Karns City and Seneca Valley can take a familiar look at themselves this softball season.

Neither team lost anyone to graduation while producing winning seasons a year ago — and expectations are high this spring.

“We’ve got seven returning seniors and four juniors who were all letter winners last year,” Seneca Valley coach George Trew said. “They definitely want to do some good things.”

The Raiders were 11-7 last year, but went 6-6 in section play and missed the WPIAL playoffs.

Third baseman Jess Neill hit .518 a year ago and shortstop Alexa Sisko hit .410. Catcher Sarah Blagg is a fourth-year starter.

“The pieces are in place, no doubt about that,” Trew said.

Karns City finished 12-6 and reached the District 9 semifinals last year with two freshmen pitchers in LeeAnn Gibson and Taylor Downs.

“Both went to pitching camps during the winter and we’re expecting to get better results on the mound,” Gremlins coach Jim “Buddy” Gibson said. “We’ve got some good arms there.”

They’ve got some good hitters as well. Five Karns City players hit over .300 last season.

“Our goal is the District 9 title,” Gibson said.

Here is a look at Butler County area high school softball teams this spring:

A-C Valley

Coach: Corrina Sternthal, fourth year

Last Year: 4-10

Starters Lost: Lainie Best, Abby Wetzel

Prospective Lineup: P-Katie Stumpner (soph), Tiffany Thompson (senior); C-Danielle Caufman (junior), 1B-Jess Dehart (senior), Kiersten Rothen (soph); 2B-Gabby Rankin (senior), SS-Lauren McNany (soph), 3B-Kayla Cratty (senior), LF-Alyssa Babcock (soph), CF-Halee Wetzel (soph), RF-Sadie Longo (junior)

Sternthal says: “Our seniors have been with me for four years now, so the experience is there and they know what’s expected. We’ve got a good sophomore class. I’m expecting a record above .500 and to make the playoffs.”

Butler

Coach: Shauna Troup, 1st year

Last Year: 9-11

Starters Lost: Cait Baxter (Slippery Rock), Mackenzie O’Donnell, Beyonna Eckstein, Aubrey Schmeider

Prospective Lineup: P-Emily McDonald (junior), Alexis Schmeider (soph); C-Jen Miller (soph), Rhiannon Kosar (junior); 1B-Rachel Rebmann (junior), Kaitlin Barnett (junior); 2B-Barnett, SS-Noel Pfabe (soph), 3B-Anna Heade (soph), LF-Madi Graham (senior), CF-Hope Wunderling (senior), RF-Kosar, Amanda Webb (junior)

Troup says: “Our fielding is solid. The biggest area we need improvement is our hitting. Since I’ve been with the program, these girls have not been to the playoffs. That’s our big goal.”

Freeport

Coach: Sam Ross, fourth year

Last Year: 11-7, lost in first round of WPIAL playoffs

Starters Lost: Taylor Massart (Allegheny), Emily Lindsey (Westminster), Ashley Sample (Seton Hill), Alyssa Meta

Prospective Lineup: P-Jess Kelley (junior), Christi Rabvan (freshman), Alyssa Obringer (soph); C-Morgan McCarthy (freshman), 1B-Karlie Hill (junior), 2B-Alyssa Ravotti (senior), SS-Lexi Roenigk (senior), 3B-Rabvan, LF-Angela Hewitt (junior), CF-Obringer, RF-Amanda Gomez (senior), Julianne Mariotti (junior), Savannah Claypoole (freshman)

Ross says: “We hit 22 home runs as a team last year and a lot of that power is back. Karlie Hill hit six homers, Alyssa Ravotti three and Jess Kelly two. We’ve got a good mix of older and younger players and they all respect each other. Jess has nice velocity on the mound.”

Grove City

Coach: David Gatewood, first year

Last Year: 4-16

Starters Lost: Micaela King, Kristi Sestak, Payton McClaren

Prospective Starters: P-Taylor Shingledecker (senior), Maddy Elberty (junior); C-Hannah Bumbaco (freshman), 1B-Shingledecker, Briana Kaufman (senior), 2B-Belle Chiodo (junior), SS-Jordan Malczak (freshman), LF-Cassie Feather (junior), CF-Grace Dadzaa (junior), RF-Jordan Hesselgesser (junior), Halle Culmer (freshman)

Gatewood says: “If our pitching holds up, we should be OK. We want to be competitive and improve upon last year’s record. A lot will depend on how our freshmen react to playing varsity ball and how they contribute to the team.”

Karns City

Coach: Jim “Buddy” Gibson, second year

Last Year: 12-6, District 9 semifinals

Starters Lost: None

Prospective Lineup: P-LeeAnn Gibson (soph), Taylor Downs (soph); C-Clara Stoughton (junior), 1B-Jensen Bachman (senior), 2B-Morgan Deal (senior), SS-Ashley Coon (soph), 3B-Jordan Downs (junior), OF-Alyssa Gibson (freshman), Brittany Coyle (junior), Sadie Moore (junior), Taylor Ritzert (junior)

Gibson says: “Our defense was a strong suit last year and should be that way again. Making it to the district semifinals last year, our goal is to get back to the playoffs and go much farther this year.”

