Looking to build a successful softball program?

Look no further than Seneca Valley.

The Raiders girls softball team hasn't lost a game this year, even though it does not possess an overpowering strikeout pitcher and lost its top two hitters from a year ago.

Those top two hitters — Aly Intihar and Tina Mangola — anchored last year's team at catcher and shortstop, respectively. And how strong their bats were can be measured by what they're doing as college freshmen this year.

Intihar is playing at Cornell and leads that team with nine homers and 34 RBI. She wasted no time in establishing herself as one of the top hitters in the Ivy League.

Mangola has hit 10 home runs for Ohio Northern University — a single-season record there — and will match the school's career mark once she belts No. 11.

If it's a good program, a high school team graduating two players of this caliber in the same year realistically can expect to field a solid team the following season.

To expect to field a section title contender might be considered a reach.

To expect to field an undefeated team might be considered crazy.

Call the Raiders crazy.

Veteran coach George Trew has put together a team that can beat you offensively or defensively.

In a recent game against Butler, Seneca Valley pitcher Lauren Pennell struck out only two batters, yet no Golden Tornado runner ever reached second base.

In that same game, the Raiders scored a critical run with back-to-back doubles by Lindsay Troyer and Ashley Watkins, who hit No. 8 and No. 9 in the team's batting order.

Seneca Valley has seven .300 hitters in its lineup, plays solid defense and its pitchers throw strikes.

The program has been an annual playoff contender for years. The girls learn how to play fast-pitch softball young and they learn how to play the game right.

And it shows.

In other spring highlights thus far:

n Speaking of Seneca Valley, it has an undefeated girls lacrosse team, a section-unbeaten baseball team and a boys track team that's qualified for the WPIALteam playoffs. Must be a lot of fun at that sports complex these days.

n Slippery Rock University's baseball team entered this weekend needing one win out of four games against Shippensburg to qualify for the PSACplayoffs.

Critchfield Park is hosting that six-team tournament this week. What's nice about this Rock team is the local talent contributing to its success:Karns City's Travis Trimbur, Mars' Josh Rape, Slippery Rock's Billy Messer and Grove City's Billy Herman among them.

n Kudos to Knoch softball coach Scott Docherty. That program won one game two years ago. Only in his second season, he's built a solid playoff contender on good defense, contact hitting and multiple pitchers.

If the Knights get into postseason play, no one's going to be crazy about matching up with them.