JEFFERSON TWP — Saxonburg needed pitching. James Flemm needed to rush back home.

So he did.

Flemm struck out nine and tossed a four-hitter Saturday night as Saxonburg defeated Center Township, 12-2, in five innings at Laura Doerr Park to remain unbeaten in the Butler County Area Baseball League Tournament.

“James knew the other two pitchers I had available couldn't be here tonight,” Saxonburg manager Pete McMillen said. “He is a tremendous team player and he showed that tonight. He gave us a great effort on the mound when we had to have it.”

The game was at 6 p.m. Saturday. Flemm left Ocean City, Md., at 10:30 a.m. and did not arrive home until 5:30 p.m. — 30 minutes before game time.

“I put on my uniform, grabbed a Granola bar and bottle of water and ran out the door,” Flemm said. “I didn't have anything to eat or drink all day.

“I'm not feeling that great right now, but we won the game.”

Center Township pitchers walked 11 batters and hit two others. Nine of those runners wound up scoring.

Saxonburg scored three runs in the first inning without getting a hit. Sean McGill drew a bases-loaded walk, Mike McCarty and Ben McMillen scored on wild pitches.

“I don't know what was going on there,” CT manager Allan Hoehn said of his pitchers' struggles.

Alex Hoehn started on the mound for CT and threw 39 pitches in the first inning. The game was played in 90-degree temperatures and the heat got to him early in the second inning. Hoehn was moved to right field at that point as Center Township only had nine players.

“That long first inning affected him,” manager Hoehn said. “He came over to the dugout, went on the puffer and was fine two or three minutes later.

“We've got four or five guys on vacation. Everyone has that problem at this time of year.”

Alex Hoehn's RBI single gave Center Township a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the team left the bases loaded. Hoehn had two singles, Grant Clawson a double, single and RBI in a losing cause.

Saxonburg put together four hits in the third inning, scoring seven runs to break the game open. Issac Love had a two-run single, Travis Mowery a RBI single, Ben McMillen a two-run single during the frame.

Saxonburg had seven hits in the game. Love had two singles and McCarty scored three runs.

“Their starting pitcher (Hoehn) is very good,” Pete McMillen said. “We only got one run off him in the regular season and lost that game, 2-1.

“Obviously, those walks helped us today. And James got it together after a rough first inning.”

Flemm threw 26 pitches in the first inning and 28 in the fourth. He threw 85 pitches in five innings and walked four.

“I knew the coach needed me to be here,” Flemm said. “The first inning was a struggle, but it was OK after that.

“I got through it.”

Saxonburg is the three-time defending league champion and faces Cranberry in the King's seat game of the double-elimination tournament Tuesday at Graham Park.

Center Township will host East Butler at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Kelly Automotive Park.

Center Twp. 100 10x x — 2 4 0

Saxonburg 307 11x x — 12 7 2

W: James Flemm 5IP (9K, 4BB). L: Alex Hoehn 1.1IP (0K, 6BB).

Center Township: Grant Clawson 1B 2B RBI, Alex Hoehn 2-1B RBI

Saxonburg: James Flemm RBI, Mike McCarty 1B 3-R, Ben McMillen 2B 1B 2-RBI 2-R, Sean McGill 1B 2-RBI 2-R, Issac Love 2-1B 2-RBI, Jack Bartek RBI, Dakota Barnett RBI, Travis Mowery 1B RBI

Tuesday: East Butler at Center Township, Saxonburg at Cranberry

West Sunbury 13, Karns City 1 — West Sunbury scored all 13 of its runs in the second inning to eliminate Karns City. Nick Sosigian tossed a complete game for the win.

Nathan Sosigian had a double and single for West Sunbury while several players had one single each.

Luke Whitcomb, Logan Pistorius and Luke Larimore all singled for Karns City.

Cranberry 5, Meridian 2 — Cranberry stayed unbeaten in the tourney with this win at home. Luke Engel pitched the first four innings for the win while Jesse Clary worked the final three frames for the save.

Matt Knauer had a triple and RBI, Clary a run-scoring single for Cranberry. Evan Schneider pinch-ran and scored a run, later walked, stole second and scored again.

Grant Metzger allowed two runs in four innings pitched for Meridian.

East Butler won its scheduled game at Kiski by forfeit as Kiski did not have enough players. The loss eliminated Kiski from the tournament.

Tuesday's Schedule

Saxonburg at Cranberry, 6:15 p.m., Graham Park

West Sunbury at Meridian, 6 p.m., Highfield

East Butler at Center Township, 8 p.m., Kelly Automotive Park