MARS - Center Township jumped out to an early lead in its Butler County American Legion Baseball League first-round playoff game against Mars Tuesday - one it was not about to give up.

Center Township got a two-run double and an RBI single from Josh Swartzlander and held off a pesky Mars team to post a 3-2 victory.

Nathan Markle limited Mars to three hits and fanned 12 batters while walking two, but the game was never out of reach.

"It may have looked like we were in control," said Center Township manager Kevin Shaffer. "My biggest feeling about this game was we had opportunities to put the game out of reach.

"It's not like we had rookies out there. I knew (Mars) had momentum. They played better than anyone else in the second half and we were up and down," Shaffer added.

Swartzlander's two-out, two-run double in the first inning drove home Joe Palermo and Clayton Smith for a 2-0 lead.

Center Township, however, stranded runners at second and third in both the first and second innings.

For the game, they stranded six - all in scoring position. They also had a runner thrown out while trying to steal and another doubled off first on a fly ball.

For Mars, the loss ended a stellar four-year run. Mars had won 16 consecutive BCAL playoff games before this loss, four in each of the past four years.

"We had three starters missing at the beginning of the game and it disrupted things because we have a set lineup," said Mars manager Bob Steiner.

"We still had our chances and played hard, but (Markle) was great. He definitely got faster," Steiner added.

Markle struck out the side in the second, fourth and sixth innings and at one point had nine strikeouts in a span of 10 outs.

"Nate told me he had a sore arm, which meant it was a little sore but pitchable," said Shaffer. "He said he was good to go. I had other pitchers ready to go."

Shaffer wouldn't need them as Markle kept the Mars bats in check.

Mars did cut the deficit to one run in the third inning when Dan Pierre led off with a walk and came around to score on a wild pitch with two outs.

Mars had the bases loaded with one out but came away with just the lone run.

Center Township wasted little time getting it back as Swartzlander's run-scoring single knocked in Smith, who had been hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch.

"Swartz is not a starter at any one position, but he's played in every infield spot," said Shaffer. "He fills in phenomenally. I have to find a way to keep him in the lineup."

Mars trimmed the deficit in the fifth inning when David Hay's two-out single drove home Adam Fleming.

Hay moved to second on a wild pitch, but Markle fanned Jason Wiemann to end the threat.

Mars had one final shot in the seventh when, with two outs, Fleming drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch.

Markle then induced Ryan Leonberg to ground out on a close play at first to end the game.

Steiner liked what he saw from his young club in the stretch run (eight wins in 10 games before Tuesday's loss) and hopes it's a sign of things to come next year.

"I think this bodes well for next year," said Steiner. "We're losing only a couple of guys. They're coming together now. You could see that in the second half."

"This game broke Mars' playoff winning streak," said Shaffer. "That was big. I consider it a changing of the guard because we were in last place last year and we led the league most of the season."

Mars 001 010 0 - 2 3 0

Center Twp. 201 000 x - 3 7 1

WP:

Nathan Markle (7 IP) 12 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP:

Mike Dallmus (2 IP) 1 strikeout, 2 walks

Mars (10-11):

David Hay RBI 1B; Mike Dallmus 1B; Eric Rieger 1B

Center Township (14-7):

Josh Swartzlander 1B, 2B, 3 RBI; Joe Palermo 2B, 1B; Josh Warburton 1B; Adam Miller 2B; J.W. Shaffer 1B

Today:

Center Township at Butler Township, 6 p.m.