It’s been nearly two decades since a Butler team was represented at the Pa. Little League State Tournament.

That drought will end Monday when Butler’s 12U Majors team heads to Fairchance, in Fayette County, for the state championships. The team beat DuBois in Wednesday’s Pa. Little League Section 1 Tournament championship.

“We talk a lot about team effort, and it took all 12 to pull out this tournament,” coach Shawn Manning said. “It was a little bit of everybody … offensively or defensively.”

Butler actually faced DuBois three times in the double-elimination tournament, beating the District 10 champion 5-4 in the second round. DuBois got revenge against the District 25 champion in the first championship game Tuesday, winning 7-0. But Butler shut DuBois out 10-0 Wednesday night for its first section title since 2006.

“Oh, they’re excited,” Manning said. “You could see it on their faces last night. In the postgame chat, it’s a different level of excitement. … You could feel it after the game.”

Related Article: Butler wins PA Little League 2025 Section 1 tournament, heads to states: See bracket results

Sage Seezox pitched in three games for Butler, earning wins in all three. Carter Knapik started the final game and was “awesome” with catcher Henry Manning, the coaches son, Shawn Manning said. Defense also played a role, as Graham Hohn made a key force-out play at second, Grady Bowen snared a line drive over the first base bag that would’ve scored a run and Kaden Walker tracked down a liner in the right-center field gap that also would’ve scored a run.

Manning said recent Butler teams paved the way for this year’s team. Four years ago, a team won the district and made sectionals. Last year’s Butler team made the section title game. Henry Manning was 8 when that first team made it.

“Those kids paved the way,” Shawn Manning said.

“We’re looking forward to the experience. This is something that not many people get to experience, and we want to compete, for sure, and we’re going to, but we’re going to try to enjoy the moment.”

Butler faces Section 6 champ Pennridge in Monday’s first round at 1 p.m. Pennridge beat Council Rock Newtown, the program that made the Little League World Series a year ago, Manning said.

Butler held one last practice Friday evening before traveling to Fairchance. The tournament is double-elimination, and the championship games are scheduled for July 26-27.

Related Article: Savannah Bananas’ Alex Ziegler, a Butler High grad, throws out first pitch at Pirates vs Reds: Gallery

(Double-elimination format)

First Round, July 21

Hollidaysburg (Section 4) vs. Abington (Section 5), 10 a.m.

Butler (Section 1) vs. Pennridge (Section 6), 1 p.m.

Keystone (Section 3) vs. Morrisville (Section 8), 4 p.m.

Glenmoore (Section 7) vs. Hermitage (Section 2), 8 p.m.

Second Round, July 22

TBD

Consolation First Round, July 22

TBD

Semifinal, July 23

TBD

Consolation Second Round, July 23

TBD

Consolation Third Round, July 24

TBD

Consolation Fourth Round, July 25

TBD

Championship, July 26-27

Game 1, July 26, 2 p.m.: TBD

Game 2, July 27, 2 p.m. (if necessary): TBD