EAST BUTLER — One after another, they hit the ball.

Whether it was a fastball, curveball, change-up or slider, they hit it.

Against a starting pitcher from college, or two relievers from high school, they hit them.

Meridian pounded out 13 hits, all of them scorched, in a 13-3, five-inning win over East Butler at Speed-o-Field in Butler County American Legion baseball Monday night.

"I didn't expect to come in here and do that," said Meridian manager Butch Master.

But his team did, winning a much ballyhooed battle of undefeated teams.

Meridian (10-0) chased East Butler starter Nick Rossmiller, who starred this spring for Butler County Community College, after just 2Z\c innings.

Rossmiller walked three, gave up eight hits and was charged with eight runs — six earned.

Two relievers, Evan Oswald and Cody Herald, didn't fare much better.

"I thought coming in that we were the best hitting team in the league," Master said.

Meridian proved it.

Leadoff hitter Tanner Master was 4-for-4 with two doubles, three runs scored and five RBI in four innings.

"It was huge," Tanner Master said. "All year, all we've heard was how good East Butler was, about how East Butler was 10-running everyone. We knew all we had to do was put a bat on the ball and we could take them."

The there was plenty of run support for Meridian pitcher Zach Vasey.

After surrendering three unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning, which briefly gave East Butler a 3-2 lead, Vasey gave up just one hit in the final four innings and retired eight in a row to end the game.

With a sneaky fastball and a big, sweeping curve that he spotted to perfection on the outside corner of the plate, Vasey was in command.

"We got frustrated," said East Butler manager Carl Hays. "He frustrated us more than anything. But that's his job."

After falling behind 3-2, Meridian responded with two runs in the top of the second, ignited by a double by Tanner Master, to regain the lead for good.

Meridian tacked on five runs in the top of the third and four more in the top of the fourth to build the 10-run lead.

Kenny Dunmyre drove in three runs for Meridian and Vasey also 3-for-3 with an RBI single.

Hays said his team won't dwell on the lopsided loss for too long.

"It's early in the season. You can't make too much of it," Hays said. "The games in July, those are the ones you want to get. You don't want to lose like this, but the season is only half over."

Meridian 225 40x x — 13 13 3East Butler 300 00x x — 3 3 4W: Zach Vasey (5 IP) 4 K, 1 BB.

L: Nick Rossmiller (2Z\c IP) 2 K, 3 BB.

Meridian (11-0): Tanner Master 2-1B, 2-2B, 3-R, 5-RBI; Christos Klutinoty 1B, RBI; Kenny Dunmyre 2-1B, 3-RBI; Bob Swartwout 1B, RBI; Vasey 3-1B, RBI

East Butler (9-1): Evan Oswald 3B, 1B