Butler Twp.
Little League
flexes muscles
in title run
Reprinted from theButler Eagle
Wednesday, August 7, 2002
By JOHN ENRIETTO
Eagle Sports Editor
The final game was the final statement.
Butler Township won the 9-10-year-old Pennsylvania Little League championship last week by shutting out Coventry, 8-0 in the state title game.
Dustin Hilgar tossed a two-hitter and struck out 13 batters in the victory. Butler Township produced 10 hits itself, led by Jake Double's home run and two singles.
And not one Butler Township player struck out.
"That was the key for us throughout the tournament," assistant coach Jay Fennell said. "Put the ball in play at this level, and things are gonna happen."
Butler Township outscored its state tournament competition 28-13 over 4 games. Its closest game was its first one - a 10-9 decision over State College in eight innings - which was decided by C.J. Miller's RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning.
"We were able to scout State College in their sectional title game, where they faced a kid throwing 58 mph - and were hitting him," Butler Township manager Rob Swartwout said. "We decided right then we were going to pitch Ryan Fennell against them."
Hilgar throws 62 mph and struck out 54 batters in 26 2/3 innings during the team's 14-game tournament season. Fennell throws more off-speed stuff and had a 6-1 lead through four innings against State College when the game was delayed 45 minutes by rain.
"We put Dustin on the mound after the delay and they hit him," Coach Fennell said. "I think State College was the toughest team we played throughout the playoffs."
"Had we not scouted State College, we would have started Dustin on the mound,"Swartwout said. "And that would have been a mistake."
Dustin Hilgar, a pitcher for the Butler Township 9-10-year-old Little League team, struck out 13 batters in the state championship game to help his team win the title.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP T-SHIRT
Front
Back
This shirt was designed to recognize a team, a township, and the town that this team represents. This Butler Township team of 12 young boys (ten 10-year-olds and two 9-year-olds) won the Pennsylvania State Championship which is sanctioned by Little League® Baseball. At this level this is all the further they could advance. This team is very special to Nothing But Baseball! Eleven of the twelve players are instructed at our indoor hitting facility. During the State Championship game which Butler Township won 8-0, we are proud to acknowledge that not one Butler Township player struck out. All of their names are pictured on the back of the shirt along with the win-loss records of the three tournaments they had to win to be declared State Champions. Butler Township, which surrounds the town of Butler, is located 35 miles due north of Pittsburgh. Butler Township is part of District 25, located within section 2 of the state of Pennsylvania.
You can own this shirt. Show your pride for Butler Township and the twelve hard working young ball-players who brought home Butler Township's first 9-10-Year-Old State Championship.
Sizes: Youth M-L Adult S-XL. Available in white only.
Price: $10.00
| BUTLER TOWNSHIP'S BATS | |||
| Here is the batting order and 14-game Little League all-star tournament statistics for Butler Township's age 9-10 state championship team: | |||
| Pos. | Name | Ave. | EBH* |
| 1st | Jake Double | .540 | 10 |
| 2nd | Bobby Swartwout | .413 | 8 |
| 3rd | Ryan Fennell | .636 | 20 |
| 4th | Dustin Hilgar | .432 | 7 |
| 5th | John Crummy | .474 | 6 |
| 6th | Mason McLaughlin | .350 | 1 |
| 7th | C.J. Miller | .375 | 3 |
| 8th | Jake Gamble | .286 | 2 |
| 9th | Alek Bollinger | .370 | 2 |
| 10th | Buddy Rekich | .263 | 0 |
| Note: David Thinnes and Tyler Thorne-Muller were also on the team. The 12 players combined for 59 walks and struck out only 36 times. * Extra-base hits | |||
"That loss got us fired up," Ryan Fennell said.
"It was gonna be tough after that, but I knew we could do it," Double said.
They did it in style. Butler Township outscored it opponents 168-28 throughout the tournament season and had a team batting average above .400. Its opposition had a team batting average below .100.
The team committed fewer than five errors in the state tournament.
"Fielding's my favorite part of the game," infielder Bobby Swarwout said. "I'll play anywhere on the field...I just like it."
"I like getting ground balls and throwing guys out," third baseman John Crummy said. "It always surprises them."
Butler Township's 11-12 year old team lost in the District 25 tournament. Double's older brother, Phil, hit 21 home runs this season.
"Phil is the best 12-year-old player in Butler county," Coach Fennell said. "I truly believe that."
Bulter Township could have one of the best 11-12 year old teams in the country next year as Bobby Swartwout and Tyler Thorn-Muller are the only 9-year-olds on the state championship team.
Swartwout pitched only four innings in the tournament, but can throw a fast ball 58 mph.
"We had some talented 11-year-olds this year. And all of these 10-year-olds moving up are going to make that team awfully good," manager Swartwout said.
Coach Fennell estimates Hilgar will be able to throw his fastball 75-80 mph by the time he's 12.
Fennell timed all of the pitchers in the state tournament and said the average fastball was 52 mph.
"He's just so strong," Fennell said of Hilgar. "The kid already wears a size 12 shoe. It was scary when he took batting practice. The ball came off his bat so hard and fast, we didn't want to get any of our kids hurt in the field."
Bobby Swartwout has no problem being the lone starter coming back to the 9-10 team next year.
"I'll meet a lot of new friends," he said. "Besides, it gives me a chance to win it all over again."