The History of Butler Football

Butler Football Aims To Build On Recent Winning Seasons bit.ly/40SKqvl

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗜𝘀 𝗜𝗻! Congrats to Butler Baseball great Kaden Echeman who was selected in the 12th round (360th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2025 MLB Draft. A 2021 Butler grad, Echeman was part of a sensational pitching duo and sound defensive player for the Aviators. After graduation he went on to have a stellar career at Northern Kentucky University where he shined for the Norse. We wish Kaden all the best, as another Aviator takes flight on the road to The Show!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗜𝘀 𝗜𝗻! Congrats to Butler Baseball great Boston Smith who was selected in the 6th round (171st overall) by the Washington Nationals in the 2025 MLB Draft. A 2021 Butler grad, Smith made his name as a power-hitting catcher and team leader for the Aviators. After leaving a legacy in the purple and gold — he went on to do the same for the Raiders at Wright State University. We wish Boston all the best, as another Aviator takes flight on the road to The Show!

Congratulations to the following Aviators on being named @Starting9_37_ selections. 🏆𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝟵𝟯𝟳-𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀🏆: 🟣Hunter Richardson - Senior 🟣Koby Dues - Sophomore 🟣Jackson Schilling- Sophomore Note - If you aren't familiar with the Starting (9)37 podcast check them out on Spotify. They provide great coverage of high school baseball in the 937. 👊

𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗔 — The tournament doesn’t care how you got here. It doesn’t care if you’re 27–3 and the top ranked DIII team in the state — or if you’re 18–9 and the seventh seed few expected to see in June. The tournament doesn’t care about records, matchups, or reputations. It only cares about who’s still standing when the dust settles. It gives you seven innings. Maybe less. On Tuesday at Miami University’s Hayden Field, Butler will face a Hamilton Ross team that’s flipped the bracket upside down — and turned more than a few heads in the process. The Rams have won three straight tournament games by a combined score of 32–4, capped by a five-inning, 12–2 dismantling of Tippecanoe in the district final. Yes, that Tippecanoe. So if you’re underestimating Ross, you haven’t been paying attention. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 By most accounts they weren’t supposed to be here — at least not according to the bracket. But the Rams, a middle-of-the-pack team in the SWBL this season, have caught fire in May. They opened the tournament with a 14–1 rout of Western Brown, then knocked off Cincinnati Turpin 6–1. Against Tipp, they collected 12 hits and sent the Red Devils limping home in five. Offensively, they’re getting production throughout the lineup: • Evan Gabbard drove in four against Tipp, including a walk-off hit. • Gavin Burns sparked the first inning with a 2-run single. • Bryce Fulmer chipped in with a second-inning double. • Josiah Lynch and Griffin Mueller set the table for the game-ending rally. It’s been timely hitting, smart baserunning, and quality at-bats — the kind of baseball that wins when it matters most. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄: 𝗡𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗹 Ross will likely give the ball to senior right-hander Nolan Ertel, the kind of pitcher who wins with command, not velocity. He enters Tuesday’s matchup with a 0.77 ERA over 54.2 innings — a mark built on precision, if not power. Ross head coach Brad Voegele calls Ertel one of his “four No. 1s.” On Tuesday, he’s the one with the ball. He’s not going to blow it past you. But he’s going to throw strikes, work fast, and dare hitters to hit his pitch. Ertel keeps the ball down, limits walks, and doesn’t let innings spiral. His WHIP sits below 0.90, and he’s walked just a handful all season — meaning you’re going to have to earn your way on. What he lacks in flash, he makes up for in feel. He mixes speeds, changes eye levels, and forces weak contact. And when he's in rhythm, he makes good lineups look off-balance. For Butler, the approach will need to be disciplined: stay patient, extend at-bats, and be ready to capitalize if he misses — because he rarely does. 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 The Aviators have played a loaded schedule — some wins, some tough losses — and they’ve squared off against the best Division I has to offer. They’ve stood firm against state-ranked powerhouses, taken their lumps, and answered with pitching, defense, and a lineup that doesn’t blink. They know the stage. They’ve been here before. Butler has arms that can go toe-to-toe with anyone — and bats that have come through in the biggest moments. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 A trip to Thursday’s regional final is on the line. One team riding tournament momentum. The other, anchored by a season’s worth of excellence. The numbers won’t matter. The rankings won’t matter. What will matter is who executes — who handles the moment. Because the tournament doesn’t care how you got here. It only cares who’s moving on.

