BUTLER TWP - None of the three pitchers Saxonburg trotted out to the mound had his best stuff.

But sometimes stuff doesn't matter. Outs do. Pitching out of jams does. And that's what the three Saxonburg pitchers did deftly in a 2-1 win over Mars in the Butler County American Legion Baseball League championship game at Highfield Park Friday.

Starter Joe Arndt gave Saxonburg four solid innings and John Lefevre provided two more before Zach Toth wiggled his way out of a seventh-inning jam for the save.

"John Lefevre started the first game and Zach Toth started the second game (of the Legion tournament)," said Saxonburg coach Jason Dolmeyer. "They both pitched six innings and both didn't have 100 percent stuff."

Neither did Arndt. The left-hander didn't throw as hard as he usually does, but was able to keep Mars at bay.

"That was our big question," Dolmeyer said. "What third guy can we send out there to give us four or five good innings? You can't say enough about what (Arndt) did."

What Arndt did was baffle Mars hitters with a tailing fastball. That's exactly what his counterpart did for most of the game.

Mars pitcher Dan Pierre, another lefty with a tailing fastball, gave up just three hits, but was victimized for two runs in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Justin Demek and a run-scoring double by Toth.

Both runs were unearned, however.

"I can't say enough about what Dan Pierre did," Dolmeyer said. "He held us to three hits."

Mars scored its lone run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Adam Spithaler. It managed just six hits off the Saxonburg trio of pitchers.

Lefevre struggled a bit on the mound, giving up a single to Pierre and a two-out double to Calvin Brooks in the fifth inning.

But he was able to get Spithaler to roll out to Toth at first base to escape unscathed.

Toth also was shaky in the seventh. With one out, he gave up an infield single to No. 9 hitter Adam Fleming and walked Mitch Conner before striking out Brooks and Spithaler to end the game.

"They got out of it," Dolmeyer said of his pitchers. "We don't ask them to get strikeout after strikeout. We just ask them to get outs."

The Butler County American Legion championship is Saxonburg's first since 1988. It will represent the county in the Region 7 tournament, which begins July 25 at State College.

Saxonburg didn't field a team last year because it didn't have enough players.

Now it is the county champion.

To stave off the doldrums of a 10-day layoff, Saxonburg will play two or three games in the Freeport International Baseball Invitational next week.

"We're going to keep sharp," said Saxonburg manager Jim Bacon. "We'll be able to get some other kids a chance to play. And it's fun."

Saxonburg has enjoyed a fun season. It cruised through the regular season with just two losses and enters the regional with a 20-2 record.

The two losses, though, were strange ones.

Saxonburg was no-hit by Butler City in its first defeat and blew a nine-run lead after three innings in its second loss.

"It was good that we lost that game we got no-hit in," Dolmeyer said. "It was a wakeup call. In the second loss, we jumped out to a big lead, then fell asleep."

Saxonburg can't afford to doze off at State College. It will find a slew of top-notch teams there in 10 days.

"We're going to go out there and try to perform as best as we can," Dolmeyer said. "We don't want to get embarrassed out there, and maybe come out on the upside of it."

Mars 001 000 0 - 1 6 3Saxonburg 200 000 x - 2 3 1WP: Joe Arndt (4 IP) 2 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP: Dan Pierre (6 IP) 5 strikeouts, 6 walks

Mars (14-9): Mitch Conner 1B; Calvin Brooks 1B, 2B; Mike Dallmus 1B; Pierre 1B; Adam Fleming 1B; Adam Spithaler RBI

Saxonburg (20-2): Justin Demek 1B, RBI; Zach Toth 2B, RBI; John Lefevre 1B

Next: July 25-Saxonburg vs. Jefferson County champion team TBD, 4 p.m. at State College in Region 7 tournament