JACKSON TWP — In high school softball, success begins with a productive battery.

Seneca Valley has one that most teams can only wish for.

Junior pitcher Nikki Matz and senior catcher Sarah Blagg have led the Raiders to a 6-0 start this season, with all six victories coming in Section 3-AAAA play.

“They feed off of each other,” said Raiders’ coach George Trew. “I call all of the pitches because I’ve always done it, but Sarah is more than capable of calling a game. She knows where to set up. They work well together.”

In her first varsity season last year, Matz won seven games for the Raiders. She already has six wins this spring — including a no-hitter — while carrying an ERA just under one.

“She’s gained speed with her pitches and her confidence is up,” said Blagg of her battery mate.

Matz has five pitches in her arsenal — fastball, change-up, drop curve, screwball and rise — but her performance this year is more than just physical ability.

“A lot of it is mental,” said Matz. “We’re all working together as a team and I’m more able to trust the players behind me this year.”

“She feels she can get out of any situation,” said Trew of Matz’s tendency to close the door on opponents’ potential rallies.

That ability has come over time, according to Matz.

“The mental aspect has always been the strongest part of my game,” she said. “When I played travel ball, I often had to go up against the best teams and I’m used to getting out of jams. I don’t get nervous.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that she has a four-year starter to throw to in Blagg, who will play in college at Penn State-Behrend.

“She began starting as a freshman,” said Trew. “Physically, she was more than able to do the job at that point. She’s a tough competitor and has a tremendous work ethic. She constantly gets better.”

Those attributes helped make Blagg a team captain for the second straight year. That role is voted on by Seneca Valley’s players.

“To me, being a captain means your teammates respect you as a player and a person,” Blagg said. “It’s an honor.”

“Sarah is the best catcher I’ve ever had,” said Matz. “We are friends outside of softball and that helps the bond we have.”

Matz and Blagg don’t only turn in clutch plays when their team is in the field. They both love to swing the bat as well.

Matz bats seventh and is hitting .345 this season, including a home run.

“I enjoy taking my swings,” she said. “I feel I can contribute aside from pitching.”

Blagg is batting .450 this season as the fifth batter in SV’s order.

“I did really well offensively my freshman season,” she said. “My sophomore and junior seasons were decent. Now I’m hitting really well again. What helps is there isn’t much pressure on me. Everybody is hitting, even the players coming off the bench. It’s amazing.”

The Raiders are hoping to make 2014 a season to remember, but there are still a lot of games left to play, beginning with Tuesday’s key section clash at North Allegheny.

“Before the season, we talked about how far we want to go and how everybody wanted to improve individually, which would help toward our team goals,” said Blagg. “Now that we’re off to such a good start, we aren’t talking about it much. We don’t want to jinx it.”