It was a battle of the top two teams in the Butler County American Legion baseball league.

And East Butler proved to have the better squad, at least on this day.

Shane Seybert struck out eight in six innings of work and Kolby Gregory added three hits to lift East Butler to a 7-4 victory over Center Township Tuesday evening at Pullman Park.

"We got outstanding pitching, solid defense and clutch hits," said East Butler coach Dess Schnur. "Those three things led to the win tonight."

East Butler (11-5-1) and Center Township (11-5) had already met twice this season. Center Township won the first game 10-1 before East Butler pulled out a 7-4 decision earlier this month.

After watching East Butler take a 2-0 lead, Center Township answered with a four-run third inning.

Adam Miller keyed the scoring spree with a three-run triple with two outs that plated Joe Palermo, Trevor Dunkel and Josh Warburton.

But East Butler didn't stay down for long, retaliating with four runs of its own in the top of the fourth.

The big play came with Center Township clinging to a 4-3 lead with two outs and the bases loaded.

Seybert hit a sharp grounder to second baseman Nathan Markle. The ball skipped under Markle's glove, allowing Mike Dorondo and Pat Hohn to score to give their team a 5-4 lead it would not surrender.

Dunkel, who was Center Township's starting pitcher, was pulled following the play. He tallied 3

innings of work, striking out four and walking two.

Center Township's attempt at a comeback was thwarted by its offense collecting just three hits in the final four innings.

"Shane really moves the ball around well," Schnur said of the winning pitcher. "He keeps the hitters' timing off."

"The sporadic hitting has been hurting us," said Center Township coach Kevin Shaffer. "We'll go out and get 13 hits in one game, then turn around and get four the next."

Center Township started the season 6-0, but has cooled off since with a 5-5 record. The team still has a chance to win the BCAL regular season championship.

"We're not throwing the towel in yet," said Shaffer. "Last year, we went 1-19. So we'll take being 11-5 at this point."

East Butler's climb to the top of the standings isn't totally due to offensive and pitching stats.

"The team has definitely bonded together," said Schnur. "It's been put in some pressure situations and has remained positive. Tonight was a good win against a good team."

East Butler 200 400 1- 7 10 1

Center Twp. 004 000 0 - 4 8 3

WP:

Shane Seybert (6 IP) 8 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP:

Trevor Dunkel (3

IP) 4 strikeouts, 2 walks

East Butler (11-5-1):

Matt Schnur 2-1B, Todd Walker 2B R, Kolby Gregory 2-1B 3B RBI 2R, Steve Scott 1B 2B, Mike Dorondo 1B 2RBI R, Pat Hohn R, Jake Slater 1B R

Center Township (11-5):

Adam Miller 1B 3B 3RBI R, Jason Monks 2B RBI, Josh Swartzlander 2-1B, Joe Palermo 1B R, Trevor Dunkel 1B R, Josh Warburton 1B R

Thursday:

Karns City @ East Butler, 8 p.m.; Prospect vs. Center Township in doubleheader at Pullman Park, 6 p.m.