Coming into the season, the big question mark about the Seneca Valley baseball team was its pitching.

Connor Coward, the right-handed pitcher who had helped the Raiders on an improbable run to the WPIAL Quad-A title last season, graduated.

And left some seriously huge cleats to fill.

“Our pitching staff has been tremendous,” said Seneca Valley baseball coach Eric Semega. “They've given us a chance to win every game.

“What I thought coming in as a question mark,” Semega added, “has been very solid for us.”

Seneca Valley pitcher Branden Schlick was more than solid against rival Butler at Kelly Automotive Park Friday night.

The right-hander tossed a complete-game, five-hitter and struck out 11 to lead the Raiders to a 7-1 Section 1-AAAA win over the Golden Tornado.

“Schlick kept us off balance all night,” said Butler coach Todd Erdos. “We really just couldn't get anything going after that first inning.”

Seneca Valley (5-4, 4-1) didn't have the same problem getting things going at the plate early.

The Raiders scored three runs in the first inning and added four more in the second to take a 7-1 lead.

Seneca Valley got seven of its 11 hits in the first two innings off Butler starter Wyatt Daugherty.

The top of the order was particularly effective for the Raiders. The top four hitters in the lineup scored all seven runs and had eight of the 11 hits.

“First off, Daugherty is good,” Semega said. “And for us to put the quality swings we put on him and to have the results that we did was a big bonus. Some of our outs were hard-hit balls, too, so I thought we swung the bat well.”

Mike Collins had three hits, Corbin Kessler and Vince Augustine two each and Matt Wagner drove in two runs for the Raiders, who sit atop the section at the halfway-mark of the season.

“Right now, I'm very happy with where we are at,” Semega said. “We're playing really good baseball right now and it's not later on in the year when we have to scramble, so that's very nice to see.”

The key now for Seneca Valley is to sustain it into the second half of the section season.

“It's cliche, but now we worry about one game at a time,” Semega said. “We put ourselves in a good spot and we need to capitalize on that and not give it back.”

For Butler (6-6, 3-2), the defending co-section champions, its two section losses in a row.

The Golden Tornado fell to Pine-Richland, 2-1, Thursday.

“We have to learn from this experience,” Erdos said. “We have to learn from coming out a little flat to rebound. We're 3-2 in the first half ... and we're still in a very good position starting the second half. It's still in our hands.”

Dallas Hays had two hits for Butler and Luke Baranchak had a single and a RBI for the Tornado.

Another bright spot for Butler was the two innings of relief turned in by freshman Connor Ollio, who struck out five.

“He's definitely a big, young kid for a freshman and he throws the ball very well,” Erdos said. “It's a good learning experience for him now to get some innings and get some success under his belt now.”

Seneca Valley 340 000 0 — 7 11 0

Butler 100 000 0 — 1 5 2

W: Branden Schlick 7IP (11K, 1BB). L: Wyatt Daugherty 5IP (3K, 2BB).

Seneca Valley (5-4, 4-1): Johnny Brittner 1B 2-R, Corbin Kessler 2-1B RBI 2-R, Mike Collins 3-1B RBI 2-R, Vince Augustine 2-1B RBI R, Matt Wagner 1B 2-RBI, Lane Palmer 1B RBI, Zach Wilson 1B

Butler (6-6, 3-2): Dallas Hays 2-1B, Luke Baranchak 1B RBI, Ian Steighner 1B, Cade Negley 1B

Monday: Allderdice at Butler; Plum at Seneca Valley