Better late than never

Better late than never
Butler's offense comes alive in time to top Tigers

By John Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor

WEXFORD— Butler's bats slept through the first four innings, managing only a pair of singles by sophomore John Crummy.
The Golden Tornado bats were wide awake for the final three frames, however, scoring nine runs on 10 hits and securing an 11-5 baseball victory Wednesday at North Allegheny.
"I don't know what to say about that,"Butler coach Dave Florie said of the late surge. "Different pitchers, maybe we were more relaxed, I don't know. But I was glad to see it."
Despite its slow start offensively, Butler took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning.
North Allegheny starting pitcher Sam O'Neill walked five before being pulled in the second inning. Ryan Geibel walked to lead off the Tornado second and Crummy delivered a hit-and-run single. Geibel eventually scored on an infield out and Crummy crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
"Sam's a senior and is one of our stronger starters," Tigers coach Andy Maddix said. "But he couldn't throw strikes today, and you can't win that way."
Butler starter Tim Geibel threw only 30 pitches in three scoreless innings before being chased in the fourth. He was greeted by three straight singles, retired a batter, then walked a pair before being replaced by Zach Cuffman, trailing 3-2.
The game seesawed from there, the Tornado taking a 4-3 lead in the fifth, the Tigers grabbing a 6-5 advantage in the bottom of the inning.
"The difference in the game was we couldn't get a third out in the sixth,"Maddix said.
Butler scored five times in the pivotal six inning, with all five runs coming with two outs.
With two on and two out, Cuffman singled up the middle to score Darren Blakley and to tie the game. Ryan Geibel singled off the pitcher's leg, loading the bases. Crummy walked to force home Jeff Slater.
Bill Coleman delivered a two-run single to right field and Crummy scored on a wild pitch.
Cuffman got the win for the Tornado, but Matt McCormick retired all six NAbatters he faced after Ryan McCombs singled and Brad Comport walked to chase Cuffman in the sixth.
"All three of our pitchers did the job,"catcher Ryan Geibel said. "Tim started off great, Zach gave us two quality innings and Matt McCormick just shut them down."
Ryan Geibel produced a two-out clutch hit of his own in the seventh — a two-run single to right — to close the Tornado scoring. He singled in each of the final three innings.
"We were jittery early in the game, this being a key section game and all,"Geibel admitted. "We relaxed after a while, settled in and hit the ball."
Dustin Uhlman, Crummy, Cuffman and Coleman had two hits each for Butler, which finds itself atop the Section 3-AAAAstandings.
Butler's seniors had never won a game at North Allegheny.
"Dave Florie has done an outstanding job with that program,"Maddix said. "They hit the ball, played good defense. ... They deserved to win this game."

Butler 020 025 2—11 12 2
North Allegheny 000 320 0— 5 6 4
Tim Geibel (3so, 2bb), Zach Cuffman (4, W, 1so, 2bb), Matt McCormick (6, 1so, 0bb) and Ryan Geibel; Sam O'Neill (3so, 5bb), Alex Reed (2, 0so, 0bb), Max Mellott (5, L, 1so, 1bb), Greg Piehler (6, 1so, 1bb), Chris Sinagra (7, 0so, 1bb) and Dylan Songer
Butler (4-2, 3-0): Darren Blakley 1B, Jeff Slater 2-R, Dustin Uhlman 2B 1B 2-R, Zach Cuffman 2-1B, Ryan Geibel 3-1B 2-R 2-RBI, John Crummy 2-1B 2-R 2-RBI, Bill Coleman 2-1B 3-RBI
North Allegheny (6-3, 2-2): Jon Wilson 2-1B 2-R, Dylan Songer 1B 2-RBI, Dave Duffett 1B, Ryan McCombs 1B, Dan Wentz 1B