BOSWELL — John King knew he might be needed for a relief outing during Saturday’s championship game of the 16th annual Boswell Jaycees Baseball Classic.

The Johnstown High junior right-hander got the call a bit earlier than he might have expected, though.

King tossed the final 62⁄3 innings in the Trojans’ 11-5 victory over Conemaugh Township at Community Park.

“I knew I had a good defense behind me so I was just trying to throw strikes and win the game,” said King, who scattered five hits and allowed two runs.

The Trojans (5-6) won their fourth Boswell Jaycees title, tying them for the all-time lead with host North Star and Richland. Overall, Johnstown is 11-2 in the Jaycees event.

“I don’t lack pitching this year,” Johnstown coach Dee Dee Osborne said. “Johnny King did a great job. He had a great defense behind him. His catcher (Tyler Boyd) framed the balls good for him. It was a pitcher’s dream for him. He had command of his pitches.”

Johnstown had 12 hits, including a solo blast to left field by sophomore Jerrell Thornton and doubles by Nolan Eidem, Curtis McClain, Joey Koishal, P.J. Bush and King.

“We’re a good hitting team,” said Thornton, who was named Johnstown’s outstanding player in both of the Trojans games on Saturday. Johnstown opened the tournament with a 7-6 victory over Forest Hills.

Conemaugh Township beat North Star 8-2 in Game 2 behind a solid outing from tournament Outstanding Pitcher Dillon Boyer.

Forest Hills won the consolation game 8-6 over North Star.

Township opened the title game with a flurry. Thornton started but traded places with King in right field after the Indians (9-3) pounded out three runs on three hits and an error.

“Jerrell had finished the first game with two innings and we weren’t sure how much gas he had left because he is our primary catcher as well,” Johnstown assistant coach Kerry Pfeil said.

“Jerrell definitely wasn’t on target, so we made the move early before we dug ourselves too deep a hole.”

Thornton was glad to have King on his side.

“My arm was a little sore but King did a good job of coming in and backing me up,” Thornton said. “We have a lot of pitching. We have pitchers who can hit their spots and get it done.”

Johnstown answered with a four-run first and added four more in the third. The Trojans padded the margin with Thornton’s homer in the fourth and two more runs in the sixth.

“Jerrell has been coming through all year,” Trojans assistant Chance Osborne said. “He’s one of our go-to guys in big situations.”

Gervon Simon, McClain and King each had two hits for Johnstown. Township’s Mike Lysic had two hits, including a double. Kyle Zambanini, who had two hits and two runs, was named Township’s player of the game.

“Obviously, both teams had a ton of games this week, and we were down in pitching a little bit,” Township coach Sam Zambanini said. “You’ve got to tip your hat to Johnstown. They were in the same boat. I thought the King boy did a real nice job keeping us out on our front foot. We had some hits against them but we just couldn’t string them together.”

In the consolation game, Forest Hills’ John Ohler ripped a three-run homer and Justin Gdula had a two-run blast as the Rangers beat North Star. Chris Gallaher scored three runs, and Colin Gdula and Jared Baker each had two hits. North Star’s Corey Bloom had two hits, and the Cougars had doubles by Brantley Rice, Tanner Revak, Alex Mayak, Josh Purchase and Brady Shroyer. Bloom and Justin Gdula were players of the game.

In Game 2, Township’s Kyle Zambanini hit a two-run, inside-the-park homer, Joe Roman had a two-run single, and Lysic had a three-run homer. The Cougars’ Wade Walker drove in a run with a single. Rice and Lysic were players of the game.

In Game 1, Johnstown’s Simon had two hits, Thornton tripled and Bush doubled. Nate Nickel and Thornton teamed for the win, with Nickel throwing five innings and Thornton striking out four in two innings. Forest Hills’ Gallaher had three hits, with a triple and three RBIs. Justin Gdula had two hits, including a homer, and Baker had two hits. Gallaher and Thornton were players of the game.

“When they show up to play, they can play,” Dee Dee Osborne said of his team. “We’re inexperienced and young, but they’re good. I believe in this team. They believe in themselves. We don’t give up. We learn from every game.”