BUTLER TWP - This time around, Saxonburg left no doubt in laying claim to its second consecutive Eagle County Baseball League championship.

Sandy Sanderson's bases-loaded triple and Brendan Malone's two-run inside-the-park home run highlighted an eight-run second inning to carry Saxonburg to a 16-6 victory over Natrona Heights at Highfield Park Tuesday for a three-game sweep.

Saxonburg (29-6) outscored Natrona Heights 43-12 in the three games, a far cry from last year's three one-run wins over Freeport in the finals.

Saxonburg swept all five of its playoff opponents in the past two seasons - Zelienople and Freeport last year and Wexford, Mars II and Natrona this year - for a 14-0 record.

"No team has ever won two years in a row and never lost a game in the playoffs," said Saxonburg manager Dan Cunningham. "That's a real testament to this team.

"We lost (pitcher) Jason Dolmeyer but got (Kevin) Orga. We lost Mike Sikorski but got Justin Woodrow.

"I can't say enough about this team, how well they play together. Nothing seems to rattle them," Cunningham added.

Natrona Heights, in only its second year in the league, grabbed the lead each game, only to have Saxonburg roar back. A six-run third inning after two outs allowed the team to take an insurmountable 14-1 lead.

"I played for Freeport for nine years, so I know how good they are," said player-manager Chad Gourley said of Saxonburg. "Like my dad said, they have a New York Yankees lineup. They have a lot of guys who played Division I."

Having four players on vacation and two others injured during the playoffs definitely put Natrona Heights behind the 8-ball.

Missing were pitcher T.J. Muehlfeld, catcher Bill York and No. 1 and 2 hitters Raymond Abati and Phil Coffin. Chris Turka was slowed by a quadricep injury and Andrew Andrykea was injured in Monday's Game 2.

"I'm not taking anything away from Saxonburg," said Gourley.

"To be honest, a lot of people didn't think we would go that far. I told the guys before the season that we have great pitching. We had pitching come though until this series," Gourley added.

Natrona Heights used an RBI double by Zak Sobotka to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning off Orga, but Saxonburg sent 13 runners up in the second and 11 more in the third to send them on their way.

In the third, a three-run double by Steve Hall highlighted the frame to chase starter Chris Kelly, while Tim Nebel and Sanderson followed up with a RBI double and run-scoring single, respectively.

Natrona Heights (20-18) was able to mount a big rally in the fifth inning when it scored five runs, thanks to six consecutive hits off Orga to open the frame.

A double by Ben Smith and a single by Cy Haponsky followed by an error plated one run before Kelly had a RBI double and Turka a RBI single.

Gourley then singled before Fred Federicci lined a two-run double, but was tagged out going to third base.

Orga then fanned Sobotka and got Christian Necheff to ground out.

Said Cunningham, "The message to Kevin was, 'Throw strikes. Make them hit the ball.' I didn't think they were going to score 10 more runs.

"I give Chad Gourley a lot of credit. Playing with a smaller and depleted team, I suffered like that for a couple of years, too. He should be proud of his team," Cunningham added.

A RBI by Orga on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning and a solo home run by Chase Rowe in the sixth closed out the scoring.

Saxonburg has played in the championship series seven consecutive years, having also won the title in 1998, but it is by far the hottest team in the league as of late.

"These guys didn't miss a beat," said Cunningham. "It's unbelievable they haven't lost a playoff game in two years."

Notes:

Every starter on both teams reached base safely at least once Tuesday except Natrona second baseman Mike Jewart, while every Saxonburg starter reached safely at least twice. Jason Curry did so the hard way, having been hit twice by Kelly and also earning a walk. Three of Saxonburg's four pinch hitters also reached safely. … Orga finished with eight strikeouts and did not walk a batter … Over the past two seasons, Saxonburg went 56-10-2.

N. Heights 010 050 0 - 6 11 0

Saxonburg 086 011 x - 16 16 1

WP:

Kevin Orga (7 IP) 8 strikeouts, 0 walks.

LP:

Chris Kelly (2

IP) 1 strikeout, 6 walks

Natrona Heights (20-18):

Cy Haponsky 2-1B; Chris Kelly 1B, 2B, RBI; Chris Turka 1B, RBI; Chad Gourley 1B, 2B; Fred Federicci 2B, 2 RBI; Zak Sobotka 2B, RBI; Christian Necheff 1B; Ben Smith 2B

Saxonburg (29-6):

Brendan Malone HR, 2 RBI; Justin Woodrow 3B, 2-1B; Chase Rowe HR; Jason Curry RBI; Steve Hall 1B, 3B, 3 RBI; Tim Nebel 2-1B, 2B, 2 RBI; Sandy Sanderson 3B, 1B, 4 RBI; Kevin Orga 2-1B, 2 RBI, Jason Bunda 2B; Dan O'Brien 1B