JACKSON TWP — Dealing with a knotted pectoral muscle, Lexie Hames did not pitch for Seneca Valley in its home softball game with North Allegheny on Friday.

The Raiders recharged their battery and came up with a 9-6 Section 1-6A victory over the rival Tigers.

That battery happened to be sisters — senior catcher Anna and sophomore pitcher Abby Kalkowski. Both had strong games at the plate as well.

“Our goal is to win the WPIAL and Lexie’s been bothered by that muscle,” SV coach Marlesse Hames said. “Abby’s been pitching well and we’ve been scoring a lot of runs, so I felt comfortable making that change.”

Abby feels comfortable pitching to Anna. She’s been doing so since she was 7 years old.

“She knows what to do to calm me down,” Abby said. “There’s definitely a comfort zone there. Anna knows exactly what to say to me. We have confidence in each other.”

The Raiders (14-0, 11-0) took a 9-3 lead into the seventh inning, Abby scattering six hits over the first six frames. The Tigers (8-4) belted a pair of home runs in the seventh, Caryn Vaupel hitting a solo shot and Taylor Condiotte belting a pinch-hit two-run homer. But Abby struck out Julia Drazga with the bases empty to end the game.

“We’re best friends,” Anna said of her and Abby. “We act silly around each other. When those home runs were hit, we made silly faces at each other.”

Seneca Valley entered the game having allowed only nine runs all season, producing 10 shutouts in its first 13 games.

The Raiders committed four errors in the contest.

“Abby was pitching a great game,” Coach Hames said. “I went out to talk to her in the seventh and told her to relax and finish it. We still had the lead and we were fine. Then she finished strong.”

“Abby pitches to contact more and our girls have to be more on their toes defensively than they’re used to. But she pitches effectively and she’s going to get stronger as her career goes along.”

Anna described the difference in catching Lexie and Abby as “Lexie throws faster, but Abby’s ball moves more. I have to be more active behind the plate when she’s out there.”

Abby just enjoys the opportunity to pitch.

“Lexie is a great pitcher and she’s obviously going to pitch most our games,” she said. “I appreciate having the chance to go out there every now and then.”

When Abby’s not pitching, she plays first base or the outfield.

Offensively, Abby doubled, hit an inside-the-park home run, had two RBI and scored two runs. Anna doubled, had two singles and an RBI. Neve Miller contributed a double, two singles and two RBI, Kara Pasquale a pair of singles.

Pasquale also made a lunging catch in center field to end the NA fifth and prevent the Tigers from scoring a third run that inning.

“Seneca Valley made some good defensive plays and took some potential runs away,” Tigers coach Morgan Vescovi said. “Our girls kept coming back, fought to the end and I’m proud of them for that.”

Anne Melle doubled and singled, collected two RBI for the Tigers, and struck out four in three innings of relief. North Allegheny had a four-game winning streak snapped with the loss.

North Allegheny 000 120 3 — 6 9 1

Seneca Valley 051 210 x — 9 12 4

WP: Abby Kalkowski 7 IP (4K, 1BB). LP: Sammy Plotsko 3 IP (2K, 3BB).

North Allegheny (8-5, 8-5): Carlyn Vaupel HR RBI 2-R, Sammy Plotsko 2B 1B 2-R, Anne Melle 2B 1B 2-RBI, Taylor Condiotte HR 2-RBI, Julia Srazga 2-1B, Erin Fadgen RBI, Kaci Plotsko 1B.

Seneca Valley (14-0, 11-0): Lexie Hames 1B, Kari Pasquale 2-1B, Abby Kalkowski 2B HR 2-RBI, Bella Gross 1B, Anna Kalkowski 2B 2-1B RBI, Neve Miller 2B 201B 2-RBI,.

Monday: Mt. Lebanon at Seneca Valley