JACKSON TWP — With four WPIAL titles and a pair of state championships, Seneca Valley's baseball program sports a decorated history.

Some players would wilt under the glare of all that success, but the current Raiders are embracing it.

Seneca (13-6, 8-2), the defending WPIAL Class AAAA champion, recently wrapped up the Section 1 title and now sets its sights on making the district championship game for the fifth straight season.

Seneca Valley, which was seeded third, will open the playoffs against Latrobe at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Fox Chapel.

“Winning the section is an accolade that gives the kids recognition,” said Raiders' coach Eric Semega. “We always want to make the playoffs, but if we can do that by winning the section, it's icing on the cake.”

The Raiders' other WPIAL titles came in 1994 and 2011-12.

“I don't feel any pressure because of the success the teams had in the past,” said senior pitcher Troy Martin. “I've been around, the other guys have been around the program for a few years. The players before us set great expectations and we just want to take it from there.”

The Raiders entered postseason play last spring with a 6-11 record, but sparked by the return of then-senior pitcher Connor Coward, reeled off four consecutive wins, including a 5-2 victory over Baldwin for the district title.

Coward is now at Virginia Tech, but the Raiders did return three starters in infielders Johnny Brittner and Corbin Kessler and outfielder Vince Augustine.

They helped the team average nearly six runs per contest in section play, but the solid pitching the Raiders have received is just as responsible for the successful season thus far.

Martin, Branden Schlick and Brady Kress have formed a solid trio of starters.

“They have been unbelievable and have kept us in every game,” said Semega. “They've exceeded expectations and are a big reason why we are in this position.”

Junior Corey Laskey has proven to be the team's most reliable reliever.

The pitchers have benefitted from the play of catcher Mike Collins, who, despite being a sophomore, has done much more than just fill a position.

“He's done a great job and it seems like he's been on the team for a few years,” said Martin, a southpaw. “I felt comfortable with him back there the very first game I pitched this season.”

Collins is also doing his part at the plate, batting .425 as Seneca's No. 3 hitter.

“There's hard-hit balls coming off his bat every game,” Semega said.

Only Augustine, the cleanup hitter, has a higher average at .428. He swung a hot bat during the Raiders' title run a year ago.

Keeping things simple at the plate is the key for Augustine.

“I don't try to kill the ball,” he said. “If the pitch is inside, I take it to left. If it's on the outside, I look to take it to right field. But everybody on the team seems to be hitting well and that's one reason why we've done well this year.”

The WPIAL playoffs begin Wednesday for Seneca Valley.

Semega believes this team can add to the program's hardware, but it must play a clean game on defense.

“We have a chance to win no matter who we play,” he said, “but we have to make the routine plays. We can't give away outs.”