Abby Kalkowski’s gem, home run lift Seneca Valley softball; Blake Scott sparks Butler baseball win: Roundup

Eagle Staff Report

April 22, 2026 Last Updated: April 22, 2026 10:20 PM Sports

Butler’s Kyra Olivares (26) bunts the ball in a game against Norwin in a softball game Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Abby Kalkowski continued her stellar senior season, striking out 14 and hitting a solo home run to break a tie in the top of the eighth inning as Seneca Valley softball topped Canon-McMillan 3-1 Wednesday.

Kalkowski had two other hits in the game, including a double, while allowing just the one run on two hits in a complete game in the circle.

Paige Volz also had three hits for the Raiders (11-2, 9-2 WPIAL Section 1-6A).

Freeport 10, Valley 4 — Freeport pitchers Mady Bell and Ali Smith combined to strike out 13 and walk just two while allowing only one earned run to the Vikings.

Addi Gourley had two hits, two RBIs and scored twice for the Yellowjackets.

Knoch 10, Greensburg Salem 0 — Kaila Purcell fanned six, walked none and allowed four hits in this five-inning shutout of the Golden Lions.

Emersyn Jones tallied three hits for the Knights (11-2, 10-1 WPIAL Section 1-4A), including a pair of doubles. Marlee Fraser, Lizzie Danik and Purcell each contributed two hits in the victory.

Norwin 11, Butler 0 — The Golden Tornado (1-12, 1-10) managed just two hits, singles from Alaina Garbinksi and Khloe Brown.

Due to five Butler errors, only four of the 11 runs surrendered by Mikayla Crouch were earned.

Shaler 21, Mars 5 — The Titans won this game in three innings.

Alyson Mazurek doubled and drove in three runs for the Planets (2-10, 2-9 WPIAL Section 1-5A).

North Catholic 10, Blackhawk 8 — Mary Kotwica hit a home run, and Lauren Golebiewski had three hits, including a double, and four runs batted in for the Trojanettes.

Baseball

Blake Scott’s grand slam in the bottom of the first inning paved the way to victory as Butler downed Central Catholic 6-4.

Scott also doubled and finished the game with five RBIs.

Kyle Casteel started on the mound for Butler and struck out 10 in 6.1 innings. He allowed just one run through six innings before the Vikings mounted a rally. Jake Szebalskie came on to close the door, getting the final two outs on just four pitches.

Trent Best doubled and tripled for the Golden Tornado (11-3, 6-2 WPIAL Section 1-6A).

Slippery Rock 14, Franklin 1 — Jacob Kunsman, Casey Darr and Bryce Covert each homered in the sixth inning for the Rockets.

Isaac McCandless went six innings, allowing one earned run and struck out four for Slippery Rock (6-3).

Boys lacrosse

Grant Weaver scored six times and added a pair of assists in Mars’ 21-4 win against North Catholic. Nate Caldwell added four goals for the Planets.

Track and Field

Karns City’s Alex Wilson upped the ante again, breaking his own school record in the boys pole vault by reaching 15 feet to place first in a tri-meet against Moniteau and Brookville.

Wilson also was the overall winner in the long jump at 20 feet, 11.5 inches as the Gremlins defeated Moniteau 96-54 and lost to Brookville 102-48.

KC’s 4x800 relay team of Mason Bell, Noah Weiland, Owen Kaufman and Carter Farren turned in a winning time of 8:46.40. Kaufman’s 51.3 in the 400 dash bested the Warriors and Raiders.

Union/A-C Valley sweeps North Clarion — Maddy Dehart won all three throwing events to spur the Falcon Knights girls to an 89-49 win against the Wolves.

Nick Ielase starred in the boys meet, winning both hurdle events as U/ACV booted North Clarion 95-53.

Mars athletes shine at MAC Invite — James Watenpool earned a pair of fifth-place medals in the 110 hurdles (15.69) and 300 hurdles (41.9).

The Planets girls were led by Emma Bloom and Carly McKenna, who took fourth in the 100 hurdles (15.84) and the 400 run (1:01.05), respectively.

Also placing for the Planets were Colton Rearick (fourth, 1600), Jackson Everhart (fifth, triple jump) and Aiden Gloystein (sixth, 3,200) for the boys. Rearick, Sam Argotti, Hudson Shipler and Grady Knauf took fifth in the 4x800 relay.

Riley Carrel and Kohlee Edwards tied for fourth in the girls pole vault. McKenna, Harper Hirth, Julia Siket and Audrey Lyker finished third in the 4x400.

Flag football

Gabby Valentine threw two touchdown passes to Sarah Shay, and Simone Sharpless added a rushing score as North Catholic clipped Seneca Valley 19-7.

The Trojanettes (7-3) were led on defense by Lizzie Fabian, Ally Fabian, Emma Stillwagon and Riley Marsico.

Hampton 53, Mars 0 — The Talbots overwhelmed the Planets.

Boys tennis

Shaler defeated Butler 5-0.

Butler’s first baseman Alexis Myers (25) catches the ball in a softball game against Norwin Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Akosha Downing (5) rubs Annalyn Schnur’s (19) neck in a softball game against Norwin Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler Mikayla Crouch pitcher (18) fires a pitch in a softball game against Norwin Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Mikayla Crouch (18) pitches against Norwin in a softball game Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Mikayla Crouch (18) runs to first base in a game against Norwin in a softball game Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Mikayla Crouch (18) pitches against Norwin in a softball game Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Kyra Olivares (26) bunts the ball in a game against Norwin in a softball game Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw