Getting a Section 1-AAAA win was the primary focus for the Butler baseball team Saturday afternoon at Kelly Automotive Park.

The Golden Tornado secured that with an 11-3 win over North Hills.

That allowed Butler coach Todd Erdos to use the second game of a doubleheader — an 8-3 non-section loss to Shaler — to take a look at pitching options.

Against the Titans, Zach Henderson, Connor Ollio and Conner Thomas all saw time on the mound for the Tornado.

Butler (4-4, 1-0) needs to have a bevy of available arms for this week.

The Golden Tornado will play three section games — starting against Moon today at home — in five days.

“It’s going to test our pitching and see where it’s at,” Erdos said. “I like the depth we have. We have a couple seniors on the mound and younger kids — like Zach Henderson and Cade Negley — who can start for us. They have to step up and show they are capable of competing on the section level.”

Butler’s bats proved section-ready against the Indians (5-2, 0-1).

The Golden Tornado pounded out 11 hits, helping snap a two-game losing streak.

“We’ve been trying to come together as a team recently,” Butler senior Mark Gross said. “We’ve been focusing on teamwork and striving to put your best forward right away. Not coming out slow.”

Behind 1-0 in the second inning, Butler third baseman Ollio opened the inning with a single off North Hills starting pitcher Brendan Burke.

One batter later, Dallas Hays followed with a single.

Lake Sankey walked to load the bases and Nathan Kibbie drew a walk to tie the game.

Reid Werth, who went 3-for-3, followed with a double to right-center field that cleared the bases and put the Tornado ahead 4-1.

Werth said Butler felt the sense of urgency against North Hills.

“Coach has been preaching it all week,” Werth said. “We needed the boost to our confidence because we had dropped two in a row.”

Butler added two more runs in the third and three in the fifth to stretch the lead to 9-1.

Hays had a two-run single in the third, while Sankey doubled in a run in the fifth.

That would be plenty of run support for Tornado pitcher Wyatt Daughtery, who earned the win by striking out six batters in six innings of work.

Indians coach Randy Miller thought North Hills missed opportunities.

“We wanted to get runners on base and be in attack mode on offense,” Miller said. “We have to execute. If we don’t execute in this section, it’s going to be a long year.”

Shaler used a strong outing from Brendan Keilor to best Butler in the nightcap.

Keilor pitched five innings and struck out five. The only run he allowed was on a balk in the first inning.

“He’s thrown one inning all year and he came out and threw strikes,” Shaler coach Brian Junker said. “That’s all we ask. We have a good team and if you throw strikes, you get more chances.”

The Titans plated two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead.

Gross and Conner Thomas drove in runs for Butler in the sixth.

Shaler added three runs in the seventh to seal the win.

After all the rain delays, Erdos is ready to see what his pitching staff does in the section race.

“It’s going to come down to who has better depth in pitching and we’re going to have to compete with that,” Erdos said.

North Hills 100 020 0 — 3 7 1

Butler 042 311 x — 11 11 2

W: Wyatt Daugherty 6 IP (6K, 2BB). L: Brendan Burke 2IP (2K, 4BB).

North Hills (5-2, 0-1): Andrew Bly 2-1B, Tyler Pusateri 2-1B, Vince Ruggieri 1B, Brandon Wagner 2-1B, Luke Chutko 1B

Butler: Connor Ollio 1B, Reid Werth 2-2B 3 RBI, Dallas Hays 2-1B, Lake Sankey 2-2B, Nathan Kibbie RBI, Mark Gross 2-1B, Garrett Goslaw 1B

Shaler 000 230 3 — 8 11 1

Butler 100 002 0 — 3 5 2

W: Brendan Keilor 5IP (5K, 1BB). L: Connor Ollio 3IP (1K, 1BB).

Shaler (6-1): Ken Wirkowski 1B, Alex Ficorelli 2-1B, Nick Fugh 1B 3B 2-RBI, Brendan Mueller 2-1B RBI, Adam Zulka 1B, Noah Seelhorst 1B,Sam Ireland 1B, Anthony Venezia 1B

Butler (4-4, 1-0): Hays 1B, Goslaw 2-1B, Werth 1B, Conner Thomas 1B RBI, Gross RBI

Today: Moon at Butler