Warwick PAL’s offensive struggles continued on Thursday night in Game 2 against Slocum, as southpaw Pat Maybach secured his team a trip to the Connie Mack title series, striking out 10 and going the distance in a 3-0 win.

Just two days after right-hander Lucas Deslauriers shut out PAL while surrendering just two hits, Maybach was equally as impressive on Thursday. The crafty hurler yielded just two hits of his own – one to Steve Foster in the first inning and the other to Sean Blanchard in the seventh inning – in Slocum’s second shutout in as many games.

“We definitely struggled,” PAL manager Mike Martin said. “But [Slocum] isn’t the No. 2 seed for no reason. Arguably, I think they’re the best team in the league. As you saw on Tuesday and tonight, they have two quality pitchers. We can score runs and they shut us down both games. You’ve gotta tip your cap to them. [Maybach] kept us off balance today. He can pitch, he can flat out pitch.”

After a shaky Game 1, PAL was looking to get off to a good start out of the gate in Game 2 to swing the momentum.

Unfortunately, Slocum didn’t let that happen.

PAL starter Dan Reph surrendered a one-out walk to Andrew Almonte in the top of the first, and he swiped second shortly after.

Second baseman Andrew Sarazen followed with a two-out single to plate Almonte, breaking the early stalemate and giving Slocum a 1-0 lead.

Foster floated a single down the right field line with one down in the bottom of the inning, but nothing would materialize for PAL.

After that, baserunners were hard to come by for the home team. It would only have six baserunners total for the game.

“Even when we hit the ball, they didn’t make errors,” Martin said. “They’re just a good team.”

In the top of the third, Slocum was able to take advantage of a miscue and up its lead to 3-0.

With runners on first and second and one out, Almonte pulled a pitch on the inner half for a single to left field, however, the ball was misplayed by Jordan Huntoon in left, allowing both runners to stroll home.

“We made one mistake in the outfield and it cost us two runs,” Martin said. “When you get behind a team like that by three, it’s hard to come back. One run, we’ve got a shot. Three runs, it’s tough to come back.”

PAL looked as if it may get something going in the bottom of the fourth after Foster drew a leadoff walk, but Huntoon lined out sharply to Almonte at shortstop a few pitches later. He then calmly fired to first to double off Foster.

After the third, Reph was dominant on the hill for PAL.

The former Pilgrim pitcher went the full seven innings, allowing six hits and giving up just two earned runs.

“Danny Reph pitched a great game for me today,” Martin said. I have no complaints at all. My pitching staff has been phenomenal for me all year.”

PAL got off to a strong start in the bottom of the seventh with just three outs to spare. Huntoon led off the inning by reaching on an error at third base, and Blanchard followed with a base knock to put two on with no outs.

But Maybach would get Anthony Russo to fly out to center field, before fanning Reph and Brett D’Andrea to end the threat and the game.

“We just ran into two better pitchers these last two games,” Martin said. “The last two nights, they were a better team than us.”

Slocum continued its strong play into the final, where it swept top-seeded Scituate with 1-0 and 3-1 victories to earn the Connie Mack crown.