BUTLER TWP — The longball may bring oohs and aahs, but smallball wins baseball games.

That's Butler coach Dave Florie's motto.

It rang true Friday afternoon against pesky Kiski, as Butler scored two runs on sacrifice flies and moved runners up with sacrifice bunts in a 4-2 win at Highfield Park.

"That's the kind of team we are," Florie said. "We're not a longball team. We're more of a smallball team. Lately our bunting has been better. We try to get people to third base, no matter how we do it: steal or the bunt.

"We play the old style," Florie added. "To me, that's how baseball is supposed to be played."

And the Golden Tornado played it to perfection.

Not once did a Butler player fail to get a sacrifice bunt down. Darren Blakley, who reached base on two of his three at-bats, laid down a perfect drag bunt to reach in the fifth inning. He later stole third with one out and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Dustin Uhlman.

The fundamental play on offense was enough for starting pitcher Matt McCormick.

The left-hander baffled Kiski hitters, working quickly, spotting his fastball on both sides of the plate and freezing hitters with a sweeping curveball.

At times, McCormick overmatched the young Kiski lineup, striking out nine in seven innings.

"They haven't seen a curveball like that, let me tell you," said Kiski coach Daryl Hixenbaugh.

McCormick cruised through much of the game, pitching with a 2-0 lead his teammates got for him in the bottom of the first inning.

Kiski cut it to 2-1 in the third inning, but Butler increased its lead to 4-1 before Kiski answered with another run in the top of the sixth inning.

After two quick outs in the seventh, Kiski got back-to-back hits off McCormick, but the Butler senior struck out Eric Weyant to end the game and to push the Golden Tornado a step closer to their first playoff berth in 12 years.

Butler's magic number is one — all it needs is one victory or one NorthAllegheny loss in the final two games.

North Allegheny (11-6, 6-4) plays at Kiski (0-17, 0-11) Monday while Butler (11-5, 7-3) travels to North Hills (5-11, 2-8).

The Tigers host North Hills Wednesday and Butler welcomes rival Seneca Valley (15-2, 9-1) to Highfield Park.

"We know we're going to have to play some baseball," Florie said. "We have two tough matchups next week. If you play like we did today, we'll be OK."

Kiski 001 001 0—2 8 1Butler 200 110 x—4 6 0W: Matt McCormick 7 IP (9 K, 1 BB).

L: Bill Emerick 6 IP (0 K, 3 BB).

Kiski (0-17, 0-11): Shawn Vogel 2-1B; Eric Weyant 1B, 2-R; Tyler Garrone 3-1B; Vinnie Donatelli 3B, 1B

Butler (11-5, 7-3): Darren Blakley 1B, 2-R; Tim Geibel 3B, RBI; Dustin Uhlman 1B, 2-RBI; John Crummy 2-1B; Bill Coleman 1B; Ryan Armahizer RBI

Monday: Butler at North Hills