They hurled their helmets in disgust. They stomped back to the dugout with a snarl and a shake of their heads.

The Butler Township baseball team was frustrated and bewildered by Tony Rossmiller's darting fastballs and knee-bending hooks.

The East Butler pitcher recorded a two-hitter, didn't allow an out to be recorded by an outfielder and helped his team cruise to a 4-1 win in Game 1 of the best-of-three Butler County American Legion championship series at Pullman Park Tuesday.

"Watching him in the first inning, I knew he was on," said East Butler manager Dess Schnur.

So did Rossmiller, who felt his fastball zing and his curveball, well, curve right where he wanted it to most of the time.

Rossmiller struck out eight and walked just two in seven innings. He didn't allow the leadoff batter to reach in any inning and recorded 13 outs on infield pop flies or ground balls. His outfielders were the most neglected players on the field.

Rossmiller credited his success against Butler Township to familiarity - and some homework.

"We've played them a lot this season," Rossmiller said. "In those games, I just observed their hitters and threw pitches I knew they would have trouble with. My catcher (Pat Hohn) and I were working well together. He called a great game."

Only Josh Edwards was a thorn in the side for Rossmiller.

Edwards singled in the fourth inning and drove home Butler Township's only run with a double off the wall in left-center in the sixth inning, a pitch after his popup in foul territory fell to the ground.

All East Butler must do now is win one more game to advance to the regional tournament next week.

It might need more production from its lineup, though.

East Butler (16-7-1) scored runs on a fielder's choice, a sacrifice fly and a hit batter with the bases loaded.

It left six runners stranded in scoring position and saw numerous chances to blow the game open fizzle out.

"We had opportunities, but couldn't get the one clutch hit," Schnur said.

Butler Township (15-8-1) never really launched a serious threat against Rossmiller, never putting more than one runner on base in an inning.

"I tell you what hurt us: Mother Nature," said Butler Township coach Gene Zawrotuk.

The first game of the series was supposed to be played Saturday, but was rained out, as was Monday's game.

That gave Rossmiller some needed rest, Zawrotuk said.

"We could say the same for our pitchers, too," Zawrotuk said. "But they have five pitchers."

Butler Township starter Adam Palace didn't get out of the second inning, but reliever Josh Marchinoski got out of a bases-loaded jam and pitched well again against East Butler.

"He throws slow," Zawrotuk said. "He throws slow stuff and that kept them off balance."

Butler Township is no stranger to being backed up against the wall.

It had to win three straight games to force a one-game playoff against East Butler for the regular season title and then it had to battle through the tournament to force the best-of-three series.

"All season, these guys have never quit," Zawrotuk said.

East Butler has been in a similar position. It had to overcome a sluggish start to the regular season to get to this point.

"The last six or seven games we've had to win," Schnur said. "Every game has been so important, and as a result the kids came out calm and poised."

But the series isn't over, even though winning Game 1 goes a long way toward securing the series.

"We can't let up in them," Rossmiller said. "Winning Game 1 may be the deciding game in the series, but we still have to go out and treat every game like it's a big one."

Butler Twp 000 001 0 - 1 2 1

East Butler 012 010 x - 4 8 1

WP: Tony Rossmiller (7 IP) 8 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP: Adam Palace (2

IP) 1 strikeout, 2 walks

Butler Township (15-8-1):

Josh Edwards 1B, 2B, RBI

East Butler (16-7-1):

Chad Neff 1B, RBI; Jake Slater 2-1B; Matt Schnur 2-1B; Mike Dorondo 1B, RBI; Todd Walker RBI; Pat Hohn RBI; Kolby Gregory 2-1B

Today: East Butler vs. Butler Township, Game 2