Seneca's Page fans 12 Butler hitters in 10-0 rout

By DEREK PYDA Eagle Staff Writer

April 16, 2004 Last Updated: January 06, 2005 12:14 PM High School

It's not that Ryan Page didn't appreciate all the offense his teammates provided.

But, as it turned out, one run would have done the job.

Page struck out 12 batters and surrendered just four hits in a six-inning shutout as the Raiders handled Butler's Golden Tornado 10-0 Thursday at Pullman Park.

As Page took the mound in the bottom of the second inning, he had a 5-0 lead to work with.

"Our offense has been hitting well all year," said Page. "It's the nicest feeling in the world for a pitcher when he's up 5-0 in the second inning."

One group that didn't have much fun was Butler's hitters.

"He went to three balls on just two hitters," Seneca coach Eric Semega said of Page, who did not walk a batter. "He pitched an excellent game."

Seneca Valley grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first frame when Andy Wilmoth scored the first of his three runs on a wild pitch.

The Raiders broke the game open in the second inning against eventual losing pitcher Bill Coulter.

John Sklarsky doubled in Kevin Aufman before Wilmoth smacked a two-bagger to plate Adam Ranalli and Sklarsky. Wilmoth scored on Chris Tremblay's single to left, giving the visitors a 5-0 cushion.

Coulter was pulled after pitching just 1

innings. He struck out two, walked four and surrendered five runs on four hits.

"You don't throw strikes, you don't win," said Butler coach Ron Zawrotuk. "It sounds like a broken record, but you have to throw strikes and get people out. We didn't do that today."

Wilmoth ended the game with a double, triple, four RBI and three runs scored. Tremblay tallied two singles, a double and two RBI.

"(Wilmoth) has done a great job of getting big hits for us this year," said Semega. "We count on him to give us that momentum. And when you have a guy like Chris batting behind him … there's not much room for teams to pitch around us from two through six in our lineup."

Butler did threaten to close the gap in both the second and third innings.

In both cases, the Golden Tornado (0-3, 0-3) had two runners on with just one out. Page proceeded to strike out the next two batters both times, leaving Butler with its five-run deficit.

"I've always liked pressure situations," said Page. "It's you versus the other person. Plus, it's nice to know that you've got eight other guys behind you to help you out."

"We just couldn't produce when we needed it," said Zawrotuk. "(Page) is sharp, crafty and smart. But he's also confident, and that's the biggest thing."

Butler's Tony Rossmiller relieved Coulter in the second inning and pitched 3

innings. He surrendered three runs on four hits, striking out three and walking three.

Seneca Valley (8-1, 4-0) tallied three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth off Butler's Trevor Dunkel to bring the mercy rule into play.

Seneca Valley 140 032 x - 10 12 0

Butler 000 000 x - 0 4 0

WP:

Ryan Page (6 IP) 12 strikeouts, 0 walks.

LP:

Bill Coulter (1

IP) 2 strikeouts, 4 walks

Seneca Valley (8-1, 4-0):

Andy Wilmoth 2B 3B 4RBI 3R, Chris Tremblay 2-1B 2B 2RBI, Dan Reale 2-1B, Adam Ranalli 3R, John Sklarsky 2B RBI R