EAST BUTLER— No slow start this time.

After having to come from behind to defeat eighth-seeded Meridian in the first round of the Butler County American Legion Baseball Tournament, East Butler took care of business early in Round 2.

East Butler scored four runs in the first inning, led 12-0 after four innings and cruised to a 16-4 triumph over Zelienople Saturday night at Speed-OField.

The win set up a showdown with Butler City in the winner's bracket final of the double-elimination tournament Tuesday.

"We came out ready to play today,"East Butler manager Carl Hays said. "Nobody was taking anything for granted."

Greg Hays pitched the first six innings for East Butler and improved to 6-0 on the season. He threw only 68 pitches — 49 for strikes.

"I've got two No. 1 pitchers in Greg and Nick Rossnmiller,"manager Hays said. "I can't list one above the other. Those guys have been carrying the load for us on the mound."

Everybody shared the load at the plate Saturday night as nine players contributed to East Butler's hit parade. Most notable was second baseman and leadoff batter Evan Oswald.

By the fourth inning, Oswald had collected his first home run of the season, along with a triple, double and three runs scored. He tripled to right field to begin his team's four-run first inning.

"That was the trigger,"Hays said of Oswald's triple. "When you start off a game with an exciting hit like that, everyone on the bench gets into it.

"That triple was huge. It got us going."

Oswald respectfully disagreed with his skipper.

"I think we score a bunch of runs tonight with or without that triple,"he said. "We were locked in from the start of this game."

All that was missing for Oswald was hitting for the cycle. East Butler sent 11 batters to the plate in the fourth inning — Oswald began that frame with a double — and Oswald was hit by a pitch during his second plate appearance of the inning.

He grounded out to second in his final at bat in the sixth.

"Yeah, I wanted the cycle," Oswald

said. "But I'll take this."

Ryan Armahizer had two singles and scored twice for East Butler. Greg Hays and Dallas O'Donnell had three RBIeach.

Zelienople scored four runs late in the game. Nick Perry was 3-for-3 — all singles — and Russell King led off the seventh with a home run.

But six errors defensively — including three in the seven-run East Butler fourth — didn't help the pitching-starved visitors.

"We only have one pitcher (Perry),"Zelienople manager Tom Schneider admitted. "The kid we started today hasn't pitched all season and his replacement has only thrown a few innings.

"When you're in a situation like that against a team that can hit like East Butler ... It's tough."

Zelienople starter Jesse Muto threw 30 pitches before recording an out in the first inning. He had thrown 94 pitches before being relieved by Trey Skalos in the fourth.

Ryan Pettit collected a run-scoring double off the bench while reserves Dan Steele and Eric Regis contributed runs to the win.

"We were able to use everybody and got contributions from a lot of guys,"Hays said. "Everybody goes home feeling good."

Zelienople was eliminated Sunday with a 20-9 loss at Mars.

Zelienople 000 003 1—4 8 6East Butler 410 731 x—16 13 1W: Greg Hays 6 IP (6 K, 0 BB).

L: Jesse Muto 3Z\c IP(2 K, 4 BB).

Zelienople (7-9): Channing Jessell 1B, Josh Mann 2-2BRBI, Tad Forsythe RBI, Russell King HR, Nick Perry 3-1B, Trey Skalos 1B

East Butler (15-2): Evan Oswald HR 3B 2B 3-R, Ryan Armahizer 2-1BRBI2-R, Ryan Geibel 1B 3-R, Nick Rossmiller 2-RRBI, Eric Regis 1B, Bill Coleman 1B 2-RBI, Ryan Pettit 2BRBI, Greg Hays 1B 3-RBI, Dallas O'Donnell 1B 3-RBI, Michael Bresnahan 1BRBI, Nathan Neff 1BRBI

Tuesday: Butler City at East ButlerIn other Legion playoff action:• Butler City earned the right to playEast Butler in the winner's bracket final by disposing of Prospect, 17-11, Saturday. Jim McKissick struck out seven in tossing a complete game.Chris Codispot had a triple, two doubles and six RBI to pace a 15-hit attack for Butler City (11-7). Brian Anthony added a triple, double and single with McKissick, Jamie Masciarelli and Ken Rosenbauer contributing two hits each.Losing pitcher Nick Cress doubled and singled for Prospect (11-5) while Ryan Ferguson had two singles, Mark White and Travis McDougall a double each.• Center Township stayed alive in the loser's bracket by beating Cranberry 15-14 in a wild slugfest Saturday.Center Township will play at Prospect today in an elimination game at 6 p.m.