Another game, another frontline pitcher faced by Butler Township.

For the third consecutive game, the Butler Township Little League all-star baseball team faced a No. 1 starter in the Little League World Series' Mid-Atlantic Regional in Bristol, Conn. and unfortunately, it met the same outcome.

Butler Township, a.k.a. Pennsylvania, held a 1-0 lead before Maryland scored three runs in the fourth inning and went on to post a 4-1 victory Tuesday afternoon.

Butler Township squared off against Brandon Nelson, by far the best thrower in the region, who was clocked at 80 miles per hour.

He finished with 13 strikeouts, two walks and allowed three hits. That marked the second consecutive game Butler Township had three hits (a 4-2 loss to Delaware on Monday).

"We knew we were going to see (Nelson)," said Butler Township coach John Baranchak. "We knew we had our work cut out for us.

"They had him clocked at 80 miles per hour, which translates into 110 miles per hour in the major leagues and no one's done that," Baranchak added.

Butler Township took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when David Tompkins had a leadoff single, moved to second base on a passed ball and scored on a two-out, two-strike single by Thomas Bruce.

That was the first run allowed by Nelson in the past few games.

Maryland finally broke through against Butler Township pitcher Alex Ziegler, but two errors on the same play helped open the door to three runs in the fourth inning.

"We needed to play a flawless game," said Baranchak, whose team finished with four errors. "We got the lead early, but couldn't seem to make the big play when we needed it."

Maryland would add its final run in the fifth inning.

"Alex Ziegler gave us everything we asked of him," said Baranchak. "Three of those runs were unearned."

Butler Township's only other threat of the game came in the sixth inning when it loaded the bases with one out. Nelson, however, fanned the next two batters to end the threat and give Maryland the win.

"It was power against power," said Baranchak. "We had the chance to take the lead or tie the game, but couldn't get the hit against him."

By comparison, a pitcher for Hawaii last year threw 82 miles an hour and struck out 18 batters in the finals. In a game against District of Columbia earlier in the tournament, Nelson struck out 17 of a potential 18 outs.

That D.C. team is the one Butler Township will face at 11 a.m. Thursday following an off day Wednesday, when the team will enjoy the day at an amusement park.

PA-Butler Twp. 010 000—1 3 4Maryland 000 310—4 6 0WP: Brandon Nelson (6 IP) 13 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP: Alex Ziegler (5 IP) 5 strikeouts, 0 walks

Butler Township: David Tompkins 1B, Thomas Bruce 1B; Alex Ziegler 1B