In a program known for its tradition, its championships, and its competitive fire, one of Butler Baseball’s greatest strengths has always been its consistency. And for thirty seasons, Mike Bardonaro has been an integral part of that. “Bardo’s been with me for three decades,” said head coach Trent Dues. “Not only are we coaches—we’re great friends. We’ve been through a lot of wins and a lot of tough losses.” Thirty seasons. That’s not just loyalty. That’s a legacy. After successful baseball careers at Chaminade-Julienne High School and Wright State University, Bardonaro joined the program in 1995, cutting his teeth as an assistant on the junior varsity staff. He became JV head coach in 1999, leading his teams to a string of 20-win seasons. It was in 2009 that he joined the varsity staff as pitching coach, his presence truly helping to galvanize the heart of the program. A year later, he was named the Miami Valley Baseball Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year. And yet—he’d be the last to mention any of that. Instead, he’ll tell you how proud he is just to be part of it all. How much it means to coach beside his longtime friend. How grateful he is for the players, the staff, the community. He’s said it time and again: “I’m just proud to be part of Butler Baseball.” Bardonaro doesn’t crave the spotlight. He’s usually behind the scenes—toting buckets of baseballs, keeping the technology side of baseball operations humming, or tossing batting practice until his shoulder begs for mercy. “I call him my right brain, we’re yin and yang,” Dues says with a smile. On game day, the players trust him. His fellow coaches rely on him. Ask the pitchers. He’s the calming voice when the moment gets too big, the guy who brings just the right words to the mound. A little wisdom, a little levity, and somehow, the storm passes. What makes Bardonaro even more remarkable is that his commitment isn’t confined to the diamond. A teacher at Butler High School, he’s shaped young minds in the classroom too. At home, the program has always been a family passion. Mike and Heidi Bardonaro have raised two talented daughters, Samantha and Dillan—both standout basketball players who grew up around Butler Baseball. The duo has always been incredibly supportive and invested in the girls’ success. Sami’s now playing college ball at USC Aiken. Dillan, a sharp-shooting sophomore at Butler, carries the Bardonaro grit into every game. And if you look a little deeper into the Butler Baseball family tree, you’ll find Gus “Pops” Bardonaro—Mike’s father—woven into the fabric too. He was in the stands watching Mike’s brother Jeff play for the Aviators from 1994 to 1998. Later, he joined Mike’s JV staff and went on to become a familiar, calming presence in the varsity dugout, serving as the team’s mental coach. Two generations, all connected to one program, not by spotlight, but by steady, genuine presence. Coach Dues summed it up best: “Without him, our program would not be what it is today.” Thirty seasons later, Bardonaro will tell you that it still isn’t about him. But in a program built on tradition, consistency, and care—maybe, just this once—it should be.

@VB_Boosters @AlumniVandalia @VBaviators @Vandaliabutler @ButlerAviatorFB Great regular season and a triumphant return to hosting playoff football! A lot to be proud of and much to look forward to!

Started the season with a lot of unknowns & look how incredible it turned out! Key victories over Tipp, Piqua, Sidney, Xenia & Elida! This Is A Great Football Team! ! ! Go Aviators! ! ! @AlumniVandalia @VBaviators @Vandaliabutler @ButlerAviatorFB @VBaviatorsFB

Pretty special pregame speech tonight! @__taylordecker talking to @ButlerAviatorFB ! #WeAreAviators

Taylor Decker (@__taylordecker) talks about what it means to have his jersey retired at Butler. It's also fun to see both Ohio State and Detroit Lions Decker jerseys behind him. @Vandaliabutler @VBaviatorAD youtube.com/watch?v=2naYG1…

Getting better everyday! Go Butler! #AviatorPride

A little draft team competition to end the day yesterday! A successful overnight camp in the book, and we look forward to getting more work in tonight with @nrpolarbears! #AviatorPride

He's a great coach, but an even better teacher, father and husband. We can't wait to see what he can do with our program! #AviatorPride dailyadvocate.com/sports/98863/t…

The next stop on our Miami Valley Football Tour: The Butler Aviators! The advantage bringing back 21 starters gives them this year, and how @ButlerAviatorFB plans to bring a winning culture back to Vandalia, tonight on @dayton247now

Congratulations to Coach Cates for another @MVFCAtweets Coach of the year award! This is his 5th time receiving this award. Also, congrats to Coach Sutherland for being selected for the second time! #AviatorPride #Family

It was a great night for the Lift-A-Thon last night. Congrats to @9_Droppa for winning the "pound for pound" champion! A lot of great performances and we can't wait to build on those for this upcoming season! #AviatorPride #Family

These cool nights! Are you ready for some Football? In just 65 Days, were gonna witness our awesome @ButlerAviatorFB @VBaviatorsFB Football Team take the field! Save the Date. Friday, August 27th, Aviators Unite! Memorial Stadium - @Vandaliabutler

@JSutherland07 🔥🔥🔥

New gear is the equivalent to an adult Christmas! 😂 #AviatorPride

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Boom! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Make sure to sign your kids up for the Josh Bett's camp, at the link below! Free for all campers! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…