Butler Township Colt manager Mike Denny gave his team a choice recently — either compete in the regular-season playoffs or try their hand at the PONY league World Series.

The team picked the latter and it’s looking like a great selection.

The Butler County 15-year-old Colt squad defeated three teams over the weekend to capture the World Series Western Regional at Cranberry Township.

With the title, the team will advance to the Eastern Zone Tournament, which will begin Friday in Trenton, N.J.

“I felt we could compete with the teams there and felt we were as good as everyone else,” said Denny. “Our expectations were to go out and win.”

Butler Township defeated the Cleveland-based Diamond Boys 10-0, then downed Pine-Richland 13-1 and Cranberry Township 14-4.

North Coast, also from Cleveland, was the other team in the tournament.

“Our defense, I’ve been impressed with all year,” said Denny. “This weekend was out of character.

“We had times before where we hit great, but we strung three together, top to bottom and played our best baseball,” Denny added.

Against the Diamond Boys, Adam Schaffner and Logan Maxwell combined for a one-hitter with Maxwell belting a home run and single.

Cory Wheeler also homered and added two hits while Jake Stoner doubled and singled and Ryan Denny and Tanner Gilliland each doubled.

In the Pine-Richland contest, Wheeler had a grand slam and triple and combined with Schaffner on the win on the hill.

Caleb Thorn also tripled and singled while Ryan Vero doubled and singled, Jake Campbell doubled, Stoner had two singles and Kyle Campbell a single.

In the championship game, Wheeler — who homered in a all three games — also added three hits while Thorn smacked a grand slam and a single, Maxwell a double, Denny two singles and Schaffner a single as Butler Township outscored its opponents 37-5.

T.J. Rice rounds out the Butler Township roster.

Next up, Butler Township will face Albany (N.Y.) II for a 2 p.m. matchup in the opening round of the six-team Eastern Zone bracket.

“Just going into the Cranberry Township tournament and prepared for three days, so these guys have been there,” Denny said. “They like the opportunity they’re getting at the tournaments. They’ve practiced all season for this.”