Butler Kyle Casteel (23) delivers a pitch against Pine-Richland in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Butler Tobias Geibel (4) just misses a diving catch against Pine-Richland in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Butler Regan Peth (11) looks to steal third base against Pine-Richland in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Butler (14) Nolan Stefaniak gets hit by a pitch in the back against Pine-Richland in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

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  Butler Kyle Casteel (23) delivers a pitch against Pine-Richland in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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  Butler Tobias Geibel (4) just misses a diving catch against Pine-Richland in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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  Butler Regan Peth (11) looks to steal third base against Pine-Richland in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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  Butler (14) Nolan Stefaniak gets hit by a pitch in the back against Pine-Richland in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

BUTLER TWP — Talk about pitching to contact.

Pine-Richland right-hander Noah Mackie shut out Butler on three hits Thursday night at Pullman Park, throwing only 67 pitches in leading the Rams to a 2-0 non-section baseball victory.

Mackie threw 45 of those pitches for strikes as the Rams’ sixth straight win elevated the team’s record to 11-1.

“He’s our No. 3 pitcher and he did a phenomenal job,” P-R coach Kurt Wolfe said of Mackie. “Noah would get more section innings, but our first two pitchers have been outstanding and we have a solid closer.

“To stop an 8-3 6A team the way he did was impressive. His change-up was fantastic. He had Butler’s hitters reaching for a lot of pitches.”

Butler’s Kyle Casteel (23) delivers a pitch against Pine-Richland in a baseball game Thursday at Pullman Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

The Golden Tornado (8-4) did not get a baserunner until Nolan Stefaniak led off the fifth with a solid single to center. He was stranded at second base. Owen Boring singled with one out in the sixth, but could not advance.

The Tornado put two runners on in the seventh — Stefaniak being hit by a pitch and Tanner Pry collecting a two-out infield hit — but Mackie struck out pinch-hitter Preston Richter to end the game.

It was Mackie’s only strikeout of the night. He did not walk a batter.

“We put the bat on the ball,” Butler coach Josh Forbes said. “We kept hitting it right at people. I can’t fault our approach at the plate. We forced them to make the plays defensively and they did.”

Aaron Lunn was the hard-luck loser for the Tornado, allowing two runs and three hits over four innings to a Rams squad that entered the game with a .345 team batting average. Kyle Casteel followed with three scoreless innings.

“Both teams played well defensively and pitched well,” Forbes said. “Our bats just couldn’t get going.”

Butler’s Tobias Geibel (4) just misses a diving catch against Pine-Richland in a baseball game Thursday at Pullman Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

Pine-Richland scored in the third as Luke Grana walked, was bunted to second, moved to third on a single and scored on Logan Plummer’s groundout. The Rams added a run in the fourth as Ben Husted tripled to right-center and scored on Tanner Cunningham’s sacrifice fly.

“Both of our runs scored on outs,” Wolfe said. “We pushed a couple across, did what we had to do to beat a very good baseball team. I’m happy with that.”

The Tornado honored their four seniors — Gavin Tressler, Lunn, Boring and Pry — before the game.

Butler returns to Section 1-6A play on Tuesday, traveling to Central Catholic.

Butler’s Regan Peth (11) takes a lead from third base against Pine-Richland in a baseball game Thursday at Pullman Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

Pine-Richland 001 100 0 - 2 5 0

Butler 000 000 0 - 0 3 0

WP: Noah Mackie 7IP (1so,0bb). LP: Aaron Lunn (4IP (2so,1bb).

Pine-Richland (11-1): Anthony Mengine 1B 2B, Sam Heckert 1B, Ben Husted 3B, Logan Plummer RBI, Anthony Annichine 1B, Tanner Cunningham RBI.

Butler (8-4): Nolan Stefaniak, Tanner Pry, Owen Boring

Tuesday: Butler at Central Catholic