BUTLER TWP — The first six innings were filled with frustration for Butler Township's lineup.

Aside from an unearned run in the third inning, BT's efforts led to a lot of weak fly balls and groundouts against Freeport starting pitcher Joe Hotalski in Tuesday's Butler County Area Baseball League game at Highfield Park.

“His velocity was down from what we've been seeing,” said Butler Township first baseman Bryan Presco. “We were pulling our heads and we just needed to sit back and be patient.”

It took until the last inning, but better late than never.

Trailing Freeport 3-1, a five-hit inning culminated with Presco's shot to deep right-center, scoring John Piroch easily from second base with the winning run in Butler Township's 4-3 win.

It is the first loss of the season for Freeport (11-1-1).

Hotalski entered the game having allowed just four earned runs with six complete games this season. He struck out five and walked one Tuesday.

“We've faced him three other times (including last season) and he always pitches this well against us,” said BT manager Tyler Friel. “He changes speeds, throws strikes and just works well against us.

“We made the adjustments we needed to.”

Braden Marcellus and Mattix Clement began the rally with consecutive one-out singles.

Kyle Weitzel tied the game with a two-run double, but was later thrown out at home plate on John Piroch's fielder's choice.

One out from sending the game into extra innings, Hotalski gave up a single to Colby Anderson before Presco's game-ender.

The result made a winning pitcher out of Anderson, who had a roller-coaster of a start. The southpaw walked seven, but countered by striking out 13 and allowing just two hits.

Two of the three runs he allowed were earned and they all came in the top of the first, highlighted by Matt Grove's two-run double.

“It was rough early, but I found my groove,” said Anderson, who threw over 100 pitches a day after working 1 2/3 innings of relief for the Butler BlueSox in Tri-State Collegiate play Monday. “I'm running on adrenalin now, but my arm's going to be pretty sore.”

Anderson struck out the side in the second and the fifth and walked between the raindrops in the fourth, not allowing a run despite loading the bases on free passes.

“He didn't have his best stuff today and he'd tell you that,” said Friel of Anderson. “But he battled and the other guys rallied behind that.”

Hotalski allowed BT's initial run in the third. Clement reached second base on a throwing error, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Piroch's base hit.

“The seventh inning was going to be his last inning,” Freeport manager Joe Hotalski said of his son. “He wants to be out there every inning and has pitched his guts out this season.

“We were playing this game for pride. We had already locked up the top seed.”

Freeport and Butler Township (8-2-1) were supposed to pick up a suspended game from last Saturday that was tied at two after five innings.

“We had three or four players in that game who weren't here today,” said Friel. “We just agreed to consider that game a tie.”

Freeport's regular season is over. The team will open the playoffs next Tuesday against the winner of Sunday's contest between the league's No. 8 and 9 seeds.

Butler Township still has two regular-season games remaining and will host Karns City Thursday.

Freeport 300 000 0 — 3 2 1

Butler Twp. 001 000 3 — 4 9 2

W: Colby Anderson 7 IP (13K, 7BB). L: Joe Hotalski 6.2 IP (5K, 1BB).

Freeport (11-1-1): Matt Grove 2B R 2RBI, Bradyn Clark 1B RBI

Butler Township (8-2-1): Kyle Weitzel 3B 2RBI, Mattix Clement 2-1B 2R

Thursday: Karns City at Butler Township