"This is typical of a senior stepping up," Cobb said. "He wanted the ball in the last inning. I can't say enough about his effort. He wants to do as much as he can."
"I had a good fastball. I was able to run it in on righties, and then start it outside and run it back over the plate," Conway said. "I had a good slider and I was able to capitalize on my opportunities. ... We came to play today."
Catoctin (11-4, 5-2) pitcher R.J. Smith showcased a nasty curve and struck out 10 in five innings. But Smithsburg (11-3-1, 5-2) came up with enough offense to keep the Cougars trailing nearly the entire game.
Kyle Orndorff led off the first with a single and came around on two wild pitches and Conway's RBI groundout for a 1-0 lead.
In the second, Jack Schwartz doubled to left and scored on a fielding error to make it 2-0.
The Cougars tied the game at 2 in the third on two singles and two errors -- one on Conway's overthrow to first, the other a grounder that went under Schwartz's glove at third with two outs which allowed both runs to score.
It didn't stay tied for long. Sophomore Ryne Willard -- recently moved up from the bottom of the order to the second spot -- drove a pitch to right for a solo home run and a 3-2 lead.
"Ryne handles the bat well, sees a lot of pitches and understands the game well for a young guy," Cobb said. "I'm glad he's able to step up as a young guy on this team."
Schwartz singled to right to lead off the fourth and came around on a wild pitch, a groundout and Cody Shives' sacrifice fly to left for a 4-2 lead.
Then in the fifth, Willard sparked a two-run inning with a smoked single down the left-field line. Conway was intentionally walked, a wild pitch moved both runners up a base, and Jay Shafer -- who struck out his first two at-bats -- hit a 3-2 pitch to center for a two-run single.
"That was Jay stepping up, making an adjustment in his swing, not giving up and being a good ballplayer," Cobb said. "We had a lot of two-strike hits, guys doing better with their two-strike approach, and we need that."
Conway got out of a jam in the fifth after he walked the bases loaded, coming up with a slider for a swinging third strike to end the inning.
Smithsburg 6, Catoctin 2
Catoctin 002 000 0 -- 2 3 2
Smithsburg 111 120 x -- 6 7 3
Smith, Larsen (6) and Larsen, Goutney (6). Conway and Gouff. WP -- Conway. LP -- Smith. HR -- S: Willard (3rd, none on).
