Bartek

JEFFERSON TWP — Saxonburg manager Pete McMillen had reason for feeling a bit uneasy entering Saturday's Butler County Area Baseball League elimination game against Center Township.

Due to scheduling conflicts, McMillen was forced to call up four players from Saxonburg's Colt League team — Brayden Tristani, Blaze Voltz, Caleb Traggiai and Isaiah Seybert — to ensure his squad would have enough players.

All four players started and played a role in Saxonburg prevailing with a 5-3 victory at Laura Doerr Park to advance to Tuesday's championship round against Cranberry Township.

“The Colt team's season ended about two weeks ago,” said McMillen. “I started making calls Thursday to see who from that team could play for us tonight. They all produced and I'm proud of the feeder system we have here in Saxonburg. Those players proved they belonged here tonight.”

Saxonburg scored the game's final runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie, taking advantage of several miscues by Center Township.

Starting pitcher Grant Clawson hit Josh Campbell with a pitch. With two outs, Jack Bartek drew a walk. Tristani's infield single plated one run and back-to-back errors allowed Travis Mowery to score a fifth run.

Clawson escaped the inning shortly afterward, but the damage was done.

“We had one bad inning,” said Center Township manager Allen Hoehn. “That was the difference in the game.”

Bartek started the game and worked six innings to earn the win, allowing three runs on seven hits. In Bartek's last inning on the mound, Clawson sent a fly ball to deep left, where Seybert made the catch with his back to the fence.

Bartek was the losing pitcher last Tuesday when Saxonburg lost out on the double-elimination tournament's king seat with an 8-3 loss to Cranberry.

“Getting another shot at Cranberry, that was all I wanted to do tonight,” Bartek said.

“Jack is our version of Greg Maddux,” Pete McMillen said. “He's not going to overwhelm anybody, but he throws strikes and does not walk many guys. We would not still be playing without him.”

Mike McCarty pitched the top of the seventh for Saxonburg. He walked Jake Somerville with two outs to bring the tying run to the plate, but then retired Trevor Gahagan to end the game.

Center Township trailed 3-2 when Somerville's base hit scored Clawson to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning.

Earlier in the game, it was Saxonburg answering at the plate. Center had a 2-1 lead before Campbell tied the game by scoring on a double steal in the third. Seybert then singled in Tristani to take a 3-2 lead in the fourth frame.

Center Township finishes the season with a record of 12-9.

“Obviously, we played to win the game,” Allen Hoehn said, “but more than this loss is the loss of many of our players who will be too old to play (in the BCABL) next season. Many of them have played together since they were 7-years old. We picked up a few more when they were 13. Since then, they have played about 250 games together on different teams.”

Saxonburg (13-4) will face Cranberry (13-6) at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Kelly Automotive Park. If Saxonburg wins that game, the teams will play a second game shortly afterward at the same venue to decide the league title.

Center Twp. 002 010 0 — 3 7 2

Saxonburg 101 120 x — 5 7 2

W: Jack Bartek 6 IP (2K, 2BB). L: Grant Clawson 5 IP (4K, 3BB). S: Mike McCarty 1 IP (0K, 1BB).

Center Township (12-9): Grant Clawson 2R, Jake Keene 1B 2B, Alex Hoehn 1B R RBI, Jake Somerville 1B RBI

Saxonburg (13-4): Josh Campbell 1B 2B 3R, Ben McMillen 1B RBI, Brayden Tristani 1B R RBI, Isaiah Seybert 1B RBI

Tuesday: Saxonburg vs. Cranberry Township, BCABL championship round, Kelly Automotive Park, 6 p.m.