SCHENECTADY — Clinton County Mariners head coach John Flynn was worried Sunday.

After dropping a tough game to Anaconda late Saturday night in the American Legion District IV Playoffs, Flynn didn't know what to expect from his team in Sunday's elimination game against St. Johnsville.

But, Matt Brown went the distance for the pitching win and Pat Shaughnessy swung the big bat as the Mariners stayed alive in the tournament with a 5-2 win.

Clinton County is back in action on Wednesday against an opponent to be determined.

"I woke up this morning and felt I had lost my best friend," Flynn said. "It was such a tough game to lose Saturday night.

"I was worried about how we would play, with such a short time to get over the loss. But, the kids re-grouped. They played well — they showed they weren't worried."

Brown allowed a run in the first and one in the ninth as he struck out seven and walked two.

"He pitched great," Flynn said. "He got into a little trouble in the first and I was going to have a short leash with him. But, he was there all game."

After St. Johnsville took a 1-0 lead in top of the first inning, Shaughnessy answered with a home run in the bottom of the inning to tie it.

"Shaughnessy's home run helped get us going," Flynn said.

The Mariners (17-11 overall) then grabbed the lead for good with two in the third for a 3-1 advantage. Frank Buksa and Brett Bosley were both hit by pitches, setting up a two-run single by Kyle Rascoe.

It stayed 3-1 until the eighth when the Mariners tacked on two more runs. Will Flynn singled, Shaughnessy rapped a RBI triple and Jordan Keysor added a run-scoring double.

"Getting those two runs in the eighth inning were big for us," John Flynn said. "St. Johnsville is a good team."

The Mariners held an 11-4 edge in hits, with Shaughnessy leading the way with his home run, triple and single.

Keysor rapped a double and single, and Matt Leta, two singles.

"The team feels good about themselves and we'll see what happens," Flynn said.

"We've already done better than we did last year, with two wins in the three games, and are one of four teams left.

"Anything can still happen."

—

Mariners 5, St. Johnsville 2

St. Johnsville 100 000 001 — 2 4 1

Mariners 102 000 02x — 5 11 0

Weaver, Howard (7), Springer (8) and Nethaway. Brown and Buksa. WP- Brown. LP- Weaver. 2B- Keysor (M). 3B- Shaughnessy (M). HR- Shaughnessy (M).