BUTLER TWP — Nick Martin was determined to trade his shot put and discus for a baseball bat and glove.

Last spring, Martin decided to try out for the Butler baseball team.

It didn't quite work out the way he planned — which turned out to be a good thing.

“I didn't make the baseball team,” Martin said, smiling. “I guess it was fate.”

Martin's failure in baseball has turned into success in his first true loves: the shot and discus.

Now a senior, Martin turned in a career best throw in the discus of 143 feet, 5.5 inches to place first in the event at the WPIAL Class AAA Northern Qualifier at Butler High Tuesday afternoon.

Martin also finished fifth in the shot put with a throw of 47-1 to advance to the WPIAL Class AAA Track and Field Championships May 19 at Baldwin High.

The top eight in each event Tuesday qualified for the WPIAL championships.

“We told Nick if baseball didn't work out, he could come back,” said Butler boys track and field coach Rick Schontz. “We're glad he did.”

Martin uncorked his first-place throw on his final attempt. He did the same thing last week at the WPIAL team finals.

“That was 14 feet farther than his previous best throw (in the discus),” Schontz said. “Nick has really come on. He's been throwing really well in practice and in the warmups. It was just a matter of finishing a throw and he got it done when it mattered.”

Finishing strong has been a trend for Martin throughout his career.

The bigger the meet and the tougher the situation, the better Martin has performed.

“I enjoy the pressure,” Martin said. “Everything is clicking for me now.”

Martin wasn't the only Butler County boys athlete clicking Tuesday.

Seneca Valley junior Oliver Philogene and senior Hunter Williams will be busy at Baldwin next week.

Philogene ran a leg on the Raiders' first-place 3,200 and 1,600 relays and also ran a leg on the third-place 400 relay.

Throw in a second-place finish in the 400 — behind Williams — and Philogene enjoyed a very productive day.

Williams, whose time of 50.30 seconds in the 400 was a tenth of a second faster than Philogene, also advanced as part of the 400 and 1,600 relays.

“Their goal is to be 1-2 (in the 400) in the WPIAL finals,” said Seneca Valley boys track and field coach Ray Peaco. “I think they have a great shot at it. They've been pushing each other since indoor season. They've been 1-2, 1-2. It's great for them. It's great to have two kids battling it out.”

The usual suspects also made a splash.

Butler senior Evan Gomez cruised to a first-place finish in the 800. Knoch's tandem of Adam and Andy Tuzikow qualified in both the shot and discus and Dylan Bilka of Seneca Valley easily placed first in the pole vault.

Even though this meet was all about survival, it was hard for the competitors to dial things back.

“The weather has been so bad this spring and this was one of the best days all year,” Schontz said. “Everyone wanted to get out and push things, I think, because of that. It's been a long, cold, wet spring. The kids deserve this.”