Abby Kalkowski spearheads Seneca Valley softball’s 5-inning rout of Butler, finishes double shy of cycle
JACKSON TWP — Lexie Hames is graduated. Seneca Valley’s softball success did not leave with her.
Last year’s all-state pitcher/slugger and Butler Eagle Female Athlete of the Year is now seeing action in the circle as a freshman pitcher at Clemson. The Raiders are creating plenty of action of their own when they stroll to the plate these days.
Seneca Valley (4-0, 2-0) used an 11-run first inning to grab control of a 15-5, five-inning home WPIAL Section 1-6A victory over Butler on Wednesday. The Raiders have scored 32 runs in their last two games.
“We spent the bulk of the offseason focusing on our at-bats, discipline at the plate and putting the ball in play,” first-year Raiders coach Joe DeCristoforo said. “The girls are putting in the effort. As coaches, we’re just here to help.
“Lexie was a tremendous player. She was great for four years here. But that’s high school sports. Players stay for four years and move on. Other players follow them and are prepared to step in. That’s happening for us.”
Nine different Seneca Valley players scored runs Wednesday. Five had runs batted in. Senior first baseman Abby Kalkowski produced a three-run homer and two-run triple — in the first inning alone.
Kalkowski had three hits — adding a single in the fourth — and six RBIs in the abbreviated game.
“I was never thinking about it,” she said of possibly hitting for the cycle. “I mean, I don’t keep track of that stuff. Someone will tell me after a game that I was perfect at the plate ... I don’t even know.
“I just focus on the next pitch and having fun.”
Butler (0-3, 0-1) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Annalynn Schnur doubled to deep center and scored on Kaylin Garbinski’s single to left. Khloe Brown’s double to left plated Garbinski.
But the Raiders struck back with a vengeance.
Emry Rice doubled to left. Maci Milosicevic walked. Kalkowski drilled the first pitch she saw over the left-field fence to give Seneca Valley the lead.
“That one felt pretty good,” Kalkowski said.
The Raiders didn’t stop.
Riley Geyer delivered a two-run triple, as did Kalkowski. Paige Volz added a two-run double. By the time the inning ended, SV had collected six hits, five walks and sent 15 batters to the plate.
“We got their starting pitcher out of there before we had any outs,” DeCristoforo said. “That’s pretty good.”
Geyer had three hits and three RBIs for the Raiders. Volz had two hits and scored two runs.
“Lexie was awesome, a great pitcher,” Kalkowski said of Hames. “We relied on her a lot. Now we’re all working as a team. We depend on each other, feed off each other. The girl in front of you gets a hit, now it’s your turn to get a hit. We have each other’s backs.”
The Golden Tornado did some hitting of their own. Garbinski had two singles and two RBIs, while Butler tallied eight hits. Mikayla Crouch had a run-scoring triple, and Kyra Olivares doubled off the right-field fence.
But Butler has surrendered 51 runs in its first three games. The Tornado had four sophomores and three freshmen in Wednesday’s lineup.
“We don’t have that clear No. 1 pitcher, and we know we have to pitch by platoon this year,” Butler coach Kara Sroka said. “We’re going to have to out-hit our pitching. That’s just where we’re at.
“The game has changed that way. When I played, if you threw 60 (mph), you were fanning everybody. There’s not many power pitchers like that out there anymore. The hitters have caught up to the pitching.”
Rachael Dunmire struck out six in three innings to get the win for the Raiders. Kalkowski fanned three in two scoreless frames.
“Abby is our No. 1 pitcher, but Rachael is No. 1A, I guess you could say,” DeCristoforo said. “We may work another young pitcher or two into the mix before we’re done.”
Butler 230 00 — 5 8 1
Seneca Valley (11)02 11 — 15 13 1
WP: Rachael Dunmire 3IP (6so, 1bb). LP: Annalynn Schnur 0IP (0so, 2bb).
Butler (0-3, 0-1): Mikayla Crouch 3B RBI, Annalynn Schnur 2B RBI, Kyra Olivares 2B, Kaylin Garbinski 2-1B 2-RBI, Khloe Brown 2B RBI, Alaina Garbinski 1B, Kinsley Smith 2B.
Seneca Valley (4-0, 2-0): Emry Rice 2B 2-R, Maci Milosicevic 2-R, Abby Kalkowski HR 3B 1B 6-RBI 2-R, Neve Miller 1B RBI 2-R, Paige Volz 2B 1B 2-RBI 2-R, Riley Geyer 3B 2-1B 3-RBI, Liv Herrem 1B RBI, Julia Valasek 2-1B 2-R.
Friday: Pine-Richland at Butler, Seneca Valley at North Allegheny
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Seneca Valley's Neve Miller (20) bats in a softball game against Butler on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Brielle White (7) slides into home to close out a softball game against Butler on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Khloe Brown (4) makes a run for first base in a softball game against Seneca Valley on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Mikayla Crouch (18) pitches in a softball game against Seneca Valley on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Abby Kalkowski (21) winds up for a pitch in a softball game against Butler on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Mikayla Crouch (18) dives for third base in a softball game against Seneca Valley on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Neve Miller rounds third base in a softball game against Butler on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler pitcher Annalyn Schnur (19) pitches in a softball game against Seneca Valley on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Madison Wiltse (17) watches a ball pass by in a softball game against Seneca Valley on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley pitcher Rachael Dunmire (5) pitches in a softball game against Butler on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Emry Rice (6) bats in a softball game against Butler on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Kyra Olivares (26) runs to home base in a softball game against Seneca Valley on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler pitcher Annalyn Schnur (19) pitches in a softball game against Seneca Valley on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Riley Geyer (16) bats in a softball game against Butler on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Julia Valasek (12) rounds third base in a softball game against Butler on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Khloe Brown (4) warms up to bat in a softball game against Seneca Valley on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Chloe Schoentag (28) winds up to bat in a softball game against Seneca Valley on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Alaina Garbinski (29) bats in a softball game against Seneca Valley on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Paige Volz (19) dives into home during a softball game against Butler on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley head softball coach Joe DeCristoforo speaks with pitcher Rachael Dunmire (5) during a softball game against Butler on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
