BUTLER TWP — A pitchers duel was expected in Monday's Eagle County League baseball playoff game between Natrona Heights and Saxonburg.

Runs were going to be hard to come by, that was a given. But Natrona Heights pitcher Christian Necheff gave a bit too much in the second inning.

Necheff issued three walks in the frame, including one to Brendan Malone with the bases loaded, as Saxonburg held on for a 1-0 victory at Highfield Park.

The win propelled Saxonburg to the Eagle County League championship series, where it will face Mars I, which finished off Mars II Monday by a score of 1-0.

Saxonburg pitcher Shawn Butler scattered seven hits, but struck out seven and did not issue a walk.

"It was a very well-played, very well-pitched game," said Saxonburg coach Dan Cunningham.

Necheff limited Saxonburg to two hits, but he walked six to go with six strikeouts.

"We just didn't hit the ball," said Natrona Heights coach Chad Gourley. "We scored only one run in three games. That's been our story of the year. We've gotten great pitching, but no hitting."

Saxonburg defeated Natrona 2-0 in Game 1 Friday, then 5-1 Saturday.

"I thought our pitching staff pitched very well in this series," said Cunningham. "The cream is coming to the top, with the best teams playing in the final four. It shows that our league is strong."

Natrona Heights' Phil Coffin opened the game with a single and was bunted to second by Josh Abati. But Butler got Gourley to pop out and Nick Glesk to strike out to end the early threat.

In the second inning, Necheff surrendered a single to Chase Rowe, then Hall bunted him to second base. Adam Brydon drew the first of his two walks in the game, then Dan Pickard grounded into a fielder's choice.

Pickard stole second to put both runners in scoring position, then Rob Cochran walked to load the bases.

Malone followed with another walk to force in Rowe before Sandy Sanderson popped out to close out the inning.

"It's small ball, especially using the wood bats," said Cunningham. "No one is a big hitting team. You get no more than two or three 10-hit games. It's a better brand of baseball."

"When you got a guy at second base in this game, it was a do-or-die situation," said Butler. "You just have to bear down and put the ball where it needed to be."

Natrona Heights almost answered with runs in the third and fourth innings, getting two runners on with one out in both, but saw both rallies fizzle.

Natrona Heights kept plugging, trying to break through, but came up short again in the fifth and sixth innings.

Zac Sabotka opened the fifth with a single, but the inning ended on a double play. In the sixth, Nick Glesk smacked a one-out double but was stranded at second base.

"I started loosening up after a while," said Butler. "I was tight early in the game. ... Sandy made that diving catch and Steve (Hall) made a lot of plays at shortstop. Everyone was there for me today.

"We're playing good baseball right now and we need to carry it on."

Saxonburg and Mars I will open the best-of-five championship series at 6 p.m. Thursday at Marburger Field in Mars.

Natrona Hts. 000 000 0—0 7 1Saxonburg 010 000 x—1 2 0W: Shawn Butler 7 IP (7 K, 0 BB).

L: Christian Necheff 6 IP (6 K, 6 BB).

Natrona Heights (19-17): Phil Coffin 2-1B; Nick Glesk 2B; Bill Wolfe 1B; Jeremy Shipman 1B; Fred Federici 1B; Zac Sabotka 1B

Saxonburg (22-9-1): Curt Schnur 1B; Chase Rowe 1B; Brendan Malone RBI

Thursday: Eagle County League championship series, Saxonburg at Mars I, 6 p.m.