It finally happened for the Krajcirik Automotive teener team.

The Fuelers filled it up early and then staved off a last-ditch effort by Pottsville #6UZ5 to pull out a 6-5 Schuylkill County Teener League Senior Division victory on Wednesday.

Krajcirik’s hoisted the victory flag for the first time after suffering five straight losses to start the season.

The winners jumped in front in the bottom of the first inning, erasing an early deficit by scoring two runs, They then stayed hot at the plate with a four-run second inning.

“It was a long tough road, but we finally got it done,” said Krajcirik manager Ron Yuricheck.

The skipper had some anxious moments though as Pottsville rallied for a four runs in the top of the sixth and had the tying run 90-feet away, before relief pitcher Brady Jones reared back and threw a hard fastball to record the final out.

“Brady stayed right on them, he showed a lot of toughness,” Yuricheck said. “He was persistent, and you need that in those types of situations.”

Yuricheck called on Cameron Caffery to start the game. He was fully in command after allowing a first-inning run, before he started to wane in the sixth inning. Caffery was in the zone prio to that, tossing four-straight shutout innings - allowing only a double to Pottsville’s best hitter Andrew Azler in the third during that stretch.

“It was the first time he pitched all season,” Yuricheck pointed out about his starter. “He attacked the zone and stayed right on them. He had a quality outing ... something we will continue to need as we go forward.”

At the plate, the Fuelers found their stroke early and often.

After the visitors jumped ahead 1-0, the Lansford club rallied with a pair of runs in the home half of the first. Benny Beneravage singled to open the rally and raced home on Brennan Kunkel’s RBI single. It took the lead for keeps when Jones singled in the go-ahead run.

Krajcirik struck for a big four-run second to surge in front 6-1. It sent nine batters to the plate, banging out four hits in the rally, including doubles off the bat of Kunkel and Jones, and singles by Gavin Yuricheck and Peter Kruslicky. Jones’ hit drove in a pair of runs..

Pottsville was dormant until the sixth, and that’s when winning pitcher Caffery started to tire. The visitors scored four times, collecting a big three-run double by Brady Eroh to make it 6-5.

That’s when Jones came to the rescue to preserve the decision with strong relief work in the sixth and seventh innings to seal his team’s first win of the season.

“It feels good to get the first one,” coach Yuricheck said. “I just told the kids to play the game ... baseball is a fun game to play.”

Especially when you can grab a win.

DEFENSIVE STARS … Fuelers shortstop Jones made some great plays early on as did centerfielder Beneravage.

AT THE PLATE … Krajcirik’s collected nine hits. Getting two hits apiece were Beneravage, Kunkel, Yuricheck and Jones.

Pottsville 100 003 0 – 5

Lansford 240 000 X 6

Graboski, Rosenberger (4) and Kush; Caffery, Jones (6) and Kunkel. W – Caffery L - Graboski