SV bats come alive in 13-2 win at Butler
BUTLER TWP — When Seneca Valley hosted Butler on April 25, the Raiders eked out a 1-0 victory.
The rematch looked a little different Monday on Butler’s diamond.
SV banged out 15 hits in rolling to a 13-2 triumph over the Golden Tornado, putting together four-run innings in different fashion in the second and fifth frames, respectively.
“We’ve been doing a much better job of getting the bat on the ball and hitting it hard,” Raiders coach Marlesse Hames said. “More importantly, we’re pushing a lot more runs across the plate and that’s a nice thing to see.”
The game was scoreless in the top of the second when two SV runners reached base on infield errors with one out. Abby Kalkowski laid down a bunt with runners on first and third to plate the game’s first run. Kara Pasquale delivered a run-scoring single up the middle and Lexie Hames followed with a towering home run to left.
Hames added a solo homer in the fourth inning to hike the Raiders’ lead to 5-0. She has six home runs on the season.
“Teams have been pitching around her and she rarely gets good pitches to hit,” Coach Hames said. “Lexie is doing a better job of not swinging at bad pitches, not being too anxious at the plate.
“We’ve told her to take the walks when teams give them to her and she’s been doing that.”
Doubles by Liv Herrem, Rylee Kratochvil and Pasquale highlighted the four-run fifth inning for Seneca Valley.
Kelsey Ogin started in the circle for the Golden Tornado (3-12, 2-12), pitching five innings and walking six.
“Kelsey’s had to work a lot of innings because we’re short on pitching and we have some injuries,” Butler coach Kara Sroka said. “Kierra Smith is doing a nice job pitching for us, but we need her for JV games. We’re just thin in that area right now.”
Lexie Hames pitched the first four innings for SV (18-1, 15-1), striking out nine and allowing one hit. Kalkowski pitched the final three frames.
“We just wanted to get Abby a little bit of work. We’re spelling Lexie when we can,” Coach Hames said.
Smith pitched the final two varsity innings for Butler on Monday. The Raiders’ lead reached 11-0 in the sixth on Kalkowskl’s sacrifice fly and Izzy Schall’s pinch-hit RBI single.
But the Tornado didn’t go away.
Consecutive singles by Skylee Karenbauer, Lily Vicari and Ogin plated one run for the Tornado in the sixth. An infield single by Kaela Malis plated a second run as Butler avoided the game ending early via the 10-run mercy rule.
“Our record is not remotely indicative of the effort our girls have been giving,“ Sroka said. ”We’re building here. Battling to score a couple of runs and force this game into the seventh inning was a positive step.
“One or two years ago, that would never have happened. We’re pushing forward. I couldn’t be prouder of this group of girls I’m working with.”
Butler ends its season with a home-and home series against Baldwin Tuesday and Wednesday. Seneca Valley travels to Shaler on Wednesday.
Seneca Valley 040 142 2 — 13 15 0
Butler 000 002 0 — 2 6 3
WP: Lexie Hames 4IP (9so, 2bb). LP: Kelsey Ogin 5IP (2so, 6bb).
Seneca Valley (18-1, 15-1): Abby JKalkowski 1B 3-RBI, Kara Pasqule 2-2B 1B 3-RBI 2-R, Lexie Hames 2-HR 3-RBI 2-R, Bella Gross 2B RBI, Anna Kalkowski 1B, Liv Herrem 2-2B 2-RBI 2-R, Rylie Kratochvil 2B 2-R, Izzy Schall 1B RBI, Emma Kalivas 1B, Julia Valasek 1B 2-R, Paige Volz 1B.
Butler (3-12, 2-12): Gracie Negley 2-1B, Skylee Karenbauer 1B, Lily Vicari 1B, Kelsey Ogin 1B RBI, Kaela Malis 1B RBI.
Tuesday: Baldwin at Butler
Wednesday: Seneca Valley at Shaler
![](/wp-content/themes/bte/images/butlereagle/sportsNewsletter.png)