Pitching in
EAST BUTLER — All three of Cranberry Township's runs were unearned Thursday night at Speed-O Field.
But pitcher Kevin Everly earned everything he got.
The 17-year-old right-hander struck out eight and tossed a four-hitter in leading Cranberry into the BCAL Tournament semifinals with a 3-1 win over second-seeded East Butler.
“A two-seam fastball,” Everly said. “That's what I was throwing most of the night. I felt pretty locked in out there.”
Everly hasn't pitched much this season. He is Cranberry's backup catcher and has only two wins on the mound this summer. But he was pressed into mound duty Thursday after manager P.J. Lynd started ace hurler Matt McKenna in Tuesday's tourney opener and No. 2 pitcher Jason Happ headed to college early.
“Kevin came up big for us,” Lynd said.
East Butler (14-7) scored its only run in the first inning. Ian Steighner reached on a two-out infield single and scored from first when David Matson doubled into the right-center field gap.
The host team managed just two more hits the rest of the way.
“Their kid pitched a fine game,” East Butler manager Russ Scott said. “He kept the ball down most of the night. We couldn't hit him.”
Cranberry (12-9) managed only six hits itself against Matson and relief pitcher Dallas Hays. Two of those hits occurred during a two-run fourth inning.
Brandon Lynd reached on an infield throwing error with one out. Nate Kouns singled to right, Lynd scoring the tying run when the throw to third base got away and sailed out of play. Kouns scored on a two-out double by Sean Cavanagh.
Cranberry tacked on a run in the seventh. Brett Steinmiller singled with out one out, moved to second on a groundout, then advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Steinmiller waas able to score when the catcher's throw to third went into left field.
Matson struck out eight in 5.1 innings, but left after walking a pair in the sixth. He threw 100 pitches. Everly threw 102 pitches in a complete-game effort.“Matson pitched very well. We didn't give him any support tonight,” Scott said.Steighner and Hunter Scott singled in the East Butler fourth. They executed a double steal with two outs. Colby McClelland grounded out to third to end the inning as Cranberry first baseman Kouns stretched to receive the throw on a close play.“I have to throw a shout out to our defense tonight,” Everly said. “Those guys made the plays behind me. That just adds to the confidence.”East Butler had a runner in scoring position in the sixth and seventh innings as well, but Everly ended both threats with strikeouts.“We played a smooth game tonight,” Lynd said. “I thought both teams played well. Runs were hard to come by.”Cranberry travels to Valley for a 6 p.m. game Friday while East Butler will host Saxonburg at 8 p.m. in a battle of top seeds trying to stay alive in the tournament.Cranberry 000 200 1 — 3 6 1 East Butler 100 000 0 — 1 4 3W: Kevin Everly 7IP (8K, 2BB). L: David Matson 5.1IP (8K, 4BB).Cranberry (12-9): Corbin Raeford 2B, Brandon Lynd 2B, Nate Kouns 2-1B, Sean Cavanagh 2B RBI, Brett Steinmiller 1BEast Butler (14-7): Ian Steighner 2-1B, David Matson 2B RBI, Hunter Scott 1BSaturday: Cranberry at Valley, East Butler vs. Saxonburg
