Kyle Texter's three-run home run in the fourth inning gave Karns City a lead it would not relinquish in a 12-6 victory over East Butler in Butler County American Legion baseball action Thursday.

Josh Smith's three-run double in the fifth broke the game open. Smith also allowed one hit, one walked and fanned 11 hitters in 6

innings of relief.

East Butler had scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning for a 6-1 lead before Karns City came back.

Matt Allen added three singles and a double for Karns City.

In other action:

Adam Palace fanned nine batters and allowed just two singles as Butler Township toppled Meridian 4-1.

Jory Giger knocked in three runs and Mike Skurko two runs to lead Mars to an 11-4 victory over Cranberry Township.

Center Township and Prospect split a doubleheader at Pullman Park, Prospect winning the first game, 12-11, Center Township the nightcap, 10-6.

Karns City 103 340 1 - 12 9 3

East Butler 600 000 0 - 6 6 5

WP:

Josh Smith (6

IP) 11 strikeouts, 1 walk.

LP:

Krause (4 IP) 1 strikeouts, 1 walks

Karns City (9-6-1):

Kyle Texter HR, 3 RBI; Josh Smith 2B, 1B, 3 RBI; Shayne Bell 2-1B; Matt Allen 3-1B, 2B

East Butler (11-6-1):

Gregory 2-1B

Today:

Butler Township at East Butler

Tuesday:

Karns City at Center Township (doubleheader)

Meridian 000 001 0 - 1 2 5

Butler Twp. 200 101 x - 4 7 1

WP:

Adam Palace (7 IP) 9 strikeouts, 5 walks.

LP:

Joe Ference (6 IP) 0 strikeouts, 3 walks

Meridian (5-8):

Joe Black 1B; Tim Levere

Butler Township (9-5-1):

Brian Bell HR; Joe Rekich 3-1B

Today:

Butler Township at East Butler; Zelienople at Meridian

Mars 211 033 1 - 11 9 2

Cranberry Twp. 040 000 0 - 4 6 4

WP:

Dan Pierre (3

IP) 7 strikeouts, 0 walks.

LP:

Joe Sklarsky (3 IP) 1 strikeout, 7 walks

Mars (7-10):

Mike Skurko 1B, 2B, 2 RBI; Jason Wiemann 2-1B; Jory Giger 2B, 3 RBI

Cranberry Twp. (3-11):

John Sklarsky 2-1B

Today:

Prospect at Cranberry Township

Wednesday:

Mars at Cranberry Township

First Game

Center Twp. 011 026 1 - 11 10 2

Prospect 020 712 x - 12 6 4

WP:

Brandon Ray (2 IP) 2 strikeouts, 1 walk.

LP:

Bruce Cornibe (2

IP) 1 strikeout, 3 walks

Center Township:

Jason Monks 2-2B, Clayton Smith 2-1B, J.W. Shaffer 2-1B

Prospect:

Bill Dillon 3B 2B, Ross Ketzel 2B 1B, Mike DeCola 1B

Second Game

Prospect 100 021 2 - 6 5 8

Center Twp. 120 205 x - 10 9 1

WP:

Jason Monks (6

IP) 6 strikeouts, 6 walks.

LP:

Ryan Hays (5

IP) 4 strikeouts, 4 walks

Prospect (8-8-1):

Sean Ray 2-1B, Ryan Hays 1B, Mark White 1B, Brandon Ray 1B

Center Township (12-6):

Ryan Banner 2-1B, Nathan Markle 2B, Joe Palermo 1B, Bruce Cornibe 1B, Josh Warburton 1B, Clayton Smith 1B

Today:

Prospect @ Cranberry

Tuesday:

Karns City @ Center Township, DH