ADAMS TWP - Mars had battled too long to fall short.

Mike Dallmus tossed a four-hit shutout Saturday night at Marburger Field, throwing just 84 pitches in a 5-0 Butler County American Legion Baseball victory over Zelienople.

The win gave Mars (10-10) the sixth and final berth in the BCAL playoffs and completed a turnaround from a 2-8 start this year.

East Butler, Center Township, Butler Township, Karns City and Prospect are the other five BCAL teams in the playoffs, which begin Tuesday. The league's playoff meeting is tonight.

"We've been to the playoffs every year I've been here," 10th year Mars manager Bob Steiner said. "But this year was looking a bit shaky.

"Pitching turned it around for us. Mike Dallmus, Dan Pierre, Mike Skurko … They've been outstanding."

Dallmus threw only 30 balls Saturday. He walked Adam Keplinger to start the game, then allowed no more free passes. He struck out six.

"This was a typical outing for him," Steiner said. "He pitches like this all the time."

"I try to throw strikes right away and get them to hit the ball on the ground," Dallmus said. "We have a very good infield."

Mars' outfielders recorded just two putouts in the game.

Mars scored in the first inning when Adam Fleming reached with a bunt single, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate when Skurko hit into a fielder's choice.

The lead extended to 4-0 when Mars scored three times after two were out and nobody on base in the fourth. No. 9 hitter Pierre singled to center, Fleming walked, Ken Carpenter delivered a run-scoring single and Skurko a two-run double.

"Carpenter and Skurko are our No.'s 2 and 3 hitters and we've been counting on them to drive in runs," Steiner said. "Most of our offense comes from our first five hitters, though Dan (Pierre) has had two hits in two straight games now."

Pierre and leadoff batter Fleming scored four of Mars' five runs.

"That's the way we like to do it, roll the lineup over while getting production," Steiner said.

Zelienople's best chance to score came in the fifth. Frank Snyder doubled to open the frame, Steve Griffin reached on a fielder's choice and stole second.

Dallmus pitched out of trouble by striking out Jarrod Rectenwald, getting Keplinger to ground to third - resulting in Snyder getting thrown out at the plate - and getting Greg Slack to bounce into a force play.

Losing pitcher Slack threw 94 pitches - 57 strikes - in six innings.

"Those two-out hits (by Mars) and us not scoring there turned the game," Zelienople manager Tom Schneider said. "Dallmus pitched a good game. He was around the plate all of the time.

"Greg just got back from vacation this afternoon and pitched well. He gave us a great effort."

Zelienople only had nine players to start the game and two of those were normally substitutes.

"We're not making any excuses," Schneider said. "They outplayed us. But we'll be back next year."

Keplinger and Karl Habsburg are the only two players Zelienople loses for next season.

"This is a good league, with good teams and good people," Schneider said. "Any of the nine teams could beat each other at any time.

"We played well this year, just not well enough to make the playoffs."

In the meantime, Mars found a way to extend its season.

"We started hitting the ball and scoring some runs," Dallmus said of the team's 8-2 second-half record. "That made it easier on the pitchers. We were able to relax a lot more."

"We struggled early, but we came together as a team," Steiner said.

Zelienople 000 000 0 - 0 4 1

Mars 100 301 x - 5 7 2

WP:

Mike Dallmus (7 IP) 6 strikeouts, 1 walk.

LP:

Greg Slack (6 IP) 3 strikeouts, 4 walks

Zelienople (7-13):

Mike Kosta 1B, Karl Habsburg 1B, Frank Snyder 2B, Steve Griffin 1B

Mars (10-10):

Adam Fleming 1B 2-R, Ken Carpenter 2-1B RBI, Mike Skurko 2B 3-RBI, Ryan Leonberg 1B, Dan Pierre 2-1B 2-R

Tuesday:

BCAL playoffs begin