CRANBERRY TWP — By appearance, they are playing the Cinderella role.

But West Sunbury coach Matt Williams is not surprised his team is where it is — among the last three survivors in the double-elimination Butler County Area Baseball League Tournament following Tuesday night’s 13-3 elimination game win over Cranberry Township at Graham Park.

Sporting just a 5-12 regular season record and beginning the tournament with a 4-2 loss at Cranberry, West Sunbury has now staved off elimination three straight games, defeating East Butler 10-2, top-seed Freeport 6-0 and No. 3 seed Cranberry by 10 runs.

“I’ve believed we had a good team all along,” Williams said. “Our pitching has always been there. In this tournament, our bats have come alive.

“We had nine hits against Freeport and we had 14 hits tonight. From top to bottom, our guys were getting hits tonight.”

West Sunbury (8-13) scored three runs in the top of the first inning. Shane Thompson hit a two-run homer during the frame.

Cranberry (12-8) scored a pair in the bottom of the inning, but never could draw even.

“They (West Sunbury) kept chipping away at us,” Cranberry coach Larry Stelitano said. “We didn’t take them lightly at all coming in.

“I knew they were a good team looking to break out and that’s what they’re doing.”

All of Cranberry’s runs came on solo homers by Matt Stanick, Zach Snyder and Jacob Coon.

Zack Thompson pitched the first five innings and got the victory. His brother, Shane, worked the final two frames.

Shane Thompson and Tanner Williams both had three hits and three RBI. AJ McElravy added three hits and two RBI.

Trevor Botta took the loss for Cranberry, pitching three innings.

“We’re a pretty confident team right now,” Williams said.

While Stelitano said his team appeared “a little flat” Tuesday night, he was quick to give credit to the victors.

“West Sunbury played a great game,” he said. “They were on it from the first inning. They deserve to move on.”

West Sunbury will play Butler Township (11-10) at 6 p.m. Thursday at Butler High School. That winner will face Pine Richland at 6 p.m. Saturday at Graham Park for the league championship.

Should Pine Richland lose that game, the second and deciding game of the championship series would be played next Tuesday.