CRANBERRY TWP — In the first game of Thursday's Butler County Area Baseball League doubleheader, Butler Township opened up a 7-run lead before holding on for a 9-7 victory at Graham Park.

It was a good thing, too, for Tyler Friel's squad because Cranberry Township owned the nightcap.

Seven runs in the first two innings sparked an 11-0, five-inning win for Cranberry.

“If you would have told me before tonight that we'd come down here and get a split, I would have been happy with it,” said Friel, “but that was just a poor performance on our part in the second game.

“You just wash your hands of it,” he added. “We've had to respond before after a game like this and we did.”

In the first game, it was Butler Township that quickly took control.

Josh Grigoletti doubled in a run in the first and Zack Slomers singled in two more in the third. A Cranberry error in each of the first three innings made things even more difficult on starting pitcher Matt Stanick. Two runs scored on the mishap in the third frame.

“It was frustrating,” Stanick said. “We all had our struggles and I didn't pitch as well as I could have.”

“These are 18- and 19-year-old kids,” said Cranberry manager Larry Stelitano. “They're not perfect and made mistakes.”

Cranberry fought back, however. A 4-run bottom of the third cut the deficit to 8-5. Run-scoring base hits from Jacob Coon, Clayton Blutcher and Mike Morrone sparked the rally.

But Grigoletti, BT's starting pitcher, weathered the storm. He also gave up a pair of runs in the fifth, cutting his team's lead to 9-7, before completing the game just short of 100 pitches.

The game began with the temperature flirting with 90 degrees.

“We had a recent game against (West Sunbury) and it was pretty hot that day, too,” said Grigoletti. “I threw 88 pitches and that helped condition me for today.”

“Our hope coming in was that Josh could go seven innings,” said Friel. “He had his trouble spots, but he battled through it. This is the second time it's happened for him this season and that's a positive sign.”

Colby Anderson paced Butler's 11-hit attack with three hits, including a double.

Cranberry was designated as the visiting team in the second game and the first six batters reached base with a hit. Included was Stanick's 2-run home run off pitcher Kevin King.

One baserunner was picked off and another was caught stealing, which tempered the scoring. But Cranberry still led 3-0 before Butler picked up its bats.

Coon's 3-run blast highlighted Cranberry's 4-run second inning.

“One through nine, all of these kids can hit home runs out of here. I've seen them do it,” said Stelitano. “They know what they are capable of and I think sometimes we take for granted what we can do.”

King was unable to make it through the first inning and was followed by John Piroch, who also struggled to get outs.

Six players in Cranberry's lineup had multiple hits, including seven that went for extra bases.

“Cranberry is a good team and they can hit the ball,” said Friel. “They weren't just putting it in play, they were drilling the ball.”

Morrone, Cranberry's starting pitcher, was making his first appearance on the mound in two years. He didn't allow a hit until Kyle Weitzel's single that led off the bottom of the fourth.

The doubleheader pitted the BCABL's last two champions. Butler Township (6-2) won the title last year and Cranberry (7-2) did so in 2018.

Game 1

Butler Twp. 314 100 0 — 9 11 1

Cranberry Twp. 014 020 0 — 7 6 3

W: Josh Grigoletti 7 IP (5K, 2BB). L: Matt Stanick 5 IP (3K, 3BB).

Butler Township: Kyle Weitzel 1B 2B, Colby Anderson 2-1B 2B, Josh Grigoletti 2B, Zack Slomers 2-1B

Cranberry Township: Jacob Coon 3-1B, Clayton Blutcher 1B 2B, Matt Stanick 2-1B, Jon McCullough 2B

Game 2

Cranberry Twp. 342 20x x — 11 16 1

Butler Twp. 000 00x x — 0 3 2

W: Mike Morrone 4 IP (4K, 1BB). L: Kevin King .1 IP (0K, 0BB).

Cranberry Township (7-2): Evan Schneider 1B 2B, Jacob Coon 2B HR, Clayton Blutcher 2-1B, Matt Stanick 1B HR, Jon McCullough 1B 2B, Sam Baic 2B, Mike Waitlevertch 1B 2B

Butler Township (6-2): Kyle Weitzel 1B, Colby Anderson 1B, Bayden Davenport 1B

Tuesday: Cranberry Township at West Sunbury; Saxonburg at Butler Township