Lacrosse was a sport Liz Manuel didn't give a first thought to, let alone a second one, until her freshman year.

Just weeks before the girls lacrosse season was set to begin at Butler High, Manuel received a crosse as a gift.

She figured she might as well use it.

"Playing lacrosse never really came up," said Manuel, who also is a standout diver at Butler.

But once she started playing, lacrosse came easily to Manuel. As as sophomore, she scored 19 goals for the Golden Tornado.

This season, the junior already has 14 goals just five games into the season.

"I think I've gotten a lot more confident this year," Manuel said. "There's a stronger team around me and they are all very supportive and always cheering me on."

At 5-feet-1, Manuel often is the shortest player on the field and can easily slip under cross checks.

Manuel is keenly aware of how small she is, but she said it doesn't affect her play.

"It's sort of intimidating walking out there and always being the shortest one," Manuel said. "But I've always been the shortest, so I just try to make the most of it."

And she has. Her speed and field vision are exceptional.

"She'll cut and get to the open spot faster than anyone I've seen," said Butler coach Annie Succop. "What she is doing this season is not a surprise. We expected a lot out of her."

So does the opposition.

Manuel no longer is a great unknown in blue and gold. Other teams are noticing her goal scoring ability and are game planning against her.

Manuel finds that to be a compliment. Yet part of her also sees it as a source of frustration.

"Yeah, yeah, it can get that way sometimes," Manuel said. "It's always difficult when teams come out and say, 'Hey, we have to double-team her.' But that just opens things up for my teammates."

Butler is 2-3 a year after finishing 3-6 in the section.

The team's success makes Manuel prouder than any hat trick.

"I'm very happy about that," Manuel said. "We're not only good on the field, but we are good off the field. This team is so close."

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No-No for Morgan:

Slippery Rock High softball pitcher Morgan Robinson had one of the most peculiar pitching lines of the season so far: Seven innings, zero hits, eight walks and 11 strikeouts in a 3-0 win over Franklin Thursday.•

Mark your Callender: Karns City boys track and field star Josh Callender is off to a fast start.Callender won both hurdle events and was a member of the winning 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams for the Gremlins in double-dual meet against North Clarion and Keystone Wednesday.•

Happy return:

Mars sophomore pitcher Rachel Pastorek returned to the circle for the first time this season after suffering a shoulder injury and showed little rust.Pastorek, the Planets' ace, struck out 12 in a two-hitter that helped Mars to a 2-1 win over Indiana in the section opener.Mars started the season 0-3 without her.•

Shay hey kid: Grove City's Casey Shay thought hitting a two-run home run was so nice, he did it twice.Shay slammed a two-run homer in the first inning and another in the second inning in a 10-5 Eagles' rout over Hickory Wednesday.If you have a story idea about a high school athlete in the Butler County area, contact Mike Kilroy at mkilroybutlereagle.com