CRANBERRY TWP — Andy Germani didn't want to be through playing baseball. He didn't like his options in that regard.

So he created his own.

The 2009 Seneca Valley graduate formed an adult baseball team called the Cranberry Crusaders and entered it in the Pittsburgh NABA league. The Crusaders are the only Butler County team in the league, which extends south into Pittsburgh.

“I wasn't ready to switch over to softball and the Eagle County league is top-heavy with a couple of dominant teams,” Germani said. “I heard of this NABA league that is divided into three different levels of play.

“I decided to form a team and try it out.”

Now 29, Germani is still player-manager of the Crusaders. The team is in its 10th NABA season.

His team plays in Class AA, which does not allow current college players or former professional players. Class A does allow those high-level players while Class AAA does not allow former collegiate players.

“There are exceptions,” Germani said of player eligibility. “If a Double-A team has one player, maybe playing at a small college and is not a superstar, who wants to play, that team can petition the rest of the division.

“If no one has a problem with it, he can play. Otherwise, that player cannot be on the roster or that team must move up to Class A.”

The Crusaders have never won the league championship and have always played in Class AA. This year's team enters the league playoffs this week as the No. 2 seed.

The overall league has 19 teams this season. It normally has as many as 24. There are six AA teams this year.

“A few teams dropped out this season because of COVID-19, but I'm sure they'll be back,” Germani said.

Two players — Dane Milich and Nick Richards — from Butler are on the Cranberry roster. Milich plays second base and shortstop and is hitting .294 this season with four stolen bases. He is the team's leadoff batter and is in his fourth full season with the Crusaders.

“I was playing Eagle County ball when a friend told me about this league,” Milich said. “He was playing for the Crusaders at the time. I decided to give it a try and I love this league.

“Every team wants to win, everybody's competitive, but they're good sports as well. The opponent will always say 'nice hit' or 'nice play.' These guys are out here because they love the game.”

Milich even heard from a Milwaukee Brewers scout who saw him play in the league.

“I'm 23, so I was a little old for that (pro ball),” Milich said. “But, yeah, scouts come to these games and players have gotten looks.”

Besides Germani — who is hitting .298 and is 3-3 with a 2.84 earned run average — eight Cranberry area players are on the squad. They are Todd Changoway, Mitch Golden, Zacch Golden, Stephen Laylock, Mark Steinbrink, Jacob Stumph, Tyler Valenti and Derrick Wood.

Stumph hit .500 last season (30 for 60) and was 10-3 on the mound with a 1.97 ERA, 70 strikeouts in 64 innings.

“If the league named an MVP, he would have been it,” Germani said.

Stumph is originally from Punxsutawney and played college baseball at Mount Aloysius. The center fielder-pitcher is in his fourth year with the Crusaders.

“When I moved to Cranberry, I wanted to continue playing baseball and a former teammate of mine played for (the Crusaders) and told me about them,” Stumph said. “I've enjoyed my time in this league.

“The level of play is very similar to what I had in college.”

Stumph is hiting .349 this seaason with two homers. He is 4-2 with a 4.45 ERA on the mound.

“Not quite as effective as last year, but I still pitch a lot of games,” he said.

Zacch Golden is hitting .351 with 10 RBI while Changoway is hitting .275.

Germani keeps 18 to 20 players on the roster. None of these players plan to end their careers anytime soon.

“I'm 29 now, but I stay in shape and feel like I'm on top of my game,” Stumph said.

“I like the different skill levels, how balanced the league is,” Milich said. “Every team is within a couple of games of each other. It's too much fun to give it up.”