JEFFERSON TWP - Saxonburg found its penchant for the long ball in Wednesday's Butler County American Legion baseball semifinal game against Meridian.

It was just surprised where it came from.

Josh Uncapher, Zach Toth and John Lefevre each homered to key Saxonburg's 9-2 victory at Laura Doerr Park.

"That's the first home run for all three guys this season," said Saxonburg assistant coach Steve Hall. "They're all line-drive hitters."

"But they're here every day in the batting cages," he added.

The win sends Saxonburg, the regular-season champions, into the playoff championship game against the Mars-Zelienople winner. That game was postponed Wednesday and moved to Marburger Field at 6 p.m. today.

"They're a powerful team," said Meridian coach Bo Ballew. "They're not in first place for nothing. When they win a game, they win a game."

Saxonburg jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning, thanks to a pair of Meridian errors and a fielder's choice.

The team doubled that lead when Uncapher, the No. 9 hitter, belted a shot over the left-center field fence.

Meridian had an opportunity to score when it opened the fourth inning with a leadoff double by Joe Ference, but he was stranded there.

Saxonburg broke the game open in the fourth, a five-run outburst highlighted by a two-run homer by Toth and a two-run double by Dan Pickard, who collected his third hit of the game.

Lefevre's two-run homer in the fifth inning opened up a 9-0 advantage.

"We didn't bring our A game," said Ballew. "They spanked us. I didn't know if last night's game affected us (a 4-2 win over Center Township), but we came out flat.

"We didn't bring our bats today," he added.

In the sixth, however, Meridian opened its third straight inning with a leadoff double, but this time it was able to plate a pair of runs.

Ordy had an RBI double and Scott Cukovich had a run-scoring single to close out the scoring.

Lefevre pitched six innings, striking out five, and didn't walk a batter. He allowed only three hits through five innings before being touched for four in the sixth inning.

"It was a great performance," said Hall. "He's a competitor. He likes to be in that situation."

Notes:

Meridian catcher Marcus Ballew threw out a pair of runners in the third inning while Saxonburg catcher Justin Demek threw out a runner in the sixth inning. … Four of Meridian's seven hits went for doubles.

Meridian 000 002 0 - 2 7 2

Saxonburg 011 520 x - 9 10 0

WP:

John Lefevre (6 IP) 5 strikeouts, 0 walks.

LP:

Jay McDonough (4

IP) 0 strikeouts, 2 walks

Meridian (13-9):

Joe Ference 2-2B; Aaron Ordy 2B, RBI; Jim McCaslin 1B; Scott Cukovich 1B, RBI; Todd Purvis 2B; Jay McDonough 1B

Saxonburg (19-2):

Dan Pickard 2-1B, 2B, 2 RBI; Jeff Foster 1B; Justin Demek 1B; Zach Toth 1B, HR, 2 RBI; John Lefevre HR, 2 RBI; Joel Berger 1B; Josh Uncapher HR

Friday:

Championship game-Saxonburg vs. Zelienople-Mars winner, Highfield Park or Laura Doerr Park, 6 p.m.