BINGHAMTON — Babylon junior righthander Owen Killeen had not pitched in a baseball game that counted since May 7.

He stayed loose in scrimmages against elite competition such as St. Anthony’s, Connetquot and Garden City during the past month, but nothing can replicate the environment of a state title game.

Coach Michael Birnbaum continuously instilled faith in Killeen, and it paid off Saturday. He fired a four-hit shutout to lead Babylon to a 2-0 win over Putnam Valley (Section I) in the state Class B final at Mirabito Stadium.

Killeen struck out eight and allowed a walk and a hit batsman in a 98-pitch outing.

“Those scrimmages, sure, they were for the bats, but I knew it was going to come down to him,” Birnbaum said. “Three weeks ago, I told him — because it’s frustrating as a No. 3 [starter] in championship baseball; you don’t always see the field again. So I wanted to make sure he didn’t get down in those scrimmages and everything. He kept working, and I said, ‘You’re going to be on the mound at the end.’

“Last night, I told him. He told me he never believed me until last night, in his room. And he was ready. He stood up. He’s a cerebral guy, and we studied the lineup last night. And he did it. He executed the game plan.”

Said Killeen: “I had faith in our other pitchers. I didn’t think it was going to come to me, but I knew I would be ready if it did come to me. And I performed, and I did everything I could for the multiple seniors we have on this team that I’ve grown up with. I did the best I could for them, and we managed to pull it out.”

Babylon (22-3), which advanced to Saturday’s game with Friday’s dramatic 5-4 win over Section II’s Mechanicville, earned its first state title since 2007 and second in program history. It ended the season with 15 straight wins.

“Owen’s just a dog,” said senior shortstop Johnny Harkins, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. “He goes out there every single time, he pitches with confidence. He throws strikes. I’ve never seen him off. And when he’s off, he’s never not throwing strikes. He’s always hitting the zone.”

Killeen retired the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh inning before Louis Peduto walked and Aaron Pierre singled. Killeen induced a flyout to rightfielder Charlie Murphy for the final out.

The highlights for Killeen included a four-pitch third and a seven-pitch fifth. In the fourth, he worked around a leadoff infield single by James Sanford (2-for-2), recording three strikeouts.

Killeen missed his sophomore year after suffering a separated growth plate in his elbow and undergoing surgery. He ended his first varsity season with what he said was the best game he ever pitched.

“I dialed in, I don’t know what to say,” he said. “That’s probably the hardest I think I’ve ever thrown in my life, and I was just pumping. They couldn’t touch me, and it gave me the confidence I needed to just go through the rest of the game.”

Babylon took a 1-0 first-inning lead. Harkins led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on Aidan Kistner’s double.

The Panthers scored their second run on Joe Cavallo’s two-out bunt single in the fifth. Harkins led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Cavallo’s perfect bunt.

Righthander Eli Pierce delivered a strong five-inning start for Putnam Valley (21-5), allowing five hits and two earned runs and striking out two. Jay Constantino allowed one hit and struck out one in two scoreless innings of relief.

Said Harkins: “It’s a dream come true to really win it with the family we have here at Babylon.”