BUTLER TWP — Butler's bats stayed hot.

And the Golden Tornado stayed in the hunt for a section title.

Butler recorded 11 hits, including a triple and a home run from right fielder Jim McCaslin, in an 8-5 triumph over Kiski Area Friday afternoon at Highfield Park.

The win pushed the Tornado's record to 7-3 in Section 1-AAAA, tying it with North Allegheny. Seneca Valley, a 9-2 winner at Shaler, is now 8-2.

Both Butler and SV have two section games remaining, including next Wednesday against each other.

Kiski Area fell to 0-11 in the section and 2-15 overall.

But the Cavaliers made Butler work for the win, holding a 4-3 lead after three and a half innings and bringing the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh.

"Nothing's easy," said Butler coach Dave Florie with a laugh. "You know, (Kiski) hit the ball hard the first time we played them. I knew they were going to hit the ball hard today and we would have to make some plays."

Butler entered the top of the seventh with an 8-4 edge, but saw the Cavaliers manage a double and a single in their first two at-bats to open the frame.

After Butler's Brian Warheit struck out Blake Pavlik for the first out, Jason Retter singled to plate Shawn Vogel.

Kyle Polliard hit into a force play before Warheit fanned Jacob Shaffer with runners at the corners to end the game.

The Cavaliers collected 10 hits on the day, four of them going for extra bases.

"Our hitting's been very inconsistent this season," said Kiski Area coach Zach Jankowski. "We've been hot one day and not the next. Today, we told the guys to be aggressive, but disciplined at the plate."

The Cavaliers did not help themselves in the field, committing six errors that led to three unearned runs.

"The two things that have really hurt us this year have been walks from our pitchers and the inability to make routine plays," said Jankowski. "And (the latter) was the difference today."

Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the fourth inning, Butler set out to take the lead for good.

Rob Cochran led off the inning with a single in front of a walk to Brandon Johnston.

Anthony Pinto laid down what he thought was a sacrifice bunt, but reached base when Cavaliers' starting pitcher John Russell's throw to first base sailed too high. Cochran scored on the play and Aaron Ordy drove in Johnston two batters later with a single.

That sequence gave Butler a 5-4 lead and McCaslin's two-run blast over the left field fence an inning later made it 7-4.

McCaslin added an RBI triple in the sixth inning.

"Jim's a free swinger," said Florie. "But he's a big kid and can drive the ball when he gets hold of one. Hopefully, this will lead to more confidence for him down the stretch."

Cochran and Adam Miller both added two hits for Butler.

The Tornado committed three errors in the game, giving them seven in the last two games.

"Our fielding is a concern right now," said Florie. "All the errors aren't good and that's why we've been shuffling guys around in the field to get the right combination."

Warheit pitched a complete game, striking out five and walking one in the win.

Russell shouldered the loss after pitching five innings, striking out one and walking two. Butler will hold Senior Recognition Day when the team hosts Hampton on Saturday.

Kiski Area 001 300 1—5 10 6Butler 012 221 x—8 11 3WP: Brian Warheit (7 IP) 5 strikeouts, 1 walks.

LP: John Russell (5 IP) 1 strikeout, 2 walks

Kiski Area (2-15, 0-11): Shawn Vogel 2B 3B 2R RBI, Ed Lynch 1B 2B RBI, Jacob Shaffer 1B 2B R

Butler (10-6, 7-3): Darren Blakely 1B R SB, Aaron Ordy 1B 2RBI, Andy Onufrak 1B R, Adam Miller 2-1B, Jay McDonough R, Jim McCaslin 3B HR R 3RBI, Rob Cochran 2-1B R, Brandon Johnston 1B R, Anthony Pinto 1B R SB, Jordan Roycroft R

Saturday: Hampton @ Butler