Sports rivalries are so much fun, especially at the local level.

What fan doesn’t get excited when the Steelers are playing the Ravens or the Penguins are playing the Flyers? Great times, for sure, but I’m talking about even more local rivalties.

Here are my rankings of the top six Butler County area sports rivalries:

No. 6: Seneca Valley vs. North Allegheny

This one gets started in football, where these two neighboring schools have had some classic battles, often times with playoff hopes or advancement on the line.

This is a prevalent rivalry in other sports as well, including baseball, basketball, softball, soccer, volleyball and wrestling. Two top-level athletic schools located so close together? It’s a natural.

No. 5: Knoch vs. Mars

Two schools located on Route 228 who should face each other in football every year, regardless of WPIAL classification.

The atmosphere is tremendous when they meet in basketball, boys or girls, and the schools are competitive with each other in other sports.

No. 4: Butler vs. New Castle

This choice is more of a throwback, but it’s worthwhile. Butler-New Castle football games from yesteryear were classics. When the two schools were in the same basketball section,. boys or girls, there were great games.

There were many packed gyms when the Red Hurricane and Golden Tornado met in hoops, particularly when they were doubleheaders. At least in basketball, they should play every year.

No. 3: SRU vs. IUP

Not so much in every sport, but football is more than enough to put this rivalry on the list.

Slippery Rock and Indiana have been battling for the top of the PSAC West for years now. Both teams have proven to have the ability to beat the other, making each annual clash a virtual unknown.

No football rivalry in these parts is more intense than this one.

No. 2: Slippery Rock vs. Grove City

Choose your sport. It doesn’t matter.

When the Rockets and Eagles get together, whatever the venue, it’s packed. They’ve met for District 10 championships in various sports, too.

Two schools similar in size, separated by only a few miles ... It’s hard to beat this one.

No. 1: Karns City vs. Moniteau

My absolute favorite.

The Gremlins have had the upper hand in football, but the Warriors still live for that game. Many KC-Moniteau boys and girls basketball games have been classics. The same can be said for softball and baseball.

Families know each other. The kids grow up together. The small-school settings for these battles put this rivalry at the top of my list.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle