SLIPPERY ROCK — With a 17-hit outburst on Wednesday, Prospect coach Paul Malley didn't expect too much of a drop-off on Friday.

Even when his team mustered just two hits in the first three innings against Mars in the Butler County American Legion winners' bracket final, Malley knew the hits would come.

After a three-run fourth inning gave Mars a 6-1 lead, Prospect erupted for three runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth en route to a 10-8 victory at SlipperyRock HighSchool.

The win sends Prospect (16-4) into Tuesday's final against the consolation champion. Mars (15-7) will return to action Monday against Saturday's Center Township-Meridian winner in the consolation round.

Monday's winner will advance to face Prospect.

Prospect banged out 13 hits in the game, 11 over the final four innings.

"These kids know they can hit," said Malley. "They don't get much bigger than the 17 hits, but it was only a matter of time before we started hitting."

"They're a good-hitting club," said Mars coach Bob Steiner. "I was hoping we'd be fortunate enough that they got all their hits in the last game (in a 21-4 win over Butler Township)."

When Mars' Weston Hillegas had a two-out, two-run double in the fourth inning and another run scored on an error one batter later, Mars opened up its biggest lead of the game.

Prospect, though, finally broke through against Mars starter Ryan Schroth.

With a runner at first and one out, Sean Lefebvre and Travis McDougall smacked consecutive RBI triples and Jesse Badgett added a run-scoring single to make it 6-4.

"That was big to come back, to answer them," said Malley. "It was a matter of putting hits together."

In the fifth, Badgett moved from his second base position to the pitcher's mound, and the Planets looked to answer back.

With runners at second and third and one out, Badgett worked himself out of trouble. He struck out Matt Bartlett and Lee Lawver grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

"That was big — for us not getting that big hit," said Steiner.

Prospect grabbed the lead for good in its half of the fifth against Hillegas, who relieved Schroth.

Mark White beat out an infield single and Brandon Ray walked to open the inning. Ryan Ferguson had an RBI single and Lefebvre an RBI double to tie the game at 6. After a fielder's choice, Badgett lined a two-run single.

"After the first time through, (Schroth) started to get the ball up a little," said Steiner. "The next inning, we put Weston in and they hit him, too.

"You get momentum like that and it builds. Once they start hitting, you can't stop them," Steiner added.

one run back thanks to a Prospect error and had runners at first and second with two outs, but White fanned Zach Bear to end the threat.

A two-run single by Ferguson in the sixth inning gave Prospect some breathing room for a 10-7 advantage.

Josh Bender's RBI single in the seventh closed out the scoring.

"They're confident," said Malley of his team. "You can see the change in them. They want to win now."

Mars 102 301 1—8 10 2Prospect 100 342 x—10 13 4Ryan Schroth (3 K, 1 BB), Weston Hillegas (5) and Justin Vancheri; Travis McDougall (4 K, 3 BB), Jesse Badgett (5), Mark White (6) and Brandon Ray.

W: Badgett (1 K, 0 BB).

L: Hillegas (1 K, 2 BB).

SV: White (3 K, 3 BB).

Mars (15-7): Lee Lawver 1B; Josh Bender 2-1B, RBI; Weston Hillegas 2-2B, 3B, 3 RBI; Chip Hasek SFRBI; Ryan Schroth 1B, RBI; Justin Vancheri 1B; Dave Pierre 2B; Matt Bartlett 1B

Prospect (16-4): Nick Cress 2-1B; Adam Brydon 2B, 3B; Mark White 1B, SF RBI; Brandon Ray 1B; Ryan Ferguson 2-1B, 3 RBI; Sean Lefebvre 2B, 3B, 2 RBI; Travis McDougall 3B, RBI; Jesse Badgett 2-1B, 3 RBI