Knoch

Coach: Tim Knappenberger, sixth year

Last Year: 9-8

Starters Lost: Jhoey DeWalt (Butler County Community College), Karson Simpson (BC3), Sarah Steedle (BC3), Brittany Nulph

Prospective Lineup: P-Codi Reed (senior), Jessi Reed (soph); C-Abbi Smithmyer (senior), 1B-Chandler Krelow (junior), 2B-Abbie Thrower (junior), SS-Bethany Hay (senior), 3B-Avery Keller (freshman), LF-Taylor Lesseski (soph), Shelby Bruggeman (junior); CF-Hayle Fox (junior), RF-Sydney Natili (freshman), Schaely Renfrew (senior)

Knappenberger says: “We hit .358 as a team last year and all three of our seniors (Reed, .438, 38 RBI, Hay .438, Smithmyer 24 runs scored) are four-year starters. Since they moved the mound back to 43 feet, average strikeouts in a game dropped from nine to three, so defense is more important than ever. We have to make plays behind our pitcher.”

Mars

Coach: Michele Goodworth, 16th year

Last Year: 9-10, lost in first round of WPIAL playoffs

Starter Lost: P-Taylor Rotz (Nova Southeastern University)

Prospective Lineup: P-Niki Schlegel (soph), Blake Kitt (soph); C-Marina Mannupelli (freshman), 1B-Kasey Jones (senior), 2B-Mallory Eperesi (soph), SS-Suzanne Papik (junior), 3B-Kitt, LF-Shelby Huber (senior), CF-Erin Hershman (senior), RF-Jeanna Sybert (senior)

Goodworth says: “We have a lot of experience, but it’s always hard replacing a pitcher, who is the quarterback of the team. Erin hit nine home runs last year and is headed to Robert Morris. She’ll provide a solid bat in the heart of the lineup. We should be very competitive.”

Moniteau

Coach: Dan Beebe, fourth year

Last Year: 16-5, District 9 semifinals

Starters Lost: Chloe Eshenbaugh, Sydney Boben, Emily Hiwiller, Kelsey Anderson, Cassidy Maples, Nicole Buterbaugh, Heather McMillen, Alicia Sower

Prospective Lineup: P-Taylor Hasychak (junior), Kennedy DeMatteis (freshman), Courtney Claypoole (freshman), Alazia Greaves (freshman); C-Kristina DeMatteis (freshman), Gabby Stewart (freshman); 1B-Sara Hull (freshman), Kayla Campbell (senior); 2B-Nicole Auvil (junior), Alyssa Dailey (soph); SS-Kennedy DeMatteis, Claypoole; 3B-Hull, Kristina Dematteis; LF-Courtney Sowinski (soph), Makayla King (freshman); CF-Greaves, Stewart; RF-Bailey Hoffman (freshman), Chloe Yommer (soph)

Beebe says: “On paper, we’re young compared to most teams, but ‘on paper’ doesn’t win games. We lack varsity experience, but these kids have played a lot of travel ball and we expect to be in the mix for the KSAC and District 9 titles.”

Seneca Valley

Coach: George Trew, 14th year

Last Year: 11-7

Starters Lost: None

Prospective Lineup: P-Nikki Matz (junior), C-Sarah Blagg (senior), 1B-Ashley Kappeler (junior), 2B-Paige Foley (senior), SS-Alexa Sisko (senior), 3B-Jess Neill (junior), LF-Cassie Bachik (senior), CF-Alyssa Panza (senior), RF-Aubrey Baehr (senior)

Trew says: “We’re going to be strong this year. In Nikki’s last nine games last season, we had seven shutouts. If she pitches like that all this spring, we’ll be in good shape. We have to show up ready to play each day because North Allegheny and Shaler will be strong again in our section and Butler and Pine-Richland are coming on.”

Slippery Rock

Coach: Dan Hindman, first year

Last Year: N/A

Starters Lost: Jordan McCauley, Kaileigh Dorrier, Cassie Vogan

Prospective Lineup: P-Desiree Heinl (soph), Morgan Longdon (senior); C-Alexis Vogan (junior), 1B-Joella Neal (freshman), 2B-Taylor Moesta (soph), SS-Katie McClymonds (soph), 3B-Hope Schnell (soph), LF-Megan Mingione (junior), CF-Marie Bosch (junior), RF-Alyssa Schaeffer (soph)

Hindman says: “This team has inexperience, but it definitely has heart. These girls have been putting in the work and we’ve got talent there. If our pitching comes through, we can make some noise. I want to get the program established, lay a foundation and get everyone on the same page this year.”