During last week's Butler County American Legion baseball playoffs, Center Township seemed to have lost its ability to pick up a clutch hit.

After its 7-5 victory over Meridian in Game 1 of the best-of-three championship final Monday, the squad might have regained it.

Center Township, the BCAL's regular-season champion, was limited to one run on two hits through four innings, but it plated three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to hold off Meridian at Pullman Park.

A two-run triple by Cole Baxter and a two-run single by Ethan Rock highlighted the frames.

"We got some key hits (Monday)," said Center Township manager George Rader. "We had batting practice over the weekend (after being eliminated from the playoff tournament Thursday) and we worked on fundamentals."

Center Township (16-4) needed every run as Meridian had two on and two out in the top of the seventh inning before Zac Sessa finished off the complete game with a strikeout of Cody Pilarcik.

The game saw four lead changes, including three in the fifth and sixth innings combined.

With Center Township trailing Meridian 2-1, Todd Wiest's popup to open the fifth fell between Meridian pitcher Pilarcik and catcher Ben Beresford. The ball deflected off one of the two and rolled into the dugout, allowing Wiest to advance to second base.

After Pilarcik picked up two strikeouts, Zach Rader smacked an RBI double to tie the game. Two batters later, Baxter launched his second triple of the game to bring home a pair of runs and to open a 4-2 lead.

Meridian (13-8) answered in the top of the sixth inning, when Bobby Swartwout crushed a two-out, two-run homer over the right field fence to tie the game.

Beresford followed with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Matt Baranchak single to give Meridian the lead.

Center Township retook the lead, this time for good, when Tyler Ford and Sessa opened with singles and Wiest was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Rock slapped the first pitch from Pilarcik for a two-run single to give the team a 6-5 lead.

With two outs and a runner at third, Rader hit an RBI single for a two-run cushion.

"Rader came through with three bloopers that killed us," said Meridian manager Butch Master. "Those were some timely hits."

Coach Rader is hopeful Center Township's hitting woes are a thing of the past.

"We struggled a bit last week, but I think we're back," he said. "The confidence is back."

Meridian 000 203 0 — 5 9 3Center Township 100 033 x — 7 8 2W: Zac Sessa 7 IP (6K, 5BB).

L: Cody Pilarcik 5 IP (5K, 0BB).

Meridian (13-8): Ben Beresford 1B; Matt Baranchak 1B, RBI; Grant Foley 1B; Nick legacy 2-1B; Tom Chybrzynski 1B; Scott Peskowitz 2-1B, 2 RBI; Bobby Swartwout HR, 2 RBI

Center Twp. (16-4): Zach Rader 1B, 2-2B, 2 RBI; Cole Baxter 2-3B, 3 RBI; Tyler Ford 1B; Zac Sessa 1B; Ethan Rock 1B, 2 RBI

Today: Game 2, site and time TBD