Butler earns big win Tornado eke out win over Shaler

By Derek PydaEagle Staff Writer

Shaler continued to knock on the door, but the Titans were left standing out in the cold.
In a crucial Section 1-AAAA clash at Pullman Park Friday night, Shaler simply could not manage the big hit in a 3-2 high school baseball loss to Butler.
All five of the game's runs were scored in the first two innings. The Titans stranded six runners in the final four frames, all of them in scoring position.
The Golden Tornado had dropped two straight section contests entering Friday's game. The win moves Butler to 7-3 in section play (11-3 overall) with meetings against Fox Chapel and Seneca Valley remaining.
“We weren't thinking about the two losses leading up to tonight,” said Tornado coach Todd Erdos. “This win is important because it allows us to control our own destiny (for the playoffs).”
Butler's Tyler Slepski pitched six innings, striking out five and walking two to earn the win.
Most of his outing came with the lead as Butler scored two runs in the first to tie the game and then received Cody Herald's base hit that scored Mick Fennell with what proved to be the deciding run in the second inning.
Slepski battled through some tense moments in the fourth and fifth innings.
In the fourth, Ryan Mincher and Tom Orr were standing on second and third base, respectively, with two outs when Slepski got Jake Hetz to fly out to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth, Zack Schramm doubled and Matt Ciesinski was hit by a pitch, but Mike Logan struck out to end that threat.
Slepski would strand one more runner at second base in the sixth, before Herald did the same in the seventh, getting a groundout to earn the save.
“Tyler gutted it out tonight,” said Erdos. “That's the kind of performance we expect out of a senior and that's why we gave him the ball tonight.
“The way they (Slepski and Herald) got big outs, it was tremendous,” added Erdos. “That's when you find out what players are made of.”
“We kinda got away from playing the way we know how to play the last few games,” said Slepski, “but tonight put us back on track.”
It was a rocky start for the Tornado, who allowed two runs (one earned) in the first inning.
Mincher led off the game with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. He scored on Ben Mulig's sacrifice fly.
Schramm followed with a double and courtesy runner Scott Hervoyavich later came home on a throwing error.
“I know I've got a good defense behind me,” said Slepski. “Sometimes, things happen in the field. I wasn't worried about it.”
Butler wasted no time in tying the game against Shaler starter Matt Ciesinski.
Mick Fennell and Colin Williamson began the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back singles before Herald drove them in with a triple to left.
Fennell, a second baseman, saved at least one run when his diving stop with the bases loaded turned into a 4-6-3 double play to end the top of the second inning.
“We felt like we should have won this game,” said Shaler coach Brian Junker. “Sometimes, the ball just doesn't bounce your way. That was the case tonight.”
Herald drove in all three runs for Butler and Williamson singled three times.
Tyler Temple pitched four innings of scoreless relief for the Titans (6-4, 9-6).

Shaler 200 000 0 — 2 6 0
Butler 210 000 x — 3 9 2
W: Tyler Slepski 6 IP (5K, 2BB). L: Matt Ciesinski 2 IP (0K, 1BB). SV: Cody Herald 1 IP (1K, 0BB)
Shaler (6-4, 9-6): Ryan Mincher 1B R, Ben Mulig RBI, Zack Schramm 2-2B, Derek Sullivan 1B, Sean Boyle 1B, Taylor Colemarlo 1B, Scott Hervoyavich R
Butler (7-3, 11-3): Mick Fennell 2-1B 2R, Colin Williamson 3-1B R, Cody Herald 1B 3B 3RBI, Tyler Slepski 1B, Nate Bresnahan 2B