CALLERY — The runs were coming fast and furious.

It took a hard-throwing pitcher to slow it all down.

With Mars on the wrong side of a 10-9 score through four innings, Tyler Dean limited Meridian to one run and one hit over the final three innings in a wild 12-11 Butler County American Legion baseball victory Tuesday at Callery Field.

"Tyler can put it anywhere," said Mars manager Bill Trapp. "He can work the corners and throws a heck of a fastball."

Meridian scored four runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a 10-6 lead before Mars countered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Dean and Blake Friday opened with singles, then Kevin Shebek smacked an RBI double and Friday scored on a throwing error. Andrew Rush followed with an RBI double.

Mars loaded the bases with one out, but Meridian's Jace Lyons fanned Jeff Quail and Reed Marburger to end the threat.

Enter Dean, who retired the side in order in the fifth inning.

Mars took the lead for good in the home half of the fifth inning when Shebek had an RBI triple and Rush drove him in on a sacrifice fly.

Mars reloaded the bases as Vinny Dennis and Adam Kelly lined two-out singles and Nick Vranich was hit by a pitch.

Mars couldn't add another run as Jeff Quail's fly by was secured on a diving catch by Scott Peskowitz.

After Dean, who tallied five strikeouts in the game, retired the side in order in the sixth

Mars added an insurance run when Dean walked, stole second base, moved to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a balk.

Meridian manager Butch Master realized Shebek had come to the plate and already had a double, a triple, a home run and four RBI. Master called for time, which caused Legacy to alter his motion and a balk was called.

"That was my fault and it ended up being the winning run," Master noted.

Meridian made it interesting as Tom Chybrzynski led off with an infield single, stole second base, went to third on a fielder's choice and scored on another fielder's choice.

Dean then struck out pinch-hitter Cody Pilarcik to end the game.

"Meridian's a good team," said Trapp. "I can see them getting stronger and stronger with each game. They have a great coach in Butch Master. I knew we'd get a good game with Butch."

"I kind of knew it would be a high-scoring game," said Master. "This was one of our best hitting games of the season.

"We manufactured some runs with bunting, so that was great to see," Master added.

Meridian 204 400 1 — 11 8 2Mars 231 321 x — 12 11 2W: Tyler Dean 3 IP (4K, 0BB).

L: Jace Lyons 4 2/3 IP (2K, 0BB).

Meridian (4-4): Jace Lyons 1B; Bobby Swartwout 1B, HR, 2 RBI; Matt Dowdy 1B; Nick Legacy 2B, RBI; Scott Peskowitz RBI; Tom Chybrzynski 2-1B, 3 RBI; Joey Friel 1B, 2 RBI

Mars (7-0): Tyler Dean 1B, RBI; Blake Friday 2-1B, 2B, 2 RBI; Kevin Shebek 2B, 3B, HR, 4 RBI; Andrew Rush 2B, 2 RBI; Vinny Dennis 1B; Adam Kelly 1B; Nick Vranich 2B

Today: Center Township at Mars

Saturday: Meridian at East Butler