Even as the rules change, high school softball is still all about pitching.

Several Butler County teams have that covered.

At Moniteau, senior Holly Colosimo is back to help the Warriors defend their District 9, Class AA title.

“She's going to be a third-year starter,” said Moniteau coach Dan Beebe of Colosimo. “She keeps the ball low, changes speeds and we put a good defense behind her.”

At Seneca Valley, Emily Watson returns to the circle. Last season, Watson was a big reason why the Raiders reached the WPIAL Quad-A finals.

Knoch has a pair of young pitchers to turn to in Britni Brandstetter and Codi Reed.

Brandstetter will see most of the pitching duties and may help the Knights make a return to the WPIAL playoffs after nearly missing the postseason a year ago.

“She had a shaky start last season as a freshman, but she got better and better,” said Knoch coach Tim Knappenberger. “She worked really hard.”

But perhaps the most interesting pitcher to keep an eye on this season is Lauren Downs at Karns City.

Downs missed half of her junior season because of a knee injury, but nearly led the Gremlins to the playoffs when she returned for the second half.

“She's throwing extremely well right now,” said Karns City coach Mike Simpson. “She's hitting her spots. She's stronger, faster, has better control and is moving the ball around. I'm very pleased with her.”

Following is a look at Butler County area softball teams this season:

Butler• Coach: Dan Hindman, second year•

Last year: 7-8•

Pitchers: Aubrey Smeider (junior), Hope Wonderling (sophomore), Emily McDonald (freshman), Kristen Walker (freshman)•

Lineup: C-Amanda Steinheiser (senior); 1B-Rachel Redmann (freshman), Smeider; 2B-Erin Pennington (senior); SS-Hannah Henry (senior); 3B-Becky Weaver (senior); OF-Wonderling, Becca Schnur (senior), Teslla Koebler (senior)•

Outlook: The Golden Tornado lost their top two pitchers from a season ago, Angie Reddick and Amanda Skidmore, to graduation.Hindman will employ a pitching staff by committee — and it just might work.“Ultimately, our goal is going to be to work hard, learn as much as possible and let the cards fall where they may,” Hindman said. “The work ethic has been great.”

Seneca Valley• Coach: George Trew, 12th year•

Last year: 13-7, WPIAL runner-up•

Pitchers: Emily Watson (senior), Sami Crilley (sophomore)•

Lineup: C-Sarah Blass (sophomore), 1B-Megan Buletko (senior), 2B-Alexa Sisko (sophomore), SS-Julia Vandrak (senior), 3B-Paige Foley (sophomore), OF-Ciara Mislan (senior), Kelsey Mislan (senior), Kelly Pfab (junior), Alyssa Tanza (sophomore), Cassie Bachik (sophomore), DH-Haley Marthler (senior)•

Outlook: The Raiders lost to Latrobe 5-3 in the WPIAL final last season and appear poised to make another run at a district championship.“We have seven returning starters,” Trew said. “We have a pretty good nucleus.”

Knoch• Coach: Tim Knappenberger, fourth year•

Last year: 4-8•

Pitchers: Britni Brandstetter (sophomore), Codi Reed (sophomore)•

Lineup: C-Carsan Simpson (junior); 1B-Jhoey DeWalt (junior); 2B-Rachel Neff (senior), Sarah Steedle (junior); SS-Bethany Hay (sophomore); 3B-Reed; OF-Calla Hinderliter (senior), Mikayla Moretti (senior), Abbi Smithmeyer (sophomore)•

Outlook: The Knights lost two one-run games against section foe Highlands. Had they pulled those two games out, Knoch would have made the playoffs.This year, Knappenberger is hoping to leave no doubt about the postseason worthiness of his club.

Mars• Coach: Michele Goodworth, 14th year•

Last year: 3-10•

Pitchers: Taylor Rotz (junior), Haley Jones (senior)•

Lineup: C-Alyse Ciafre (senior); 1B-Jones; 2B-Erin Hershman (sophomore); SS-Suzanne Papik (freshman); 3B-Clare Galabinski (senior); OF-Kady Huber (senior), Randi Francis (senior), Taylor Leslie (senior), Ashley Matola (senior), Emily Quail (senior); UTL-Kasey Jones (sophomore)•

Outlook: The Planets are coming off another tough season, but Goodworth is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.“We have a bunch of girls who are tired of losing,” Goodworth said. “We've had lots of talks about that subject and I think they all want to see a different outcome.”

