BUTLER TWP— What's the best way to survive when forced to employ inexperienced pitching in a section road game?

Score 10 runs.

That was Seneca Valley's solution Friday at Highfield Park as the Raiders posted a 10-5 baseball triumph over Butler.

"Those runs certainly came in handy today,"Raiders coach Eric Semega said.

Seneca Valley remained unbeaten in Section 1-AAAAplay, despite using four pitchers — Mike Eonta, Shaine Patsilevas, Eric Aschley and Gabe Grinder — who had thrown only seven combined innings all season entering Friday's contest.

"We haven't played very many exhibition games, so we've been unable to get them innings,"Semega said.

That's why the coach was in a forgiving mood after watching his pitchers walk eight Butler batters and hit three others after being handed a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Consecutive one-out doubles by Eonta, Phil Double and Cory Mazzoni accounted for two of the first-inning runs. Grinder delivered a three-run double in the frame and later scored on a wild pitch.

"I anticipated our pitchers having to battle through some wildness today,"Semega said. "But I liked the way we competed once we handed them baserunners."

Butler stranded 12 runners and scored more than one run in an inning only once. The Golden Tornado used two walks, two hit batsmen and a sacrifice fly to score twice in the sixth.

But the 6-0 deficit proved too much to overcome.

"Falling behind by that many runs against a quality team like Seneca Valley really made it tough,"Butler coach Dave Florie said. "But we never quit battling."

Butler starting pitcher Matt McCormick was lifted after allowing the three straight doubles — and after throwing only eight pitches. Luke Dugger, Tim Geibel and Greg Hays followed him to the mound.

Florie said McCormick has been fighting the flu and wasn't feeling well in the first inning.

Grinder and Eonta paced Seneca Valley's attack with three hits each. Grinder contributed three RBIand three runs scored from the No. 7 spot in the lineup.

"Our batting order really doesn't have as weak spot,"Semega said. "We may drop off in power toward the bottom of the lineup, but no one's an easy out."

Bill Coleman hit into two hard-luck outs for the Tornado. After Jordan Roycroft singled to lead off the second, Coleman smashed a one-hopper to second baseman Patsilevas, who started a double play.

With the bases loaded and one out in the third, Coleman lined out to right fielder Grinder. Butler failed to score in either inning.

"You can't hit a ball any harder on either of those at bats,"Florie said. "Those are the breaks sometimes."

Seneca Valley 601 021 0—10 10 2Butler 001 112 0—5 6 5WP: Mike Eonta (2Z\c IP) 4 strikeouts, 4 walks.

LP: Matt McCormick (⅓ IP) 0 strikeouts, 0 walks

Seneca Valley (9-1, 6-0): Ken Walrond 1B, Mike Eonta 2B 2-1B, Phil Double 2B RBI, Cory Mazzoni 2B 2-RBI, Tyler Bream 2-R, Gabe Grinder 2B 2-1B 3-RBI 3-R, Shaine Patsilevas 2BRBI

Butler (5-5, 1-4): Dustin Uhlman 1B 2-RRBI, Darren Blakley 1BRBI, Jordan Roycroft 1BRBI, Bill Coleman 1B, Ryan Geibel 2B, Eric King 1B

Saturday: Butler atNorth Allegheny

Wednesday: Seneca Valley at North Allegheny