Butler Brings Home District Title; Beats La Salle 2-0

HAMILTON — Tournament baseball often hinges on the little things — a bunt here, a throw there, a break that rolls your way. In a game this tight, margins matter. And on Saturday, Butler made every inch count.

 No offensive explosion. No walk-off dramatics. Just execution, grit, and a group that never flinched — the kind of baseball that wins in June.

The Aviators leaned on the arms of Mason Reckner (3-0) and Jackson Schilling, played clean defense, and found just enough offense to knock off La Salle 2–0 in the Division III District Final at Hamilton High School.

“It was a well-played game from both teams,” head coach Trent Dues said. “We got a few bunts down and got some clutch hits to get her done.”

They did it with discipline and resolve — and a bit of redemption.

Butler opened the game with back-to-back hits, only to have a potential run derailed when Hunter Richardson slipped rounding third on a slick infield corner and was caught in a rundown.

Early trouble on the basepaths might’ve rattled some teams— but Butler didn’t let it linger.

“Proud of how we stuck with it when we had a couple baserunning issues early with the slippery conditions,” Dues said.

Instead, the Aviators settled in. And when the fifth inning came, they took control.

Tate Richardson led things off with a line drive single to right field. Jack Egbert, pinch running for Richardson advanced to second on Russ Stratman’s sacrifice, which turned into a throwing error at first, putting both aboard with no outs.

Junior Aiden White broke the stalemate a batter later, with an RBI fielder’s choice to plate Egbert for a 1-0 lead.

An inning later, they scratched across another — built from patience at the plate and pressure on the basepaths.

After Dwenger was hit by a pitch, and moved into scoring position by a Max Rubins bunt, Stratman came through again — this time with two outs — lofting a soft liner to center to score the insurance run and make it 2–0.

They didn’t need a big inning. Just a couple of clean ones.

Russell Stratman — batting eighth — played like a star. He went 2-for-2 at the plate and turned in a pair of crucial plays in the field, including a snared line drive at second that stopped a Lancer rally before it could start.

“Russ Stratman had a heck of a day for us offensively and defensively,” said Dues.

And on the mound, Butler was unshakable.

Reckner went five strong, scattering five hits and striking out six without allowing a run. He faced 21 batters, threw 75 pitches, and never looked rattled, even with La Salle applying pressure in nearly every frame.

Then Schilling — ever the steady hand — came on to close it.

The sophomore needed just 19 pitches to record six outs, including a quick seventh that ended with a soft pop-up into his glove on the mound.

Save recorded. Title secured.

“Mason and Jackson shut them down on the mound,” Dues said. “They were big for us.”

Butler committed no errors, walked just one, and let the game unfold at their pace — a mark of maturity and belief.

With the win, the Aviators (27–3) move on to the Regional Semifinal at Miami University, where they’ll face Ross (18-9). The Rams were 12-2 winners over Tippecanoe.

It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t loud.

But it was trademark Butler — composed, complete, and heading to the next round.