Seneca Valley and Karns City return plenty of baseball talent from last year.

Raiders coach Eric Semega guided his team to the PIAAClass AAAAchampionship and hopes his team can get back to the playoffs.

"I know the WPIALtitle is something we didn't get last year and it's a goal of our kids,"Semega said. "Last year was a fun ride, getting into the state playoffs and winning it.

"But people forget ... a bounce here or a bounce there, and nobody would even be talking about us right now."

Seneca Valley, which won seven of eight one-run games a year ago, had to win a play-in game just to qualify for the state tournament.

"You can't feel like it's your rite of passage to be in the playoffs,"Semega said. "People don't realize how hard it is to get there."

Gremlins coach Tom Stewart has an idea about how hard it is. He watched his team finish 9-11 last spring, but is hopeful of a District 9 championship in 2008.

A first-year coach last year, he watched injuries ravage his roster to the point that he was starting three freshmen and three sophomores in some games.

"As long as we stay healthy, we're trying to set our goals high,"Stewart said. "We haven't had a District 9 baseball title at Karns City since 1996. We're telling the kids it's time."

Senior second baseman Stephon Conto and senior catcher Brett Green missed most of last year with injuries and senior pitcher-outfielder Dan Everetts has returned to the program.

"The talent is here, if we can put it together," Stewart said.

Here is a look at area high school baseball teams this season:

A-CValley

Coach: John Irwin, second year

Last Year: 5-8

Key losses:Shawn Courson 1B, Casey McBride 3B, Garrett Greathouse OF

Key returnees: John Stumpner, senior, SS(.421, 4 HR, 16 RBI), Jesse Mangel, senior, P-OF(.357, 10 RBI, 2-W, 38 K's in 38Z\c IP), Nate Silvis, senior, 2B, Nick McGuirk, senior, C (.483), Ryan Austin, senior, CF-P, Matt Bartley, soph., LF, Eric Page, soph., RF, Josh Austin, soph., DH, Alex Brison, soph., DH

Key newcomers: Reed Terwilliger, soph., P, Allan Eaton, freshman, P, Mike McGuirk, freshman, 3Bn

Irwin says:"With the experience our five seniors bring back and some talented younger kids, I'm hoping for the playoffs. Allan Eaton is a 6-foot-6 freshman who throws in the low 80s and he's already getting some Division IIIlooks. That kid is the real deal."Butler

Coach: Dave Florie, third yearLast Year: 9-10

Key losses: Brian Warheit P(Seton Hill), Dallas O'Donnell P, Andy Onufrak 3B (Wheeling Jesuit), Jordan Roycroft CF

Key returnees:Ryan Geibel, senior, C(.311), Darren Blakley, senior, SS(.349), Eric King, junior, 2B(.238), Bill Coleman, senior, LF (.283), Dustin Uhlman, junior, RF(.444), Tim Geibel, senior, P, Zach Cuffman, senior, P, Greg Hays, senior, P, Matt McCormick, senior, P

Key newcomers:Jeff Slater, senior, OF, Nick Rossmiller, senior, P-1B, Ryan Armahizer, senior, INFn

Florie says:"If we get the pitching, we have a chance. We had a few kids get a few innings in last year. If they mature and develop, we'll be competitive. Pitching is the name of the game and playoffs are always the goal."Freeport

Coach:Chris Graczyk, eighth year

Last Year: 10-9

Key losses: Beau Zack 3B, Corey Massart SS, J.P. Samay P-1B

Key returnees: Andy Vivian, senior, C, Justin Bollinger, junior, P-SS(6-2, 4.43 ERA), Ryan Siegel, soph., OF(.264)

Key newcomers: Jarrod Mancini, soph., INF, Harrison Wood, junior, OFn

Graczyk says:"I'm very optimistic. We're young, but we're pretty talented. It all comes down to confidence and what kind of start we have."Grove City

Coach:Pat Forese, 21st year

Last Year: 19-2, District 10 runner-up

Key losses:Bob Revesz P(Louisville), Dan Keil P, Kent Denbow P, Brad Ballantine CF, Scott Moore C, Drew Bestwick utility

Key returnees: Ryan Devine, senior, SS(.400), Derek Forese, senior, 1B (.370), Garrett Molloy, senior, 2B (.500)

Key newcomers:Mark Revesz, senior, P-3B-DH, Tyler Moser, senior, CF, Bob Johnston, senior, LF, Jim McConnell, junior, P, Garrett Herald, junior, C, Jason Ferderber, junior, 3Bn

Forese says:"We lost a lot of kids, but that's happened to us before. The key this year will be our pitching. Offensively, we'll be better than average, and defensively, we'll be solid. If we find pitchers to replace the top three we lost last year, we'll be OK."Karns City

Coach: Tom Stewart, second year

Last Year: 9-11

Key losses: Trevor Williams P-OF, Andy Double 2B, Ben McLay CF

Key returnees:Saxon Parker, senior, P-1B (.360), Cameron Turner, senior, P-OF-1B (.300), Cody Zabicki, senior, 3B (.360), Cody Williams, junior, CF, Markus LaVan, junior, OF, Josh Stimac, junior, SS(.300), Joe King, junior, C (.300)

Key newcomers:Stephon Conto, senior, 2B, Brett Green, senior, C, Brad Fuhrer, freshman, 2B, Dan Everetts, senior, P-OFn

