NATRONA HEIGHTS - Natrona Heights got to the Eagle County League championship series by coming back from two games down in a best-of-five series against Cranberry Township.

If the team is to win the league title in just its second season of existence, it will again have to win three straight games.

Only this time, its opponent is a whole different animal - defending champion Saxonburg.

Chase Rowe hit a grand slam and leadoff hitter Brendan Malone added a three-run home run as Saxonburg crushed Natrona Heights 12-3 Monday evening at the Highlands High School field.

The victory gives Saxonburg a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. It can wrap up its second straight league championship with a win tonight at Highfield Park.

In the first two games, Saxonburg has outscored Natrona Heights 27-6.

"Saxonburg is stacked," said Natrona Heights' player-coach Chad Gourley. "I'm glad that we got (to the final series) in our second season of play, but nobody likes to get beat this badly."

Gourley was hoping Christian Necheff could provide a spark to the team from the mound.

"He said he was ready to go tonight, so I gave him the ball," said Gourley. "The last time he said that, he pitched a 2-0 shutout (against Cranberry Township last Thursday.)"

Unfortunately for Gourley and his team, Saxonburg feasted on Necheff, tagging the right-hander for eight runs on nine hits in six innings of work. He also walked eight batters in the loss.

Natrona Heights took an early 1-0 lead when Jeremy Virag's single plated Kris Kemp in the bottom of the first frame.

But Saxonburg responded with five runs in the next half inning - Steve Hall's two-run double was followed by Malone's shot over the left center field fence.

Saxonburg starter Nate Buttenfield settled down after allowing a run in both of the first two innings.

He surrendered just one base runner in the third inning through the fifth.

He ended the game with eight strikeouts, two walks and three earned runs given up on seven hits.

"I seem to get stronger as the game goes on," said Buttenfield. "In the first few innings, I just try to challenge the hitters, but I also save a bit for the later innings."

"If Nate gets five days rest, he's a very effective pitcher," said Saxonburg coach Dan Cunningham. "He's got great location on his fastball and can throw a break when he needs to."

Rowe's grand slam came in the seventh inning, capping yet another dominating performance by Saxonburg's lineup.

"Our whole lineup, one through nine, can hit the ball," said Cunningham. "And if you take one of those guys out and put a guy from the bench in, they hit, too.

"Everybody's just having a great season," he added. "I can't say enough about the individual performances."

Saxonburg 050 300 4 - 12 12 1

Natrona Hts. 110 000 1 - 3 7 3

WP:

Nate Buttenfield (7 IP) 8 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP:

Christian Necheff (6 IP) 5 strikeouts, 8 walks

Saxonburg (28-6):

Brendan Malone HR 2R 3RBI SB, Chase Rowe 1B HR 4RBI, Jason Curry 2-1B R, Steve Hall 1B 2B R 3RBI, Curt Schnur 2-1B 2R RBI, Sandy Sanderson 1B 2R

Natrona Heights (21-15):

Cy Haponski 2-1B 2RBI, Kris Kemp 2B R, Jeremy Virag 2-1B RBI, Zak Sabotka 2B R

Today:

Game 3, Natrona Heights vs. Saxonburg at Highfield Park, 6 p.m.