BUTLER TWP — The numbers were stacked against Knoch.

Then Knoch started stacking up strikes.

Brett Miner put together a five-bagger in frames 7 through 10, Kevin Hindman a four-bagger in frames 5 through 8, helping the Knights rally from a 121-total pin deficit to defeat Butler, 5-2, for the WPIBL's North section title Wednesday at Family Bowlaway.

“We needed every one of those strikes,” Knoch coach Tyler Hawk said. “We only won the thing by 20 or 30 pins.”

The official count was 14. The Knights won the first game by `16 pins, lost the second one by 137, then won the third by 135.

Had Butler won total pins, the Golden Tornado would have won the section.

“This is almost like a Cinderella story,” Hindman said. “After the second game, we were down quite a bit.

“So much of this game is luck. We got a bunch of splits in the second game, Butler got them in the third. Momentum can change from game to game in bowling. Once multiple guys start stringing strikes against you, you're in trouble.”

Butler (8-1) strung the strikes in the second game, as Garrett Sexton and Cody Rosenbauer had three-baggers to spark the Tornado.

But this day would ultimately belong to Knoch (8-1), which finished fourth in the section in its first year, second last year and reached the top this season.

Butler bowled without Jacob Cookson and his 198.81 average. Cookson had a family commitment and was unavailable.

“It was tough, not having him, but we went after it,” Butler coach Bill Fay said. “Knoch had to earn it and they did. They deserve it.”

Hindman began the match with a section-leading 217.48 average while Miner had a 188..70.

“I've been bowling with Kevin for a long time,” Miner said. “We knew the situation, what had to be done. Those strikes were huge in that third game and other guys picked up their games.”

Miner rolled a 238 and Hindman a 215 in the deciding game. Joel Zacherl rolled a 175 and Tyler Laughner a 156, their best games of the day.

Butler seniors Brandt Fleming and Matt Blose rolled a 214 and 202, respectively, in the second game.

“When you're down that many, you have to regroup as a team, realize you're still in it and believe in yourself,” Hawk said. “Leadership comes into play, too, and Brett and Kevin led this team.”

On the girls side, Butler blanked Knoch, 7-0, to polish off its fourth consecutive perfect regular season and extend the program's regular season winning streak to 40.

“It's an amazing run,” Fay said. “These girls are just incredible. They have bounce-back ability and simply know how to win. You can virtually depend on it.”

Tornado anchors Autumn Hepler and Brea Suchonic — carrying 190 and 189 averages — produced sub-130 scores in the first game. But sophomore Megan Paul led the Tornado with a 170, Kelly Bintrim had a 167 and Mikayla White a 165, and Butler won the game by 51 pins.

Hepler rebounded with a 204 in the third game, Suchonic a 223.

“They just adjust and move on,” Fay said. “Nothing gets those girls down.”

Boys

Knoch 5, Butler 2

Game 1

Knoch: Joel Zacherl 146, Dylan Cimbala 209, Tyler Laughner 149, Brett Miner 187, Kevin Hindman 202. Total-893

Butler: Matt Blose 195, Andrew Barron 193, Cody Rosenbauer 181, Garrett Sexton 139, Brandt Fleming 169. Total-877

Game 2

Knoch: Joel Zacherl 148, Dylan Cimbala 170, Tyler Laughner 113, Brett Miner 156, Kevin Hindman 188. Total-775

Butler: Matt Blose 202, Andrew Barron 150, Cody Rosenbauer 178, Garrett Sexton 168, Brandt Fleming 214. Total-912

Game 3

Knoch: Joel Zacherl 175, Dylan Cimbala 155, Tyler Laughner 156, Brett Miner 238, Kevin Hindman 215. Total-939

Butler: Matt Blose 167, Andrew Barron 121, Kyle Bintrim 170, Garrett Sexton 169, Brandt Fleming 177. Total-804

Girls

Butler 7, Knoch 0

Game 1

Knoch: Maura Higgins 144, Larissa Jack 131, Taylor Baptiste 110, Emily Rodgers 141, Erica Johns 180. Total-706

Butler: Megan Paul 170, Mikayla White 165, Kelly Bintrim 167, Autumn Hepler 126, Brea Suchonic 129. Total-757

Game 2

Knoch: Maura Higgins 99, Larissa Jack 123, Taylor Baptiste 167, Emily Rodgers 141, Erica Johns 180. Total-695

Butler: Megan Paul 192, Mikayla White 137, Kelly Bintrim 161, Autumn Hepler 173, Brea Suchonic 212. Total-875

Game 3

Knoch: Jenna Church 142, Larissa Jack 106, Taylor Baptiste 111, Emily Rodgers 162, Erica Johns 170. Total-691

Butler: Shilo Warren 217, Alisha Fisher 147, Kelli Sherge 139, Autumn Hepler 204, Brea Suchonic 223. Total-930