JACKSON TWP — They might be going their separate ways, but they were all part of something special at Seneca Valley.

SV senior softball players Jackie Mangola, Megan McCormick and Ashley Watkins will continue to play softball in college.

Mangola will head to Ohio Northern, McCormick to Indiana (Pa.) and Watkins to Clarion.

"They meant a tremendous amount to our success," said SV coach George Trew. "Any of the offensive numbers you look at — runs, RBI, on-base percentage, they're all right there at the top."

Over the past two seasons, the trio helped the Raiders to an overall record of 35-9, 19-5 in section play, an outright section title in 2007 and a share of one in 2008.

Mangola, a second baseman who started since her freshman year, led the Raiders in runs scored (24) and RBI (22) this season. She added a batting average of .329, an on-base percentage of .500 and 45 assists on defense.

"Jackie's a very good hitter and she rarely strikes out," said Trew. "When she gets on base, she either scores or drives in a run.

"Defensively, she's as solid as there is," he added. "She could have played at another position, but we needed her at second."

Mangola proved to be a valuable bat in the Raiders' lineup right from the start, as evidenced by her career batting average of near .350.

"I've always had to watch my hands," she said. "I want to drop them at the plate, but I've learned to keep them up. Other than that, my batting style has been pretty much the same since I was a freshman."

The Cranberry Township resident's older sister, Tina, just finished her sophomore season at Ohio Northern, a Division III school.

"Having my sister there, I'm sure she'll help me with anything I need," said Mangola, who will be a health and physical education major. "But the reason I'm going there is because (head coach Annette Shepherd) called me and talked to me about stuff other than softball. She really showed an interest in me."

McCormick started for the Raiders for the last three seasons and became one of the WPIAL's best catchers.

"She's an outstanding catcher," said Trew. "Balls don't get past her. She throws runners out trying to steal and she picks them off, too."

As good as her defensive skills are, it's impossible to ignore McCormick's numbers at the plate.

She led SV in 2008 with a batting average of .580 and an on-base percentage of .670. She also tallied 21 RBI.

The Evans City native has always been a good hitter.

"My dad would always take me to the batting cages and I also played with in-house and summer teams," said McCormick, who plans to major in health and physical education. "I've played softball since I was 10 years old and my lowest batting average was .412."

IUP will have all-star catcher and North Allegheny High graduate Sam Goettman returning next season, but McCormick is hoping to get a few starts in a backup role.

The Crimson Hawks members of Division II's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, as is Clarion, where Watkins will be a psychology major.

She began starting for SV her junior year and played right field, but the Raiders had a hole at first base this season and Watkins stepped in.

"The biggest difference was watching for the signs before every pitch and working with the girls in the infield instead of the outfield," said Watkins.

"She's flexible as to where she can play and that's what allowed her to make the switch," said Trew. "She caught just about everything thrown to her."

Watkins, who lives in Cranberry Township, hit .365, drove in 21 runs and had an on-base percentage of .550 during her senior season.

"I batted ninth in the order as a junior, moved up to sixth this season and definitely improved," Watkins said. "Moving up in the lineup helped my confidence."