JEFFERSON TWP — The first inning against Saxonburg has proved to be very productive for Center Township this season.

In last Thursday's Butler County Area Baseball League season-opener, Center plated five runs in the first frame en route to an 8-3 victory.

In Tuesday's rematch, it was a four-run first inning that paved the way to a 10-5 win over Saxonburg at Laura Doerr Park.

“Last week's game, it was the home-run ball that hurt us,” said Saxonburg manager Pete McMillen. “Today, we beat ourselves. We basically had to get five outs to get out of that first inning.”

The struggles in the field began with the second batter of the game. After Jordan Stiltz led off with a single, Jerome Oliver's groundball seemed tailor-made for a double play, but shortstop Blaze Voltz and second baseman Isaac Love both attempted to take the throw at second, collided and the ball dropped to the ground.

Simon Brown and Todd Verner both singled off of pitcher Rocky Kopac's glove and Andrew Arbanas reached on a second error. Ronan Miller singled home a run and Saxonburg again found itself in an early deep hole against Center Township.

“Rocky's a great pitcher and nothing that happened in the first inning was due to a lack of pitching,” said McMillen. “You fall behind 4-0 against a good team in this league, it's tough to come back.”

Center added two more runs in the third off Kopac. Oliver scored on a wild pitch and Arbanas brought home a sixth run with a single.

Meanwhile, Oliver was cruising on the mound. He allowed just two baserunners through the first four innings — Eli Sutton tripled in the first and walked in the fourth and was stranded both times.

Oliver set Saxonburg down in order in the second with three strikeouts.

“The last time I pitched in a game would have been our last game last summer, in July,” Oliver said. “After not pitching for so long, it felt good to just be out there and the other guys took care of the bats for me.”

Oliver allowed two runs in the fifth. Zack McMillen singled home the first tally and he later came home on Isaac Roddy's sacrifice fly. When the bottom of the sixth began, Oliver was in catcher's gear and teammate Simon Brown was on the mound.

“I wasn't sure how much rust (Jerome) had to shake off, but he pitched well and threw strikes,” said CT manager Jerry Oliver. “I was thinking about leaving him out there for another inning, but didn't want to push it.”

“Luckily,” added Jerome, “I didn't have to throw down to catch guys stealing (after moving behind the plate). My arm probably would've fallen off.”

By the time Brown took over on the mound, he was working with a 10-2 lead thanks to CT's four-run top of the sixth. Saxonburg made things interesting, scoring three times off the reliever. Included was Sutton's second triple of the game that plated one run.

But Austin Rodgers came in to get the final out with the bases loaded, then worked a scoreless seventh to close the game.

Sam Myers was on the mound for 2.2 innings of relief for Saxonburg and Dathan Gillis 1.1 frames.

CT tallied 11 hits in the game, with Miller singling three times.

“This is the best team I've ever had on paper,” Jerry Oliver said. “I hate to put it like this, but with COVID-19, a lot of travel teams have shut down and a lot of those players have instead decided to play in our league. I think a lot of teams are going to have really good lineups.”

Saxonburg was scheduled to play at Pine-Richland Wednesday evening.

Center Twp. 402 004 0 — 10 11 1

Saxonburg 000 023 0 — 5 6 3

W: Jerome Oliver 5 IP (7K, 2BB). L: Rocky Kopac 3 IP (5K, 1BB).

Center Township (2-1): Simon Brown 1B 2B R, Andrew Arbanas 1B 2B 2R RBI, Ronan Miller 3-1B R 2RBI

Saxonburg (1-2): Eli Sutton 2-3B RBI, Gavin Phillips 2-1B RBI

Thursday: Freeport at Center Township

Tuesday: Saxonburg at Freeport