FREEPORT — Conor Carney is wearing new glasses — and Seneca Valley has a clear view of the Butler County Area Baseball League finals.

Carney tossed a fout hit shutout Saturday night at Freeport Community Park, throwing 88 pitches and striking out seven as Seneca Valley emerged from the losers’ bracket with a 4-0 win over Freeport.

“We never got more than one hit in an inning,” Freeport cach Joe Hotalski said. “It’s hard to score runs that way.”

Since losing to Butler Township in walk-off fashion nine days ago, Seneca Valley (11-9) has posted wins over East Butler, Pine Richland and Freeport, outscoring those opponents 28-3 in the process. It now faces Butler Township at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Pullman Park in the BCABL’s final round.

Seneca Valley will have to defeat Butler Township twice — the second game would be Thursday — to win the league crown.

Carney had a double, two singles, two runs scored and a walk in his four plate appearances Saturday night to complement his own mound performance.

“I just got new prescription glasses the day before this game,” Carney said. “It definitely made a difference in my play today.

“This was an intense game. The score was close the whole way. I have a lot of confidence in our defense and they made some great plays behind me.”

Carney threw 57 of his 88 pitches for strikes. His defense turned two double plays behind him, giving Seneca Valley five double plays in its past two games.

“Our defense has been spectacular,” SV coach Matt Baic said. “It played a big factor in this win tonight.”

Center fielder Evan Garbowski made a sliding catch in the third inning to prevent a Freeport rally.

Carney drew a one-out walk in the third inning. Zach Snyder and Gavin Zoelle followed with line singles to center. Courtesy runner Ethan Dunmire scored on Zoelle’s hit.

That 1-0 lead stood up through five innings, Carney again drawing on support from his defense.

Anthony Demharter walked to begin the Freeport fifth. Logan Jendrejewski lined a single to left that left fielder Dunmire deftly cut off, limiting runners to first and second base. After a strikeout, Jacob Boris chopped a ground ball toward the middle. The throw to first base recorded the inning’s second out. First baseman Michael Waitlevertch fired a strike to the plate to cut down Gabe Colangeli trying to score from second on the play.

“Dunmire’s play to cut off that (Jendrejewski) hit prevented the tying run from scoring,” Baic said. “His bunt to begin the sixth started a big inning for us, too.”

Dunmire’s lead-off bunt in the sixth was thrown wildly to first for a three-base error. Ethan Baer followed with a sacrifice fly to center field for a 2-0 lead. Ethan Staudt and Carney had successive singles and with two outs, Zoelle delivered a two-run triple well over the center fielder’s head.

“I’d been hitting in some hard-luck this year, hitting the ball at people,” Zoelle said. “It felt good to square one up and break the game open.”

Zoelle’s triple ended Freeport pitcher Chris Hartman’s gutsy day on the mound. He threw 112 pitches and stranded 11 runners, leaving the bases loaded twice.

“This is his last season and he wanted to pitch this one,” Hotalski said. “It was going to be his game to win or lose. Chris pitched a strong game.”

Seneca Valley and Butler Township have been involved in a couple of slugfests this season. Butler came from behind twice to defeat SV in their meeting earlier in the tournament.

“We’ve had some wild games with them,” Baic said. “When we meet again, I’m sure it will be entertaining baseball.”

Seneca Valley0010030 — 482

Freeport 0000000 — 041

W: Conor Carney 7IP (7K, 2BB). L: Chris Hartman 5.2IP (4K, 3BB)

Seneca Valley (11-9): Ethan Baer RBI, Ethan Staudt 1B, Conor Carney 2B 2-1B 2-R, Zach Snyder 1B, Gavin Zoelle 1B 3B 3-RBI, Aidan Treu 1B

Freeport (11-8): Chris Hartman 1B, Alec Asti 2-1B, Logan Jendrejewski 1B

Tuesday: Seneca Valley at Butler Township, BCABL finals, 6 p.m., Pullman Park