For some high school baseball programs, success reaches beyond wins and section titles.

Take Seneca Valley and Butler, for instance.

When West Penn Baseball Prospects, an organization that spotlights the region's high school players, compiled a list of those playing in college, both Butler County schools were well represented.

In fact, Seneca Valley currently has more players in college — 26 — than any other school from the WPIAL and City League.

The rest of the top five includes North Allegheny (20), Blackhawk (17), Bethel Park (16) and Butler (16).

WPBP began tracking the high schools that sent players to college in 2004.

"Since then, Seneca Valley's total of 26 this year is definitely the highest we've seen," said WPBP president Tony Villiotti. "(SV) has a really good program and they turn out a lot of players."

The school's total of 26 collegiate players includes six in Division I.

Seneca Valley also has one of the more stable programs in the area. Coach Eric Semega currently is in his 10th season of guiding the team.

"The kids who have come through here and are now playing in college are there because of the time and effort they put into baseball when they were younger," Semega said. "Hopefully, we had a hand in helping them develop."

Butler High coach Dave Florie has coached all 16 of the school's college products.

"I think it says there's a lot of good baseball players in the Butler area," he said.

Coaching can play a crucial role in the direction a player's career can take.

"We've got some really good high school coaches in the area, and summer league coaches, too," said Villiotti. "The high school coaches can have a huge impact on the opportunities a kid has when it comes to playing in college."

Besides trying to get wins for their respective teams, both Semega and Florie said they feel a responsibility to help each player reach his maximum potential by the time he graduates.

"Whenever a player comes into the program, whether it's in eighth grade, when he's a sophomore ... we make a commitment to help that kid become a better player and a better person," said Semega. "I am certainly not the only reason a player may play and do well in college, but I hope I contributed in some way."

Florie, who formerly coached at Seneca Valley, saw Zach Jackson come through his program and reach the major leagues. Jackson pitched at Louisville and Texas A&M, and currently is in the Toronto Blue Jays system.

"Sometimes you have a kid that comes along who is a superstar in Little League," said Florie. "That was the case with Jackson. He was a phenom when he was 9 years old.

"But you also have late bloomers," he added. "You work with a kid and, in his senior year, he gets that confidence and starts to get noticed by college scouts."

WPIAL and City League schools currently account for nearly 600 college players.

"In 2004, that number was at 550, so it's gone up since we started," said Villiotti.

"Baseball in this area often takes a back seat to football and basketball," he added. "But we're producing as many college baseball players as any other sport. There's more baseball talent here than people realize."

For information about West Penn Baseball Prospects, visit www.wpabaseball.com.