BUTLER TWP — The last time Cait Baxter put on a Butler softball uniform was the spring of 2011.

She was a sophomore then, full of promise and potential. Baxter pressed most of the season and had a disappointing year at the plate.

“It wasn’t very good,” Baxter said.

She was ready to put all of that behind her as a junior, but never got the chance because of a knee injury in the fall, just days before the Golden Tornado girls basketball season was set to begin.

During her rehab, she rarely picked up a bat to swing it. She rarely slipped on a glove to field ground balls.

Before she knew it, her senior softball season had arrived. Her first game on the field was her first real softball action in nearly two years.

It would have been easy for Baxter to accept that she would struggle. It would have been easy for her to simply be happy to be playing again, no matter the result.

It would have been easy for anyone except for Baxter.

“I can’t use that as an excuse,” she said.

There is no need for Baxter to apologize for her play this spring. Despite very little live practice and games in two years, Baxter is spraying line drives all over the field.

“The last time we did the stats last week, she was hitting .440,” said Butler coach Dan Hindman. “I have to believe that has gone up with the way she has been hitting the ball this week.”

Baxter had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored against Seneca Valley Tuesday and followed that up with a 2-for-3 performance with a double and two runs scored Wednesday against Pine-Richland.

Baxter admits to being surprised at how well she has hit the ball this season.

“I feel like I’ve been more focused this year,” Baxter said. “I knew I had to get my batting average up because this is my last year. I had to put it all out there.”

Hindman, too, is surprised at the hitter Baxter has become with very little preparation before the season.

He has Baxter hitting at the top of the order, taking advantage of her patience at the plate, speed and base-running IQ to set the tone for the Golden Tornado offense.

“Her swinging the bat the way she has been this season has been a pleasant surprise,” Hindman said. “I couldn’t be happier for her or more proud of her.

“It says a lot about her athleticism and her as a player, for sure,” Hindman added.

Baxter also has been stellar on defense, showing the quick first step and strong throwing arm she displayed as a sophomore.

“It doesn’t get a whole lot better than what she’s done,” Hindman said.

Baxter said she is a different player than she was before her knee injury.

“I might be at the same level now,” she said. “I might be a little better. I’m not sure. It’s kind of hard to tell.”

Butler, though, has had an up-and-down season at 3-7 overall and 2-7 in the section. There is still some time for the Tornado to climb back into playoff contention, but not much.

“I do like to win,” Baxter said. “We’re not too consistent right now. We need to get there. We’re a little more than halfway through the season now, and I’d like to finish on a good note.”

Baxter isn’t going to be done with softball after the Golden Tornado season.

She is leaning strongly toward attending Kent State University — where her brother, Cole, is on the wrestling team — and walking on to the softball team.

Baxter said missing her entire junior season and summer travel season cost her precious exposure to college coaches.

“I plan on going to Kent State and showing them I’m serious about playing,” she said.