BUTLER TWP — Seneca Valley's varsity softball team has lost only once.

The Raiders aren't planning to lose again anytime soon.

Since suffering a 3-0 loss at Shaler last week, Seneca Valley has outscored its last three opponents by a 35-4 count, including Tuesday afternoon's 16-2 triumph at Butler.

That win gave the Raiders the Section 3-AAAA co-championship with Shaler, which edged Pine-Richland 2-0 Tuesday.

"I won't say our loss at Shaler was a fluke, but we were flat that game," senior center fielder Liz Dorogy said.

They seemed to be much improved Tuesday, striking for season-highs of 16 runs and 20 hits. Dorogy had a season-high five RBI.

"We're peaking just in time for the playoffs," Dorogy said. "I'm excited about this team. I think we can go far."

You'll get no argument from Butler.

"They're phenomenal," Golden Tornado coach Lindsay Millea said. "About the only way we slowed them down was with a slow pitcher. That threw them off a little bit."

Millea replaced starting pitcher Stacy Reges with Amy Steinheiser to begin the fourth inning. Steinheiser recorded a pair of strikeouts.

By the third inning, every player in Seneca Valley's lineup had at least one hit. Dana Hughes and Dorogy — SV's Nos. 1 and 2 hitters in the batting order — combined for seven hits, seven runs and seven RBI.

"It's tough on Stacy having to pitch every game," Millea said. "She beat Plum (Monday), then has to come right back and face these guys. We need to develop more pitchers."

The Raiders' team batting average is hovering around .350. Seneca Valley was limited to nine hits in a 3-0 win over the Tornado on April 17. Stacey Reges was Butler's starting pitcher in both games.

"We timed their pitcher a lot better this time around," Seneca Valley coach George Trew said. "We seem to have things rolling again, just in time for the playoffs."

Winning pitcher Lauren Pennell struck out six.

Seneca Valley, which is allowing opponents 1.8 runs per game, closes the regular season Thursday with a non-section game at Moon. Butler ended its season with Tuesday's loss.

"We wound up 3-16, which doesn't look very good, but we got rid of that goose egg (winless record) from last year," Millea said. "We've got some things to build on."

Sophomore shortstop Jenna Geibel hit her fourth homer of the season Tuesday. Geibel and junior catcher Trisha Hollerman batted .500.

"Once we get a little more depth in our lineup and our pitching, we'll keep moving forward," Millea said. "You look at Seneca Valley. That's our objective. That's where we want to be."

Seneca Valley 137 23x x—16 20 1Butler 100 01 x—2 4 3Lauren Pennell (W, 6K, 3BB) and Megan McCormick; Stacey Reges (L, 1K 1BB), Amy Steinheiser (4, 2K, 0BB) and Trisha Hollerman.

Seneca Valley (16-1, 11-1): Dana Hughes 2-2B 1B 4-R 2-RBI, Liz Dorogy 2-2B 2-1B 3-R 5-RBI, Jackie Mangola 2-2B 2-RBI, Courtney Grootegoed 2-1B 2-RBI, Megan McCormick 3B 2B 1B, Nicole Lollo 1B RBI 2-R, Kelsey Gray HR 2-RBI, Caitlin McGill 1B, Ashley Watkins 2-1B 3-R RBI, Rachele Huffman 1B

Butler (3-16, 1-11): Jessica McWilliams 2-1B, Jenna Geibel HR, Trisha Hollerman 1B

Thursday: Seneca Valley at Moon