BUTLER TWP — Colby Anderson has never thrown a perfect game before.

He did Friday evening.

Sort of.

Butler Township's lanky left-hander struggled in the top of the first inning, giving up a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases against Center Township in the first round of the Butler County Area Baseball League playoffs.

But Anderson got out of the jam by striking out the side and then retired 18 more in a row to lead Butler Township to a 9-0 win at Highfield Park.

It was a perfect-ish game.

“Almost perfect,” Anderson said, smiling.

Anderson said he had trouble early because he hadn't pitched in nearly two weeks and he warmed up before the game on flat ground and not off a mound.

It took him some time to get comfortable.

“I was just trying to get established and get a feel for the mound,” Anderson said. “I got in my groove and felt it. I got loose.”

Brody Lineman and Trevor Gahagan each singled off of Anderson to begin the first inning and then Jerome Oliver worked a walk.

Anderson, though, seemingly flipped a switch.

“It took him an inning to find his groove,” said Butler Township coach Dan Lynn, who was filling in for manager Tyler Friel. “Once he got into his groove, he was locked in.”

Anderson struck out 13 of those final 21 batters, including the side again in the sixth.

Despite the dominating performance, Anderson said this wasn't the best he's felt on the mound.

Anderson said he had no idea he had retired 21 in a row until after the game.

“I had no idea,” he said. “It felt good. I was getting in there and getting out and saving my arm.”

Butler Township (14-3) gave Anderson all the run support he would need in the first inning, scoring seven runs against Center Township starter Jake Cuny.

Nate Stutz, Jake Slomers and Josh Bonetti each had RBI singles and Shawn Marcellus lashed a two-run double to key the onslaught.

But Center Township settled down after the rocky first inning, turning to Jerome Oliver on the mound.

Oliver was effective, pitching to contact and giving up just two runs on three hits in four innings of work.

Ryan Lynn's RBI double — his third hit of the game — was the biggest blow against Oliver, who began the game at catcher and moved again to shortstop in the seventh as Brayden Davenport pitched the final frame for CT.

“I was very happy Jerome was able to come in and settle the team down,” said CT manager Jeff Lineman. “We played some great defensive plays behind him.”

Oliver made his own stellar play at shortstop.

“He is the best athlete on our team,” Lineman said. “It's nice. I can put him at catcher, I can put him at any position and he can perform.”

It was Oliver's first outing on the mound in several weeks because of injury.

“Once he settled down he really got into the swing of things,” Lineman said.

Butler Township now moves on in the winners' bracket and will host Kiski, an 11-6 winner over Saxonburg, Saturday.

“It's a nice place to be, Anderson said. “It makes it easier. It keeps our pitching on schedule and ready to go.”

Center Township (4-11), will have to fight its way through the losers' bracket. CT will play at Saxonburg.

Lineman said his team got some confidence.

“We are in position to knock someone out of the playoffs Saturday,” Lineman said. “That's how we're looking at it.”

Center Twp 000 000 0 — 0 2 1

Butler Twp 710 010 x — 9 9 0

W: Colby Anderson 7IP (13K, 1BB). L: Jake Cuny 1IP (0K, 2BB).

Center Township (4-11): Brody Lineman 1B, Trevor Gahagan 1B

Butler Township (14-3): Ryan Lynn 2-1B 2B RBI, Nate Stutz 1B RBI, Anderson 1B, Jake Slomers 1B RBI, Shawn Marcellus 2B 2-RBI, Josh Griggoletti RBI, Josh Bonetti 1B RBI, John Piroch 1B, Kevin King RBI

Saturday: Butler Township at Kiski; Center Township at Saxonburg