Nathan Lemke comes off bench, hits game-winner as Seneca Valley baseball sweeps Butler in WPIAL action
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Seneca Valley’s Elliott Murnoch, middle, is congratulated by Nathan Lemke, left, after Murnoch scored their third run to pull ahead of Butler in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Luis Torrenegra (15) pitches in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s second baseman Mason Fisher dives for the ball against Butler in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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A Butler player celebrates from the dugout after scoring in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Owen Boring (7) is congratulated by teammate Trent Best (19) after Boring scored in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-2 in a baseball game on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Nathan Lemke doesn’t get many at-bats.
But the Seneca Valley senior makes them count.
Lemke replaced No. 3 hitter Ryan Piekutoski early in the Raiders’ game against Butler on Thursday at Pullman Park. He collected a pair of singles in his only two at-bats, including the game-winning hit in his team’s 4-2 Section 1-6A baseball victory.
The win completed a three-game sweep of the Golden Tornado for the Raiders (11-6, 8-4), who finished second in section play.
“Nathan’s had four plate appearances all year,” SV coach Eric Semega said. “Look who he’s stuck behind (on the roster). It’s hard to get him at bats, but he came through again today.”
Lemke singled to center with one out in the fourth inning, his team trailing 1-0 at the time. Danny Drennan walked in front of him and Wes Conville walked behind him, loading the bases. Micah Olayer grounded a single to left to knot the score.
Butler (10-7, 6-6) took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the frame as Preston Richter lined a single to left, advanced to third on an infield error and scored on Regan Peth’s single to left. But the Tornado attack dried up after that.
The Raiders took the lead with two runs in the sixth. Mason Fisher reached on an infield error, and when Drennan laid down a sacrifice bunt, the ball was thrown wildly into foul territory. Fisher scored and Drennan wound up on third.
Lemke delivered a single to right to give Seneca Valley the lead. The Raiders added a run in the seventh as Elliot Murnoch began the frame with a single to left and eventually crossed the plate on an infield out.
Piekutoski left the game early because of hamstring tightness, giving Lemke some playing time.
“I don’t get frustrated,” Lemke said of his lack of playing time. “It’s all about the team winning games. I know we have talented guys playing in front of me. We all can’t play. We’re winning as a team, and that’s OK.
“Those two hits today felt good, though. They turned out to be big ones, and it’s nice to be able to contribute to a win and help us get a series sweep.”
Luis Torrenegra tossed a complete game for the Raiders, striking out four and walking none. He threw 92 pitches, 68 for strikes.
“Luis is our Thursday pitcher and does a great job every time he goes out there,” Semega said. “We either don’t hit for him or we make defensive mistakes. It looked like it was going that way again today before we scored late.
“Their pitcher did a good job against us. I wasn’t sure we were going to get to him.”
Aaron Lunn went the distance on the mound for the Tornado, striking out three and throwing 92 pitches. He got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning when he induced Brandon Godleski to hit into an inning-ending double play.
“Definitely deserved a better fate,” Butler coach Josh Forbes said of Lunn. “We scored three runs in three games this week ... not a good week for Golden Tornado baseball.”
Boden Lenyk paced a seven-hit Butler attack with a double, single and RBI. Regan Peth had a pair of singles and an RBI.
The Tornado finished third in section play. Butler and SV will conclude regular season play with non-section games.
“Maybe a few days off will help us,” Forbes said. “We’d played six games in nine days. The schedule has been all over the place. We need to settle down and get into a solid routine at the plate.”
Seneca Valley 000 102 1 — 4 6 2
Butler 001 100 0 — 2 7 2
W: Luis Torrenegra 7IP (4so, 0bb). L: Aaron Lunn 7IP (3so, 3bb).
Seneca Valley (11-6, 8-4): Mason Fisher RBI, Danny Drennan 2-R, Nathan Lemke 2-1B RBI, Micah Olayer 1B RBI, Elliott Murnoch 1B, Mason Durst 1B, Owen Voelp 1B.
Butler (10-7, 6-6): Boden Lenyk 2B 1B RBI, Trent Best 1B, Preston Richter 1B, Regan Peth 2-1B RBI, Owen Boring 1B.
Tuesday: Seneca Valley vs. West Virginia opponent at PNC Park, Butler at Indiana
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