BUTLER TWP — When it comes to softball, these guys play hardball.

Butler resident Pat McClellan, 61, is manager and first baseman/pitcher for the Steel Dawgs 60-over Class AA softball team that recently won the national tournament in Phoenix, Ariz.

The squad also won the Eastern National Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., in August and will compete in the Winter Nationals Nov. 11-13 in Fort Myers, Fla.

“Once you win nationals in Class AA, you have to play in the (higher level) Class AAA division in the next tournament,” McClellan said. “That will be a challenge for us.”

McClellan is the only Butler area player on the Dawgs’ roster. The only other Pennsylvania-based players on the team are Gibsonia resident Rich Foltz and Greensburg resident Don Jack.

McClellan played for a Pittsburgh-based team five years ago.

“We had some Ohio guys playing with us and the Pittsburgh-based guys decided they didn’t need the Ohio guys anymore,” McClellan said. “Rather than totally disperse, a few of us just formed another team.

“We’ve been playing together since and have been pretty successful.”

This squad won Eastern Nationals in 2009, playing in the age 55-59 division. Now they’re competing in the 60-65 division.

“Once every five years, you become young again,” McClellan said, laughing.

There were 11 teams in the Dawgs’ bracket in Phoenix, including three from California, two from Arizona, two from Texas, two from Chicago and one from Utah.

Teams aren’t permitted to score more than five runs in an inning. The Dawgs averaged 23 runs per game.

“To give yourself a chance to win, you better score at least 20 runs a game,” McClellan said. “Most of these teams can hit the ball.”

Dave Faupel of Akron, Ohio, was named Tournament MVP in Phoenix. He hit .750 and pitched six of the Dawgs’ seven games. McClellan, Earry Bothwell of Cleveland Heights, Mike Foote of Barberton (Ohio), Joe Nuzzo of Jamestown (N.Y.) and Terry Walker of Stow (Ohio) made the all-tournament team.

“In the bigger tournaments, you’re guaranteed five games and if you make the finals, you’re playing a couple more,” McClellan said. “Our butts are dragging at the end of some of those weekends”

Beginning in April, the Dawgs play in one tournament each month. They’ve played seven tournaments so far this year, traveling to Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and Arizona to compete.

The team has played in 56 tournament games so far this year, on top of regular league play.

“All of us have played in well over 80 games this year,” McClellan said. “We usually have 12 players with us and you’re allowed to have designated runners for players on your team who can’t run (once they reach first base).

“Most of the players on our team run for themselves. Nobody gets as tired out that way.”

Entry fee for these tournaments can be as high as $600 per team, plus traveling expenses.

“We do a golf scramble and fundraisers, but you’re going to spend money to do this,” McClellan said. “But we love the game and we love playing it together.”