BUTLER TWP - One run down. Bottom of the seventh. Two men on. Two outs. Full count.

It's a situation played out in the backyard by kids of all ages.

And also by a 21-year-old kid named Brendan Malone at Highfield Park Friday evening.

The Saxonburg leadoff hitter smashed a three-run home run over the right-field fence to give his team a dramatic 5-3 win and a three-game sweep of Zelienople in the Eagle County League semifinals.

"Right off the bat I knew it was gone," Malone said, a smile beaming from his face.

And his home run sent Saxonburg to the league finals for the fifth straight year.

"It's like we're destined to go to the finals every year," Malone said.

"Do you think there was any pressure on him?" asked Saxonburg manager Dan Cunningham. "Honestly, it looked like he thought he was going to get a BP spot. He acted like there was no pressure on him."

Malone has been the catalyst for Saxonburg all season, and the team needed one against Zelienople pitcher Erin Fassinger.

The right-hander was dominant most of the contest, frustrating Saxonburg's potent lineup by mixing speeds and locating his pitches deftly.

He was staked to a 3-0 lead after the first inning as Zelienople took advantage of Saxonburg starter Jason Dohlmeyer's traditional slow start.

After an error, Zelienople pounded out three straight hits, keyed by a RBI double by Dom Duggan and a run-scoring single by Bud Profeta.

But Dohlmeyer then settled into a pitching duel with Fassinger.

"Erin has nothing to be upset about," said Zelienople manager Clayton Pegher. "He pitched a heck of a game."

But he got in trouble in the seventh inning as Saxonburg leadoff hitter Matt DeSantis blooped a single to center and Steve Hall walked two batters later.

Dohlmeyer struck out looking for the second out and was ejected for arguing the call.

That set the stage for Malone, who worked the count to full and then turned on a fastball for the game-winning home run.

"We just don't have any luck against these guys," said Pegher, who watched his team lose to Saxonburg two years ago in Saxonburg's final at-bat. "We played a good ballgame, but it always seems like we lose the one-run games to them."

Zelienople lost 10-9 Thursday in a game it also led late.

"We just get it done," Malone said. "All these guys have been winners all their lives."

Saxonburg cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the third. Hall led off with a double and scored on a fielder's choice by Malone. Mike Sikorski drove in Malone with a single, but he was thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning.

Dohlmeyer was adept at working out of trouble as Zelienople left five runners on base in the middle innings.

"He did a real good job," Pegher said. "He kept us off balance with his off-speed pitches. We had guys in scoring position and we couldn't get them in."

Dohlmeyer usually struggles early in games, but once he settles down - well, Zelienople found out what happens.

"It usually takes him an inning or two or three sometimes to get in a groove," Cunningham said. "Once he does, once he can throw his pitches where he wants them, he's tough."

Saxonburg will play either Freeport or Mars in the league's championship series starting Monday.

For Cunningham, getting the elusive championship would be a fitting way for him to leave the league and managing.

"It would be great," Cunningham said. "The guys have done everything I've asked them to do this year."

Wayne Greiser clubbed two home runs and a single, and Keith Kubit had a homer and a single to power Freeport to a 13-0 five-inning victory in Game 3 of the Eagle County League baseball semifinals Friday.Despite the win, Freeport still trails Mars 2 games to 1 with Game 4 set for Saturday.Greg Fryman pitched a three-hitter, striking out seven and walking two to earn the win.Rob Ronk had a pair of singles for Mars.Zelienople 300 000 0 - 3 5 0Saxonburg 002 000 3 - 5 6 2Two outs when winning runs scoredWP:Jason Dohlmeyer (7 IP) 4 strikeouts, 2 walks.LP:Erin Fassinger (6IP) 3 strikeouts, 2 walksZelienople:Dom Duggan 2B, RBI; Bud Profeta 1B, RBI; Matt Shaffer RBI; Adam Dutka 2B, 3BSaxonburg:Brendan Malone HR, 4-RBI; Mike Sikorski 1B, RBI; Curt Schnur 1B; Matt DeSantis 1B; Steve Hall 2B; Dohlmeyer 1BMonday:Game 1, Eagle County League championship series.Mars 000 00x x - 0 3 0Freeport 004 54x x -13 12 0WP:Greg Fryman (5 IP) 7 strikeouts, 2 walks.LP:Ron Talik (3IP) 3 strikeouts, 4 walksMars (16-15):Rob Ronk 2-1B; Ryan Salazar 2BFreeport (23-6):Wayne Greiser 2 HR, 1B, 4 RBI; Keith Kubit HR, 1B, 3 RBI; Bill Daugherty 2B, 1B; Greg Samson 2B, 1B; Greg Fryman 2BSaturday:Game 4-Freeport at Mars, 6 p.m.