Something strange happened the day Butler Township's Little League World Series hopes were extinguished four years ago in Bristol, Conn.

The fire remained lit.

Seven members of that Pennsylvania Little League championship team, Matt Baranchak, Colin McKee, Alex Ziegler, Tommy Bruce, Christopher Cotton, Dante Dorcy and David Tompkins, never quit playing together.

And they've never quit winning.

"We're hoping we can play baseball for the rest of our lives," said pitcher-center fielder Alex Ziegler. "Coming so close in that Little League World Series (Mid-Atlantic) regional — we just wanted to keep getting better."

Cotton still insists that Butler Township didn't play as well as it should have in that regional.

"They didn't get our best shot," the pitcher-first baseman said. "We got caught up too much in the atmosphere.

"I still believe we can get to the national (Colt) tournament. We want to win the WPIAL in high school, maybe the state tournament."

Winning in general is what these boys do best. Since reaching the LLWS Mid-Atlantic Regional, they've won 72 of 87 games the past four years, including two North Hills Federated Pony League titles and two Colt League championships.

This year's team, which includes Josh Harrison, Alex Russo, Zakk Foringer, Anthony Graziani and Colin Williamson, is 19-2 as 16-year-olds and begins play in the Colt Super Regional Thursday in Struthers, Ohio.

The team won that tournament last year before getting bounced from the Zone Tournament in New Jersey.

Chris Cotton and Bruce Ziegler have been coaching this group since the players were 8.

"They still want to get better," Coach Cotton said. "They've never lost that desire. They still take lessons and do clinics in the offseason.

"They've become great friends over the years, so there's the familiarity factor. It's a lot easier turning a double play when the shortstop and second baseman have been playing together for a long time," he added.

Five members of that LLWS regional team have since moved on. Mike Connelly isn't playing baseball anymore. Kevin Clapper plays for the Center Township American Legion team, Cody West is playing mixed Federation ball, Dalton Koebler is playing Palomino ball in Cranberry Township and Spencer Murray plays for Butler City Legion.

Bruce Ziegler has been a member of the Butler Township coaching staff since his son, Alex, was playing T-ball.

"I was an All-American swimmer in New York," Coach Ziegler said. "Competitive drive is in my nature and Alex has that, too. He's always had that drive to win.

"We don't just have great kids on this team, we have great families. There's never any bickering in the dugout or in the stands," he added.

The bond keep getting stronger.

"I can't imagine playing baseball with anyone else, though I know I will "Cotton said. "When we're all seniors, winning a state championship would be a great way to go out."

Coach Ziegler recognizes his days of working with this team are numbered.

"Next year, they're all going to be playing high school or Legion or Palomino," he said. "That's going to be hard on me, giving this up. It's been true joy.

"I love all of these kids as if they're my own."