Little League baseball 2024: Butler celebrates PA District 25 championship win over Franklin Township
Butler celebrates its victory over Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Nate Gilkey receives his championship pin after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Nate Gilkey, center, receives his championship pin after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Carter Knapik bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Noah Jockel reaches home plate in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Nate Gilkey pitches in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Noah Jockel runs to first base in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Jax Johnston runs to first base in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Grady Bohin, center, receives his championship pin in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Roman Alessio bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Roman Alessio bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Elijah Manning bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Nate Gilkey pitches in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Grady Bohin bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Elijah Manning bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Nate Gilkey pitches in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Noah Jockel is tagged out at first base in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Roman Alessio rounds third base in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Jax Johnston bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Nate Gilkey pitches in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Nate Gilkey bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Carter Knapik, right, receives his championship pin from an umpire after Butler's win in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler poses with the championship banner after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler runs the field with the championship banner after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler poses with the championship banner after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Aiden Dinger runs to first base in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler celebrates its win over Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Jax Johnston, left, and Nate Gilkey celebrate a score during the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Trey Callihan runs to first base after hitting in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler runs the field with the championship banner after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Grady Bohin, left, and Nate Gilkey celebrate their victory over in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler celebrates its victory over Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler huddles together after its victory over Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Roman Alessio throws to first base during the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler's Noah Jockel bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler celebrates its victory over Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Nate Gilkey receives his championship pin after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Nate Gilkey, center, receives his championship pin after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Carter Knapik bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Noah Jockel reaches home plate in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Nate Gilkey pitches in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Noah Jockel runs to first base in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Jax Johnston runs to first base in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Grady Bohin, center, receives his championship pin in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Roman Alessio bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Roman Alessio bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Elijah Manning bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Nate Gilkey pitches in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Grady Bohin bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Elijah Manning bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Nate Gilkey pitches in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Noah Jockel is tagged out at first base in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Roman Alessio rounds third base in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Jax Johnston bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Nate Gilkey pitches in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Nate Gilkey bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Carter Knapik, right, receives his championship pin from an umpire after Butler's win in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler poses with the championship banner after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler runs the field with the championship banner after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler poses with the championship banner after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Aiden Dinger runs to first base in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler celebrates its win over Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Jax Johnston, left, and Nate Gilkey celebrate a score during the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Trey Callihan runs to first base after hitting in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler runs the field with the championship banner after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Grady Bohin, left, and Nate Gilkey celebrate their victory over in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler celebrates its victory over Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler huddles together after its victory over Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Roman Alessio throws to first base during the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Noah Jockel bats in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game against Franklin Township at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler on Saturday won the Pennsylvania District 25 Little League baseball championship game, beating Franklin Township 3-1 to advance in the Little League postseason tournaments.
Nate Gilkey dominated on the mound, striking out 10 and scattering seven hits and a walk in six innings of work.
His offense gave him enough run support to secure the victory. Noah Jockel tripled and drove in two runs, and Grady Bohin singled and drove in a third run. Gilkey and Jax Johnston each scored a run, with Gilkey singling as well.
Butler begins play in the Pa. Section 1 Tournament Monday, July 8, at Adelman Complex. Sectional champions advance to the Pennsylvania State Little League Tournament later in July.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 6 p.m. Sunday to reflect a correction. A previous version of this story had an incorrect start date for the sectional tournament Butler will compete in next.
Butler runs the field with the championship banner after defeating Franklin Township in the PA District 25 Little League Majors Division championship game at Butler's Meridian baseball field Saturday, July 6. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
