JACKSON TWP - Just what Seneca Valley's girls softball team needs - another pitcher.

Freshman Courtney Grootegoed, making her first-ever varsity start, pitched a one-hit shutout and didn't allow a ball to leave the infield Monday as the Raiders defeated Butler, 10-0.

"We're obviously trying to win in the present, but we try to take care of the future, too," Seneca Valley coach George Trew said. "Courtney pitched an inning against North Allegheny and Riverside in relief and looked pretty good.

"I figured we'd give her a start today and see how she does."

She did pretty good Monday. Butler's lone hit was an infield single by Dana Gillis leading off the third inning - and she was erased on an odd double play.

Kristen Shields laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Gillis to second. Because the third baseman had to come in to field the ball, Gillis figured third base would be left unoccupied.

As she headed for the bag, left fielder Julie Marlowe was there covering it and tagged Gillis out to complete the double play.

Marlowe's play was the only putout recorded by a Raider outfielder all day.

"We haven't been getting many hits in recent games, so we're trying to do what we can," Butler coach Tanya Schnur. "The girls are feeling some pressure in the field because they know we can't afford to fall behind.

"It's frustrating - very frustrating."

Seneca Valley scored twice in the first inning on Butler mistakes. Marlowe reached on a bunt single, stole second and scored when Aly Intihar's single got past the center fielder.

Intihar moved to second on the error and scored on a pair of wild pitches.

The Raiders' 11-hit attack featured hits from eight players. The bulk of the damage was done by No. 3 hitter Intihar and No. 4 hitter Tina Mangola, however.

Intihar, batting .500 on the year, had two singles and scored two runs. Mangola, bating .460, had two singles, four RBI and scored twice.

Mangola delivered two-run singles in the third and fourth innings, when the Raiders scored eight of their 10 runs. She took over the team RBI lead from Intihar, 11 to 10.

The Raiders sported a .340 team batting average entering the game.

Mangola plays catcher on defense and likes the idea of Grootegoed joining the staff.

"We have three pitchers and they all throw differently," she said. "Megan (Wise) throws a drop, Lauren (Pennell) a screwball and Courtney has a nice changeup.

"She was putting pitches inside and outside, throwing the ball where she wanted to."

Wise is a senior and Pennell is a sophomore to go with the freshman Grootegoed.

"Our pitching is set up nicely for the next few years," Trew said.

While the Raiders improved to 3-2 in section play, the Golden Tornado dropped to 0-5 and were shut out for the seventh time in 11 games.

"It's just been a struggle," Schnur said. "We've just trying to get the bat on the ball right now."

Butler 000 00x x - 0 1 3

Seneca Valley 203 5xx x -10 11 1

WP:

Courtney Grootegoed (5 IP) 3 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP:

Kelly Reges (4 IP) 1 strikeout, 0 walks

Butler (1-10, 0-5):

Dana Gillis 1B

Seneca Valley (7-3, 3-2):

Julie Marlowe 1B, Liz Dorogy 1B 2-R, Aly Intihar 2-1B 2-R, Tina Mangola 2-1B 4-RBI 2-R, Courtney Grootegoed RBI, Jackie Mangola 2B RBI, Nicole Lollo 1B, Lindsay Troyer 1B, Lauren Pennell 2-1B RBI

Wednesday:

New Castle @ Butler, Ellwood City @ Seneca Valley