EAST BUTLER — Somebody had to get somebody out.

That's where Greg Hays came in.

After pitching a complete game four-hitter in a 15-1 victory Monday night, the East Butler ace right-hander came on in the seventh inning Tuesday night and closed the door on a 19-12 Butler County American Legion baseball championship victory over Meridian at Speed-O Field.

The win gave East Butler a sweep in the best-of-three series to determine Butler County's representative at the regional tournament in Erie that begins Saturday.

But unlike Monday night, this victory didn't come easily.

The two teams combined to score 31 runs, collect 34 hits and strand 18 runners on base.

"It wasn't the pitching," East Butler manager Carl Hays insisted. "Both of these teams can hit the ball that well.

"As crazy as things got, I knew I had Greg for the seventh inning. We just needed to get there."

East Butler starting pitcher Nick Rossmiller had a 13-0 lead after three innings. The hosts scored all 13 of those runs, including nine in the second inning, with two outs.

But Rossmiller never got out of the fourth inning as Meridian put up a nine-spot of its own. Caleb Trombatt's three-run homer highlighted the frame.

"The way Monday's game went, we easily could have folded, down 13-0," Meridian manager Butch Master said. "That inning speaks volumes for the type of kids we have."

East Butler scored in every inning, however, never allowing Meridian to get closer than four runs the rest of the way.

"We let our guard down and they jumped all over us," Carl Hays said. "Then our kids got back together and responded. We had to hold the fort."

Evan Oswald replaced Rossmiller and pitched into the sixth inning. But when Chase Rodgers' RBI double pulled Meridian to 16-12, manager Hays moved Rossmiller from third base back to the mound.

Rossmiller responded, striking out two, including No. 3 hitter Kenny Dunmyre with the bases loaded, to end the inning.

"I was a little surprised he put me back in," Rossmiller said, having not pitched for more than an hour. "But (Carl Hays) has a lot of confidence in me and I wasn't going to let him down."

Leading 19-12, Rossmiller allowed a single and a walk to begin the seventh. That's when manager Hays went to pitcher Hays.

Corey Branchen grounded into a double play, and, after allowing a walk, Hays got Rodgers to pop out to second base, ending the game.

Greg Hays is 8-0 on the season.

"He's been perfect all year," his manager and father said. "He forced that ground ball (double play). He knows how to get the critical out."

East Butler's No. 2 through 5 hitters — Oswald, Hays, Rossmiller and Ryan Fennell —combined to go 12-for-16, recording 12 runs and nine RBI.

Meridian was unbeaten during the regular season, but ended the campaign with three consecutive losses to East Butler — 5-0 in the BCAL Tournament championship game, 15-1 and 19-12 in the best-of-three regional elimination series.

East Butler will head to Erie for Legion regional action.

"We're going to need a few days to get ready," Hays said. "We beat each other up pretty good tonight."

Meridian 000 921 0 — 12 14 3East Butler 193 213 x — 19 20 2W: Nick Rossmiller (4 IP) 5 K, 2 BB.

L: Caleb Trombatt (2X\c IP) 1 K, 1 BB.

Meridian (21-4): Tanner Master 2-1B RBI, Caleb Trombatt HR 3-RBI, Kenny Dunmyre 2-1B 2-R, Nick Bellisario 3-1B 2-R, Cory Achezinski 2B 2-RBI, Corey Branchen 1B 2-RBI, Josh Miller 2-1B 2-RBI 2-R, Zach Vasey 1B RBI, Chase Rodgers 2B RBI

East Butler (21-2): Dalton Steighner 2B 2-RBI 2-R, Evan Oswald 2-2B 2-1B 2-RBI 4-R, Greg Hays 2-1B 2-RBI 3-R, Nick Rossmiller HR 2-2B 4-RBI 3-R, Ryan Fennell 2B 2-1B RBI 2-R, Brad Marra 1B, Adam Bresnahan 2-2B 1B 3-RBI, Josh Reddick 1B RBI 2-R, Nathan Neff 2-1B 2-RBI 2-R