Butler’s boys bowling team entered the stepladder finals as the No. 1 seed, but dropped a 2-1 decision to Manheim Township at the Pa. High School Bowling State Championships Saturday at Eastway Lanes in Erie.

The Golden Tornado won the first game, 159-157, but then dropped decisions of 169-157 and 172-153 as Manheim, the third-seeded team,rallied to win.

“We opened in the last two frames of the second game with a chance to wrap it up,” Butler coach Bob Cupp said. “We were a little nervous in the third game as a result.”

Luke Keene rolled a 598 series during the traditional three-game bowling portion of the event. Zach Kniess rolled a 231 and Rocco Rice a 226 in the third game. Eric DeVore had a 209-558.

Butler’s overall pin count of 3,917 topped the field and the Tornado earned the top seed after the six baker games.

“We had to sit around for an hour waiting to bowl (the final match),” Cupp said. “That makes it tough. We’ve never won this tournament being the No. 1 seed.”

Manheim Township defeated two other opponents to get to Butler.

The Golden Tornado girls finished seventh. Natalie Coughenour had a 202 game and 522 series, Kelsee McConnell a 179-481.

“From our first day of conditioning back in October, these kids came in totally focused and they went to work,” Cupp said. “They never took a day off all season. They were determined to do what they eventually accomplished. We just fell short at the end.”

Boys Volleyball

Mars won the Fox Chapel Tournament, defeating Derry, 25-15, in the championship match.

Baseball

Charlie Bickel had a pair of hits Friday as Mars defeated Alcoa (Tenn.), 8-6, to begin its Florida trip.

Benji Asbury had a triple and two RBI. Nolan Scott and Zack Orosz had triples and Owen Smith doubled. Jacob Maple pitched two scoreless innings for the win.