Winning ways
EAST BUTLER — Saxonburg's legion baseball team proved that you can be playing catch-up, but still be ahead of the curve.
The squad played just its third game of the season Tuesday night due to most of its players coming from Knoch High School's state championship title run, which ended last Friday.
In its most recent game at East Butler, Saxonburg's pitching and hitting propelled it to a 12-4 victory at Speed-O Field.
Starting pitcher Jeremy Frazier left the mound in the midst of East Butler's four-run sixth inning, but was dominant through the first five frames to earn the victory. He struck out 10 batters in that span before being charged with all four of East Butler's tallies.
“East Butler (7-3) capitalized on a few mistakes, but he was fantastic through the first five,” Saxonburg coach Mike Hickey said of Frazier. “He didn't get a lot of innings with the high school team because of Alex Stobert and Cole Shinsky, but he pitched well for them.
“He has a good curveball and doesn't walk guys. He's a coach's dream.”
Frazier and East Butler starter Jeremy Moorhead locked horns in a pitcher's duel for the first three innings. Saxonburg then busted out with five runs in the top of the fourth.
After one out, Moorhead surrendered four straight singles to Gavin Miller, Logan Hickey, Frazier and Bryan Jack. Two batters later, Randy Carter greeted reliever Chad White with a three-run double and a 5-0 lead.
Moorhead was charged with all five runs. His defeat included six strikeouts and two walks.
“His pitch count was not up. He looked good for three innings,” said East Butler coach Steve Armahizer. “In that fourth inning, he just lost it.”
Saxonburg's 14-hit attack Tuesday included four doubles. Logan Hickey led the way with three hits while Jordan Hickey, Miller and Frazier each had two hits.
“We're seeing and hitting the ball really well,” said Saxonburg first baseman Matt Cornetti, who was recently selected to the league's all-star game Sunday. “Up and down the order, we're hitting the ball to all fields.”
Saxonburg pushed its lead to 9-0 when East Butler's bats finally awakened in the sixth. Garett Goslaw and Tyler Markilinski both drove in a run with a single and White's groundout scored another run.
“We seem to be content with laying back early in games,” said Armahizer. “Then, when it's too late, we start trying to figure it out.”
Jack relieved Frazier and struck out three in two innings.
Saxonburg 000 531 3 — 12 14 1
East Butler 000 004 0 — 4 6 3
W: Jeremy Frazier 5+ IP (10K, 1BB). L: Jeremy Moorhead 3.1 IP (6K, 2BB).
Saxonburg (2-1): Jordan Hickey 2-1B, Dom Bucko 1B RBI, Gavin Miller 1B 2B 3R, Logan Hickey 2-1B 2B 3R RBI, Jeremy Frazier 2-1B R 2RBI, Bryan Jack 1B R 2RBI, Mike McCarty 2B 2R, Jeff Smolen 1B R RBI, Ben Miller R, Randy Carter 2B 3RBI
East Butler (7-3): Alex Seybert R, Brandon Hildebrand 1B 2B R, Garett Goslaw 2-1B R RBI, Tyler Markilinski 1B RBI, Chad White 1B RBI, Hugh O'Neil R
Today: East Butler at Saxonburg
