Photo courtesy of Ashley Watkins
RIVERSIDE - After Monday's loss at Piqua, there was no margin for error if Butler hoped to bring home a second consecutive Miami Valley League Miami Division Championship. Through a gauntlet of a week, which featured five MVL games in four days - the Aviators persevered and brought home the hardware with an 11-1, run-rule win over Stebbins.
The win guarantees Butler at least a share of the title, as Troy battles Piqua for the right to sit atop the MVL Miami Division as co-champions.
The win was a total team effort which started on the mound, as Alex James (2K), Jack Williams (1K) and Casey Bennett (5K) combined to hold Stebbins to just five hits and one run.
Offensively the Aviators lit up the scoreboard, plating eleven runs off of eight hits. Joe Mendy went 2-for-2 with two RBI and a double. Gage Harestad and Hunter Richardson also doubled in the win.
Bennett and Harestad each had two RBI, while Richardson, Mitch Thomas and Max Rubins had an RBI each.
The Aviators will wrap the regular season on Saturday at #1 ranked Moeller and will host the winner of Stebbins/West Carrollton on Thursday, May 19th in their opening tournament game.