Saxonburg's Andy Fritz tags out Cranberry's Ryan O' Connor during the 8-4 Saxonburg victory in Butler County American Legion playoff action at Laura Doerr Park on Tuesday.

JEFFERSON TWP — Nine was enough.

That was how many players were present for Saxonburg for its Butler County American Legion baseball playoff game against Cranberry Township Tuesday night.

Saxonburg's offense tallied 11 hits and its pitchers stranded 11 runners in an 8-4 victory at Laura Doerr Park.

The win sends Saxonburg to a showdown against Center Township at 6 p.m. today at Pullman Park.

Center Township has yet to lose in the double-elimination tournament, meaning Saxonburg (18-7) needs to win twice to claim the title.

The latter used three pitchers in its latest win.

Zane Voltz started the game and pitched the first 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits.

He was followed by Marcus Cashell and Ryan Letzelter, both pitching 1⅓ innings.

“We have four starters who are on vacation and three of those are part of our pitching staff,” said Saxonburg coach Pat Sarnese. “Our first two pitchers tonight, Zane and Marcus, are role guys. We just told them to give us what they could.

“They pitched well enough for us to win,” he added. “They received some good defense behind them.”

Cory Marx had just cut Cranberry's deficit to 8-4 with a two-out, two-run single in the top of the fifth frame. The next batter, Matt Barrage, singled to load the bases.

Cashell, who had taken the mound earlier in the inning, got Ed Kremmel to ground out to end the threat.

In the top of the sixth, Cranberry's Evan Pucci singled with two outs and Kyle Peskowitz followed with a walk.

Letzelter was brought in and got another crucial groundout, this one from Nolan Epple.

Letzelter made quick work of Cranberry (10-13) in the last inning, setting the team down in order.

“We just didn't hit the ball like we should,” said Cranberry coach Mark O'Connor. “Our guys were hitting pitcher's pitches.

“Sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way, but Saxonburg played good fundamental baseball,” he added.

Saxonburg's bats were hot early in the game.

After scoring a run in each of the first two innings, the team tallied three runs on five hits in the bottom of the third.Mac Megahan's one-out triple was followed by Cashell's RBI base hit.Nate Sarnese drilled a book-rule double to center for a 4-1 lead and later scored on Letzelter's sacrifice fly.The five runs in three innings chased Cranberry starter Matt Johnson from the game. He was followed on the mound by Marx (one inning) and Ryan O'Connor (two).Megahan and Sarnese both had run-scoring singles in the next frame, with Megahan scoring on a throwing error for an 8-2 edge.Sarnese ended the game with a single and two doubles.Marx drove in three runs for Cranberry.“I am proud of our guys,” said Coach O'Connor. “They competed this year and that's all I can ask.”<B>Cranberry Twp 001 120 0 — 4 7 2Saxonburg 113 300 x — 8 11 3</B>W: Zane Voltz 4 1/3 IP (7K, 5BB). <B>L:</B> Matt Johnson 3 IP (3K, 1BB).<B>Cranberry Township (10-13):</B> Ed Kremmel 1B, Ryan O'Connor R, Kyle Peskowitz R, Caleb Jamison 1B R, Cory Marx 2-1B 3RBI, Matt Barrage 2-1B R, Evan Pucci 1B<B>Saxonburg (18-7):</B> Zane Voltz 1B 3B 2R, Mac Megahan 1B 3B 2R 2RBI, Marcus Cashell 1B R RBI, Nate Sarnese 1B 2-2B 2R 2RBI, Andy Fritz 1B, Ryan Letzelter 1B 2RBI, Jake Smith 1B R<B>Today:</B> Saxonburg vs. Center Township at Pullman Park, 6 p.m.<B><I><U></B></U></I>

Saxonburg's Zane Voltz delivers a pitch during the win over Cranberry in a Butler County American Legion playoff game at Laura Doerr Park on Tuesday night.