to the mound to finish what he started.

"I was going to go with (Brian) Hart if there was a runner in scoring position," Rape said.

No one reached base.

"We didn't get the big hit when we needed to," said Mars I manager Rob Fester. "You have to give their pitcher credit. He got the big outs when he needed to."

Usually known for mashing the ball all over the park, Mars I scored its two runs on a bases-loaded walk and an infield single.

Brad Yates matched Hillegas pitch for pitch for Mars I. He gave up two runs and struck out four in seven innings.

Matt Colella relieved Yates in the eighth and struck out the side before two throwing errors sabotaged Mars I and led to the two unearned runs.

The quickly fading daylight made the hard-throwing Colella hard to hit. He struck out five in two innings, but got the tough-luck loss.

"He was throwing smoke," Rape said.

Mars II takes a 1-0 lead in the series. Not bad for a team that started the season 3-7.

The club salvaged its season with a nine-game winning streak with a bunch of young players.

"At the beginning of the year, we were more individuals than a team," Rape said. "We have guys from all over. When we went through that winning streak, we started to jell. We came together at the right time."

Rape doesn't know who will start Game 2. It will be either Scott Jordan or Hart.

"Whoever wants the ball more will get it," Rape said.

Fester said he might be bringing an old pitcher out of mothballs: himself, even though he has an injured ankle.

"It's going to be a surprise," Fester said, smiling. "Some old guy."

Mars II 100 010 002 — 4 11 0Mars I 001 100 000 — 2 6 2W: Weston Hillegas (9 IP) 8 K, 6 BB.

L: Matt Colella (2 IP) 5 K, 0 BB.

Mars II: Brian Hart 2-1B; John Crummy 2B, 2-1B, RBI; Matt Rovnan 1B, 2B; Hillegas 2-1B, RBI; Chet Shaffer 2B

Mars I: Colella 3-1B; Don Dell 1B; Sam Sibeto 2-1B, RBI

Today: Game 2, Mars I vs. Mars II at Marburger Field, 6 p.m.