MARS — On a team filled with veterans, Mars' Mike Jeffreys has shown he's a pitcher beyond his years.

The soon-to-be sophomore at Geneva College limited Cranberry Township to three hits over five scoreless innings to lead Mars to a 4-2 victory in Game 3 of the Eagle County Championship Series Wednesday night at Marburger Field.

Mars swept the best-of-five series.

“Mike has pitched well all year,” said Mars manager Rob Fester. “For a young kid, he's lights out. He has a bright, bright future.”

Cranberry Township made a late surge, making it a one-run game with the bases loaded in the sixth inning, but couldn't tie the contest.

“We don't give up,” said Cranberry Township manager Bill Clinefelter. “We had a lot of games where we came back to win. I felt like today would be like that, but we just fell short.”

Mars had used a two-out RBI single by Paul Westwood in the first inning and a two-run home run by Matt Colella in the third inning to take an early 3-0 lead.

Cranberry Township almost broke through against Jeffreys in the fifth inning when Keith Kubit earned a one-out walk and Brad Johnson doubled to put runners on second and third.

Jeffreys, however, fanned Ed Jacquel and Jim Burry to end the threat.

Meanwhile, Kubit came in to relieve Ben Hamm with one out in the third inning and allowed Mars just two hits the rest of the way — which included a streak of eight consecutive outs.

“We kind of fell asleep,” said Fester. “We were up 3-0 and they crept back in it.”

Cranberry Township did break through in the sixth inning when — against reliever Andrew DiNardo — Justin Patsilevas had a one-out single, advanced to second on a fielder's choice, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an infield chopper by Ben Follett.

Chris Larry singled, then DiNardo struck out Kubit, but the ball rolled to the backstop to load the bases.

DiNardo walked Johnson to plate another run, but with the bases loaded and Jacquel at bat, Mars catcher Adam Scheiderer fired a throw to first baseman Don Dell to pick off pinch-runner Brian Babusci.

“Donny and Adam got together on that,” said Fester. “They executed that well. That was the biggest play of the game, definitely.”

Mars tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning when Scheiderer lined an RBI single. On the previous play, Dell's popout plated Phil Shallenberger, but Shallenberger was called out when Mars appealed the play.

DiNardo retired Cranberry Township in order in the seventh inning to end the game.

“I think it says a lot about our team that we've gotten to the championship series two years in a row,” said Clinefelter. “We have good players, good depth. All you hope for is to get back again and win it.”

“They're a great team,” said Fester of Cranberry Township. “Billy does a great job. They'll be around for years to come. So will we.”

Mars' Brendan Malone and Paul Westwood were named co-MVPs of the league.

Cranberry Twp. 000 002 0 — 2 6 1Mars 102 001 x — 4 6 0W: Mike Jeffreys 5 IP (6K, 1BB).

L: Ben Hamm 2.1 IP (1K, 2BB).

Cranberry Twp.: Justin Patsilevas 1B; Greg Miller 1B; Ben Follett 2-1B, RBI; Chris Larry 1B; Brad Johnson 2B, RBI

Mars: Brendan Malone 1B; Matt Colella HR, 2 RBI; Paul Westwood 1B, RBI; Mike Bruno 2-1B; Adam Scheiderer 1B, RBI