Alone
at the top
Butler
grabs section lead after 3-2 win over SV
By Derek Pyda
Eagle Staff Writer
JACKSON TWP — They were the kind of plays you expect a first-place team to
make.
And that's exactly where the
The Golden Tornado made two clutch defensive plays that saved at least three
runs from scoring in a 3-2 victory at rival
Both teams entered the game with a 4-1 record in Section 1-AAAA. With the
victory,
"It's a win, and it's always nice to get a win," said Butler coach
Davie Florie, who was coaching his first game at Raider Field since leaving
Seneca Valley in the spring of 2000.
The first of
With the bases loaded and two outs, SV's Phil Double lined a pitch that
appeared to be headed for right field. But
The second play came in the bottom of the sixth with Butler clinging to a 3-2
edge.
With runners on first and second, Zach Duggan was robbed of a base hit when his
ground ball up the middle was snared by a diving Darren Blakely at shortstop.
Blakely flipped the ball to second baseman Anthony Pinto, forcing out Double.
"Both plays were fantastic," said Florie. "I told the kids that
as long as I've been coaching, I don't think I've ever had two unbelievable
plays made like that in the same game."
Butler starting pitcher Josh Marchinoski was the beneficiary of the defensive
plays, as they helped him record a complete game, giving up two runs on seven
hits. He didn't strike out a batter and walked six, though two of those were
intentional free passes.
The Tornado defense also came up with two double plays behind Marchinoski, one
in the first inning and another in the second.
"It's great to have those guys behind me playing defense," said
Marchinoski. "They hustle every day in practice and they make me look
good."
Butler still held its 3-2 lead in the last of the seventh when the Raiders had
the tying run on second base with one out.
But Marchinoski got Cory Mazzoni to fly out to right and Kevin Rohm popped out
to end the game.
"Josh is gutty," said Florie. "He's gritty, he's tough — he's
everything."
After SV had taken a 1-0 lead on Double's run-scoring two-base hit in the third
inning, Butler (8-4, 5-1) answered in the next half inning.
Blakely scored on Jay McDonough's pinch-hit single and courtesy runner Jordan
Roycroft came home on Ordy's base hit.
The Raiders proceeded to leave six men on base over the final four innings.
"(Butler) came up with two big defensive plays, but even with those, I
thought we should have scored more than two runs," said SV coach Eric
Semega.
The Raiders entered the game having collected only seven hits in their previous
two contests.
"It's certainly not because of a lack of effort," said Semega.
"Our players are aggressive at the plate. I'm not sure what it is."
SV sophomore left-hander Kyle Helisek shouldered the loss after pitching 5X\c
innings. He struck out one, walked three and surrendered three runs on eight
hits.
"He gave up just three runs and wasn't on top of his game," said
Semega. "That tells you something about him."
Butler increased its lead to 3-1 in the fifth when Robbie Cochran's single to
left plated Jim McCaslin.
The Raiders (7-4, 4-2) managed a run in the bottom of the sixth when Jim Burry
scored on Dan Jergel's sacrifice fly.
Butler 000 210 0—3 9 1
Seneca Valley 001 001 0—2 7 1
WP: Josh Marchinoski (7 IP) 0 strikeouts, 6 walks. LP: Kyle Helisek
(5 IP) 1 strikeout, 3 walks
Butler (8-4, 5-1): Aaron Ordy 2-1B RBI, Adam Miller 2-1B, Andy Onufrak
1B, Jim McCaslin 1B R 2SB, Robbie Cochran 1B RBI, Darren Blakely 1B R SB, Jay
McDonough 1B RBI, Jordan Roycroft R.
Seneca Valley (7-4, 4-2): Phil Double 1B 2B RBI, Zach Duggan SB, Cory
Mazzoni 1B, Kevin Rohm 2-1B, Kenny Walrond 1B, Dan Jergel 1B R RBI, Jim Burry R
2SB.