Stewart says:"Brett Green is back from shoulder surgery, Stephon Conto missed all of last year with injuries, Parker and Turner return as our top two pitchers and I'm hoping for 10 saves out of Dan Everetts. This is a talented team with a lot of upside."Knoch

Coach: Curt Schnur, ninth year

Last Year: 3-14

Key losses:Zach Mayes P, Justin Thompson P, Dan Pickard P (Butler County Community College), Austin Leffler 1B(Pitt club team)

Key returnees:David Govan, senior, P, Brandon Wissinger, senior, C, Stush Antoszyk, senior, 2B

Key newcomers:Dan Carter, junior, 2B, Jeff Kalish, junior, C, John DeWalt, soph., OF-INF-P, Dale Gallo, soph., 1B-OF, Collin Hinderliter, soph., P-OF, Dan Stone, soph., OF, Andrew Wirtz, soph., INF, Robert Zanella, soph., INF-OF, Nathan Junk, freshman, INF-OF-Pn

Schnur says:"We had a lot of seniors last year, lost a few games early and never recovered. It was a confidence factor. We have some young guys who can hit the ball. I'm excited about the season. We've got the talent and ability to do some things."Mars

Coach: Andy Bednar, 10th year

Last Year: 8-11

Key losses:D.J. Cannon P (Seton Hill), Chip Hasek P-1B(Grove City), Zach Zollner 3B

Key returnees:Ryan Schroth, senior, P-SS, Lee Lawver, senior, P-OF, Drew Glavin, senior, OF, Anthony Ciafre, senior, OF

Key newcomers: Dan Brent, junior, P, D.J. Delucia, soph., 3B-P, Andrew Rush, soph., P-1Bn

Bednar says:"We'll be counting on our two seniors, Schroth and Lawver, to carry the load on the mound for us. We need to play good defense and get timely hitting to keep us in games. With five new starters, we'll be a young team."Moniteau

Coach:Ross Martin, third year

Last Year:8-8, lost in second round of playoffs

Key losses:Cruz Eshenbaugh P(Butler County Community College), Travis Shaffer CF, Tyler Drzmiecki 2B, Nick Morrow P(Butler County Community College)

Key returnees:Dakota Campbell, junior, SS-P(.300), Zane Slater, junior, 1B(.300), Tony Campbell, soph., CF(.300), Joe Stiner, junior, C, Zach Wheeler, soph., SS-C-P

Key newcomers:Josh Loos, senior, OF-P, Heath Lominski, freshman, C, Brandon Bonzo, soph., INF, Jay Wiles, soph., INF)n

Martin says:"We're a young team, but with a lot of experienced juniors. Josh Loos is our only senior and it's his first year out. We want to continue building on our success at the end of last year, when we won our first playoff game. For being so young, our kids are quite focused in practice, and that's a real positive."Seneca Valley

Coach:Eric Semega, eighth year

Last Year:22-2, PIAAchampionship

Key losses:Gabe Grinder OF(Indiana of Pa.), Jim Burry OF(John Carroll), Matt Johnson C(Case Western)

Key returnees:Cory Mazzoni, senior, P(11-0, 1.10 ERA, 96 K's in 78 IP), Kyle Helisek, senior, P(8-0, 2.30 ERA, 56 K's in 51 IP), Shane Patsilevas, senior, 2B, Tyler Bream, senior, 3B(.393), Ken Walrond, senior, SS, Phil Double, senior, LF, Mike Eonta, senior, 2B, Ryan Turner, senior, C, Dan Jergel, senior, 1B, Andrew Fornadel, senior, DHn

Semega says:"We're definitely a senior-dominated team this year. We return two top pitchers and plenty of offense. Every year, we hope to make the playoffs and take our chances from there."Slippery Rock

Coach:Paul Malley, third year

Last Year: 10-8

Key losses:Brandon Ray C-P (Butler County Community College), Mark White SS-P, Adam Brydon RF(Thiel), Sean Lefebvre 2B

Key returnees:Nick Cress, senior, LF, Travis McDougall, senior, CF, Jesse Badgett, senior, SS, Ryan Ferguson, senior, C

Key newcomers:Derrick Orloski, junior, OF, Matt Corner, soph., 2B, Josh Dailey, junior, utility INF, Josh Weitzel, junior, 1B, Jarrod Agostino, senior, OFn

Malley says:"We lost some core players, but we still have an experienced group here. We won the Butler County Legion League over the summer with this team and got our seniors some more pitching time. If we play to our potential, we should get to the playoffs."Union

Coach: Doug Kriebel, first year

Last Year:10-8, lost in first round of playoffs

Key losses: Nate Boltz 2B, Chase Stewart INF-P, Brett Moore CF-P

Key returnees: Casey Kriebel, senior, C (.312), A.J. Ethriedge, senior, SS-P (RBIleader), Travis Anthony, junior, P-1B, Clay Burns, senior, OF(.382), Neil Scott, junior, OF, D.J. Ethriedge, soph., 3B, Aaron Paulden, senior, DH(.336)

Key newcomers:Cameron Adams, junior, SS-OF, Zac Smith, soph., 1B-OF, Ron Cary, soph., 1B-OFn

Kriebel says:"Casey is a four-year starter at catcher and A.J. Ethriedge is my No. 1 pitcher. This is my first year as head high school coach, but I've been coaching these kids since T-ball and they're a hard-nosed, never-give-up group. I fell into a pretty good coaching job here."