Site last updated: Friday, April 4, 2025

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Butler baseball rallies vs North Hills on Nash Cuffman, Boden Lenyk clutch hits to stay unbeaten

SLIPPERY ROCK — A bloop, a blast ... and a whole lot of help.

It all added up to a come-from-behind 8-7 Butler baseball win over North Hills on Tuesday night at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park.

The Golden Tornado trailed 7-1 entering the bottom of the fourth inning. The Indians walked six batters in that frame, including three straight with the bases loaded. Nash Cuffman then blooped a three-run double to right to tie the game.

“We handed them a lot of runners early, and they scored a bunch of runs,” Butler coach Josh Forbes said. “I told our guys we had to turn this into an old-fashioned rodeo shootout, score a bunch of runs.

“We showed a lot of grit in doing that.”

Related Article: PIAA baseball season preview 2024-25: Meet the top 10 players to watch in Butler County

North Hills had 11 batters reach base without getting a hit in the first four innings. Butler committed five errors, hit three batters, walked a pair and made a bad decision on a fielder’s choice to account for those runners.

“We dug a hole for ourselves, no doubt,” Forbes said.

The Indians returned the favor by walking 10 Tornado hitters in the first four frames, including the six during Butler’s six-run fourth inning.

North Hills coach Jon Pedrosky declined comment after the game.

Boden Lenyk blasted a triple to deep left-center to lead off the Butler sixth. He scored the eventual winning run on a wild pitch.

Related Article: PIAA boys lacrosse season preview 2024-25: Meet the top 9 players to watch in Butler County
Butler's Kyle Casteel (23) celebrates a run with Boden Lenyk against North Hills in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

Tanner Pry pitched four innings in relief for the win, striking out eight.

“Tanner came in and gave us exactly what we needed,” Forbes said. “And Bo showed what kind of leader he is by drilling that triple.”

Butler trailed 6-1 when Pry relieved starting pitcher Aaron Lunn to begin the fourth.

“Just focus on the hitters and get outs,” Pry said of his approach entering the game. “My two-seamer was really working for me tonight. It was moving pretty good.”

North Hills starter Tristan Weimann struck out eight in 3.2 innings of work, but walked seven and was forced from the game in the fourth as his pitch count reached 102.

Butler remains unbeaten at 6-0, 2-0 in section play. North Hills is 2-5, 0-2.

Related Article: PIAA girls lacrosse season preview 2025: Meet the top 12 players to watch in Butler County

The teams will complete their three-game series Thursday at North Hills.

“I've never been on a team with this kind of fight,” Pry said. “This was fun.“

North Hills 033 100 0 — 7 5 0

Butler 100 601 x 8 6 5

WP: Tanner Pry 4IP (8so,4bb). LP: Kyler Blauth 1.1IP (2so, 0bb).

North Hills (2-5): Austin Ellis 1B 2-RBI, Jake Jurgensen 2-R, Austin Demartino 1B RBI, Ethan Guszynski 1B 2-R, Liam Connolly 2-1B 2-RBI.

Butler (6-0): Boden Lenyk 3B 3-R, Mavrik Clement RBI, Trent Best 2B RBI, Nolan Stefaniak 2-1B RBI, Nash Cuffman 2B 3-RBI, Owen Boring 1B.

Thursday: Butler at North Hills

More in Sports

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS