Most of this year's Seneca Valley softball team was around for the team's trip to the WPIAL title game last year, so the Raiders know how to get there.

Some were also a part of the 2006 team that was bounced in the first round by Hempfield Area, 3-2. Given that experience, do not expect last year's WPIAL runner-up and this year's No. 2-seeded Raiders to overlook Kiski Area tomorrow.

Seneca Valley went 14-5 overall and was involved in a four-way tie for the title in tough Section 3-AAAA. The Raiders along with Shaler Area, who also received a bye, North Hills and North Allegheny all finished at 8-4 in section play.

Seneca Valley enters the playoffs after dropping two of its last three section contests while Kiski finished the regular season with five consecutive section wins before knocking off Hempfield, 5-2, in the first round on Tuesday. It was the first playoff win for Kiski after four consecutive first-round exits.

"It was a good game for us," Kiski coach Dianne Haney said. "I was really pleased with how they came around and did what I told them they were capable of doing all year.

"Against Seneca Valley we need to maintain a positive outlook and stay in our game. We have to stay focused and keep doing what we have been doing and keep everything under control."

Junior Lauren Yohe, who will pitch against Seneca Valley, went the distance against Hempfield, allowing two runs.

Things will get harder for the Cavaliers as they go up against a playoff-tested Seneca Valley team that returned six starters from last year.

The Raiders defeated Connellsville, 9-2, in the first round, Hempfield, 11-4, in the semifinals before losing to Greater Latrobe, 5-1, in the WPIAL championship game. After defeating Brashear in the PIAA first round, they would play Latrobe again in the PIAA quarterfinals, losing, 4-0.

If Seneca Valley were to meet Latrobe again, it would also be in the WPIAL title game as the Wildcats received the No. 1 seed.

"If we are going to meet them, I would rather meet them in the final," Raiders coach George Trew said.

"We have to play them eventually and we'll see what happens this time."

Freshman center fielder Alyssa DiMaria and freshman third baseman Lauren Hunt are the new additions in the field this year for Seneca Valley and freshman Erin Mullins has come in as a designated player.

"A lot of our girls have been there before," Trew said. "They have been all the way and it should reduce the pressure. It won't be the first time they have been there and anytime you are used to something, that experience will be big, especially going into the playoffs.

"They can be role models for [the younger girls]. I am sure they have already talked to them about what the playoffs are like. They will be ready."

The Raiders are led by senior second basemen Jackie Mangola and senior Courtney Grootegoed, one of the better pitchers in the WPIAL.

Trew was not sure his team would receive the No. 2 seed in the playoffs after a 6-4 loss to Butler in the section finale. The bats continued to stay hot for the Raiders, however, at the end of the season and Trew expects that to carry over to the playoffs.

"We gave one game away up there at Butler but we have started to stroke the ball pretty well toward the end. Against Kiski we are going to play our game and hit the ball like we always do and play good defense," said Trew who watched Kiski's first-round win.

"I think we match up pretty well against them and we are very similar in terms of hitting. We are going to have to put the ball in play and play solid defense."

Seneca Valley piled up 17 hits against Upper St. Clair and 10 against Butler to close out the season. Overall, the team had 14 home runs with five different players hitting them.