6-run frame sends Butler past Raiders

By Mike KilroyEagle Staff Writer

BUTLER TWP — The first inning has not been kind to the Seneca Valley baseball team.
It certainly has been good to Butler, however.
The Golden Tornado scored six runs off of Raiders' pitcher Matt Smith in the opening frame — only three earned — on the way to a huge section win over their rivals, 6-1, Monday night at Butler High School.
“It's always nice to come out and get our bats going, allow our kids to settle down a little bit,” said Butler coach Todd Erdos. “Obviously jumping out with six runs allows our pitcher to relax and throw strikes.”
And that's just what Mick Fennell did.
The Butler right-hander wasted little time and even fewer pitches against Seneca Valley, scattering four hits over seven innings for the complete-game win.
Fennell struck out four and walked only two.
The one jam he did work his way into, he escaped in the third inning by getting back-to-back fly outs after putting two runners on base with just one out.
Butler right fielder David Tompkins ended the inning with a sliding catch in foul territory down the right-field line.
“I think we hit about 87 fly balls tonight,” said Seneca Valley coach Eric Semega.
It wasn't quite that many, but Fennell did live with his fastball up in the zone, getting 12 of his 21 outs on fly balls or pop-ups.
Fennell was free to work up in the zone because of the early cushion his team gave him.
Bobby Swartwout, Thomas Bruce and Mike Hartman all had RBI singles in the bottom of the first inning. The capper came on a two-run single by No. 9 hitter Alex Ziegler.
Smith settled down for the Raiders (4-2-1, 3-2) after the rocky start, giving up just one hit over his next four innings before yielding to relief pitcher Jason Martin, who tossed a hitless sixth.
“There's no excuse,” Semega said of his team's first-inning woes that have carried over from last season. “We were 6-10 last year. If we didn't play the first inning, we were 13-3. As you can see tonight, they did nothing after the first inning. Hey, you have to give them credit, though, They jumped right on our pitcher and did what they needed to do.”
Butler (8-1, 4-1) didn't come out completely unscathed.
Shortstop and No. 3 hitter Cody Herald left the game in the top of the third inning with what could be a serious injury to his right leg.
Herald was chasing down a pop foul behind third base when he collided with left fielder Colin Williamson.
Herald was carried off the field and left the stadium on a cart.
“We're not sure what the status is. He kind of twisted his knee a little bit,” Erdos said. “We're just waiting to see. Hopefully he's OK and it's nothing major, no ACL or MCL. He's one of the leaders on the team. I know the guys are praying for him and we get good news (Tuesday).”
The win puts Butler in a stronger position at the top of the section standings as the halfway point of the section schedule nears.
“Our team is jelling together,” Erdos said. “We're still figuring out where guys fit in, but I'm very pleased with our effort. These guys are coming out every day to have fun and to play hard. They love to win. They have that winning attitude.”

Seneca Valley 001 000 0 — 1 4 5
Butler 600 000 x — 6 5 1
W: Mick Fennell 7IP (4K, 2BB). L: Matt Smith 5IP (5K, 2BB).
Seneca Valley (4-2-1, 3-2): Jack Graham 2B, Sam Fragale 1B RBI
Butler (8-1, 4-1): Bobby Swartwout 2-1B RBI, Thomas Bruce 1B RBI, Mike Hartman 1B RBI, Alex Ziegler 2B 2-RBI