Butler goes to work early in banging out 13-3 win

By John EnriettoEagle Sports Editor

BUTLER TWP — It's only preseason, but Butler's bats are looking like midseason.
The Golden Tornado banged out 14 hits Tuesday in posting a 13-3 six-inning baseball victory over Knoch. Butler scored multiple runs in every inning but one.
Through three games, Butler has outscored its opposition 37-4.
“We've got a lot of good ballplayers on this team, juniors and seniors who have come up together,” Butler coach Todd Erdos said. “We're still trying to sort through everybody.
“We'll get everybody in place and a lineup figured out in time for section play Monday.”
Tuesday's lineup worked pretty well.
The first four hitters in the Tornado batting order — comprised of Alex Ziegler, Mike Hartman, Mick Fennell, Cody Herald and Bobby Swartwout — were a combined 9-for-15 with seven runs scored and six RBI.
Ziegler had three hits and three RBI from the leadoff spot. Swartwout hit a solo homer to right in the fourth. The Tornado produced seven runs with two-out hits.
Nine different Butler players scored runs Tuesday.
“Our pitchers were leaving the ball up and you can't do that against a good hitting lineup,” Knoch coach George Bradley said. “That's true even in the major leagues.
“It's not rocket science. We have to keep the ball down. The pitch to Bobby was out over the plate and he just flicked it over the fence.
“I coached those (Butler) guys for five yers. I know what they can do,” Bradley added.
The Knights committed four errors — two in the first inning — in suffering their third straight loss.
Colin McKee and Zach Foringer pitched three innings each for Butler. McKee struck out six, but a wild spell in the third inning — two walks, a hit batsman and wild pitch — helped Knoch score two runs.
Foringer pitched three hitless frames, striking out four.
“Foringer kept guys off-balance with his curve and McKee was throwing hard,” Erdos said. “Both of those guys did pretty well.”
Two of Knoch's three hits were infield singles.
“We're getting the kinks out, still looking at people, seeing who can do what,” Bradley said
Erdos knows one thing about his team: It can hit the ball.
“This cold weather favors the pitchers because the ball stings off the bat,” he said. “To see us hit the ball this well in these conditions so far is encouraging.”

Knoch 012 000 x — 3 3 4
Butler 224 302 x — 13 14 2
W: Zach Foringer 3 IP (4K, 2BB). L: Nate Junk 3 IP (3K, 1BB).
Knoch (0-3): Justin Grossman 1B, Mark Keck 1B, Mac Megahan 1B, Josh Sheppeck RBI
Butler (3-0): Alex Ziegler 2B 2-1B 3-RBI 2-R, Mike Hartman 1B RBI, Mick Fennell 1B, Cody Herald 2-1B RBI, Bobby Swartwout HR 1B RBI, Tyler Slepski 1B RBI, Matt Baranchak 2B, Dalton Koebler 1B, Tom Bruce 1B 2-RBI, Colin Williamson 1B