Freeport• Coach: Sam Ross, second year•

Last year: 13-6•

Pitchers: Alyssa Meta (junior), Micaela Kurn (junior)•

Lineup: C-Emily Lindsey (junior); 1B-Kurn; 2B-Alyssa Ravotti (sophomore); SS-Ashley Sample (junior); 3B-Taylor Massart (junior); OF-Alexis Roenig (sophomore), Alexis Schrecengost (sophomore), Carlie Hill (junior), Dana Hinchberger (senior), Jade Hilliard (senior)•

Outlook: The Yellowjackets shocked Mount Pleasant in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs a season ago.This year, Freeport won't sneak up on anybody.“We should be as good as last year,” Ross said.

Moniteau• Coach: Dan Beebe, second year•

Last year: 17-2, District 9 champion•

Pitchers: Holly Colosimo (senior)•

Lineup: C-Emily Hiwiller (junior); 1B-Sydney Boben (junior), Kayla Campbell (sophomore); 2B-Heather McMillen (junior); SS-Chloe Eshenbaugh (junior), 3B-Kaitlyn Patton (senior); OF-Taylor Hasychak (freshman), Kayla Goyak (senior), Cassidy Maples (junior), Kelsey Anderson (junior), Nicole Buterbaugh (junior)•

Outlook: The Warriors won the district title and a state playoff game last season. Many of the players who made that happen return, including senior pitcher Colosimo.“Last year, we had a chip on our shoulder,” Beebe said. “Everyone thought maybe we'd have a down season. We even have a chip on our shoulder this season because everyone is wondering maybe last year was a fluke. There are always going to be haters and naysayers. But we have a motto: Faith, focus, finish. That's what we are going to do.”

Karns City• Coach: Mike Simpson, 10th year•

Last year: 10-10•

Pitchers: Lauren Downs (senior)•

Lineup: C-Lauren Mildren (sophomore), Clara Stoughton (freshman); 1B-Sebrina Johns (senior), Jensen Bachman (sophomore); 2B-Morgan Deal (sophomore); SS-Kara Kerschbaumer (senior); 3B-Lauren Downs (freshman); OF-Alex Boyle (junior), Maggie McKain (junior), Saydie Moore (junior), Cheyenne Troutman (freshman)•

Outlook: An injury to Lauren Downs last season put the Gremlins in a hole and a late push left Karns City at .500.Downs is healthy and the team is looking for big things this season.“I feel pretty confident,” Simpson said. “We're going to be very competitive. We have more speed in the lineup and our defense is coming along well.”

A-C Valley• Coach: Corrina Sternthal, second year•

Last year: 7-8•

Pitchers: Lainie Best (junior), Tiffany Anderson (junior)•

Lineup: C-Danielle Kaufman (freshman); 1B-Kelsey Boocks (junior); 2B-Gabby Rankin (sophomore); SS-Abby Wetzel (junior); 3B-Sadie Comstock (sophomore); OF-Kayla Cratty (sophomore), Kelsey Russell (senior), Erin Alworth (sophomore)•

Outlook: Last year, Sternthal took over the team a mere days before the season opener. Still, the Falcons turned in a respectable campaign.With a full year to prepare and a trip to Florida to open the season, Sternthal is confident going into 2012.“We're young, but talented,” Sternthal said. “It's a lot less stressful, that's for sure.”

Slippery Rock• Coach: Elma Anschutz, first year•

Last year: 2-13•

Pitchers: Stephanie Kotomski (senior), Katie Myers (senior), Morgan Longdon (sophomore), Desirea Heinl (freshman)•

Lineup: C-Kalene Ireland (senior); 1B-Cassie Vogan (junior), Jessica Schmelzer (junior); 2B-Nicole Zimmel (senior); SS-Kaileigh Dorrier (junior); 3B-Katie Schmidt (senior), Kelsey Green (junior), Courtney Bell (junior); OF-Marlee Mauthe (senior), Jordan McCauley (junior), Michaela Wessel (senior), Hannah Schmidt (sophomore), Marie Bosch (freshman), Hannah Baker (junior), Summer Lawrence (senior), Marissa Kerr (senior), Erica Umstead (senior)•

Outlook: The Rockets are coming off a two-win season, but have a healthy roster of 21.Defense was a problem last season, but the pitching returns and potent bats Marlee Mauthe and Kalene Ireland also return.