MARIETTA, Ga. – For his first time back on the mound after two weeks of healing a strained oblique muscle, left handed pitcher Mac Marshall was able to pitch a solid 2 1/3 innings for Team Elite Prime on Wednesday in a crucial win over Tri-State Arsenal Showcase 1 in the second round of the playoffs.

“I just got back from physical therapy and they cleared me to play,” explained Marshall. “It was weird getting back on the mound, (and) finishing pitches was a little bit of a struggle but (I feel) fine now.”

Although Marshall was focused more on just getting back in shape, he still did a great job and managed to strike out three batters. He allowed one single during his time on the mound, but didn’t allow any runs to be scored.

“He’s one of the most competitive players we’ve ever coached,” said Team Elite Prime Head Coach Brad Bouras. “He’s a real gamer, (and) he’ll find a way to win in big game situations. He had 50-60 scouts lined up back there to watch him and he found a way to throw a shutout.”

Gabe Friese (Kennesaw State commit) came in to relieve Marshall in the third inning. Although Tri-State got three hits off him, Friese didn’t allow any runs to score, striking out three. Ben Parr (Georgia Tech commit) pitched the last 1 2/3 innings, completing the collaborative shutout by not allowing any hits or walks while striking out one. It’s safe to say Team Elite Prime has a quality pitching staff.

“We have a really strong pitching staff and everything’s based around that,” explained Bouras. “But we (still) find ways to score runs and play good defense.”

Team Elite Prime was only allowed two hits against Tri State Arsenal. Nick Poskey hit a clutch single in the second inning driving in two of Prime’s three runs. Marshall helped his own cause, as he also hit a single and scored a run on Poskey’s hit.

Marshall, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-hander, is ranked No. 12 on the updated Perfect Game High School Class of 2014 National Rankings.

“it’s quite an honor (to be) with all the great players, (but) I still got to keep working hard and get better,” said Marshall.

Marshall is a 2014 graduate from Lilburn, Ga. He attends Parkview High School, one of eight teams that participated in the inaugural Perfect Game High School Showdown last April. Thanks in part to the success of Marshall and his teammate, 2012 Perfect Game All-American and 2013 first-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles, Josh Hart, Parkview went 27-9 this year, finishing the season as the 56th best team according to PG's final ranking of the top 100 teams in the nation.

“That was a lot of fun,” said Marshall about his high school season. “Coach (Chan) Brown does a great job with all of us. He makes sure we all stay in line, work hard, and play as a team. We’ve had a bunch of great guys come through there.”

“It’s another cool thing to have,” added Marshall, about his own personal and his team's lofty rankings. “(But I want to) keep working, keep getting better and keep climbing the rankings.”

Marshall has been participating in Perfect Game events for several years. He competed, along with the majority of his teammates, in the 2013 National Showcase that took place in early June.

“It was great playing with the best players in the country,” said Marshall. “Everyone surrounding you, all the scouts, it was a lot of fun.”

Marshall is currently uncommitted and undecided as to where he would like to play baseball at the college level. He said he’s looking at Louisiana State, Vanderbilt, Georgia and Alabama.

More than half of Team Elite Prime’s lineup has verbally committed to play at Division I schools. According to their website, Team Elite has sent over 450 players to college and over 40 players to play professional ball.

“Our goal since 2005 has been to get as many kids into college baseball and into professional baseball,” said Bouras about the team Elite program. “It’s been the number one mission statement from day one; helping them learn to play at the next level. Along the way we want to win championships like anybody, but our main goal has always been to get kids to the next level.”

Team Elite Prime is now 5-0 in the WWBA 17u National Championship, and will advance, along with 15 other teams, to the next round of playoffs that take place on Thursday. They are scheduled to face the Orlando Scorpions Prime at a time and location to be announced.