Any coach will tell you that the strength of a baseball or softball team is "up the middle," as in the pitcher, catcher, shortstop, second baseman and center fielder.

Assuming that's true, the Valley High School softball team had reason for concern heading into this season, even though it was the defending WPIAL Class AA champion and was returning five of nine starters.

That's because the Vikings' departures due to graduation included the team's starting pitcher (Bethany Nealer), second baseman (Erica Brubaker), shortstop (Ashley Pallone) and catcher (Erica Teichman).

Not only did those four players occupy positions "up the middle," they also helped make up the heart of the Valley batting order -- hitting leadoff, third, fourth and sixth, respectively, when the Vikings beat Washington for the WPIAL title 11 months ago.

Toss in the fact that this season's starting first baseman and cleanup hitter, Olivia Traini, has been out of action for most of the season due to being struck in the head with a line drive while pitching March 27. Add it all up, and you'd think Valley would be in trouble this season.

You'd be wrong.

The Vikings finished the regular season 13-1 overall and 11-1 in Section 3-AA.

"All things considered, I'm actually pretty pleased sitting in the situation we are right now," Valley coach Carol Perroz said. "Everyone is working real hard."

So hard, in fact, that the Vikings won the section title. Valley defeated Burrell, 7-2, Tuesday. Valley edged Deer Lakes (10-2) and Burrell (9-3) for the section crown. All three qualified for the WPIAL playoffs.

The Vikings accomplished this feat despite many new faces and the fact they have only one senior in the starting lineup -- leadoff batter Lucy Jackson, who moved from right field to third base for this season and is batting a team-high .605 with 18 runs and 13 RBIs.

Other returning starters include junior right fielder Elise Zavadak, the No. 2 hitter in the order; sophomore Casey Bonk, who has been solid defensively in her first season as a catcher and led the team in home runs (two), RBIs (15) and walks (six); and sophomore left fielder Maureen Pallone, who bats fifth in a batting order that has produced an average of more than eight runs per contest.

"The team picks the captains, and they chose Lucy and Casey, so they have realized they do have leadership roles on the team," Perroz said. "Even as a sophomore, Casey is a leader. But all our [returning starters] share in that."

The biggest hole the Vikings had to fill this season was at pitcher, where Bethany Nealer went 20-2. But Valley just replaced one Nealer with another. Younger sister Caitlin, only a freshman, has taken over and been outstanding.

Nealer is 13-1 with a 0.76 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 83 innings with only 24 hits allowed.

"She has stepped in, and she has handled herself very well on the mound," Perroz said. "She had a few pressure games and was able to come through very well for us. I don't even see her as a freshman. She is a varsity player, someone who has been very good for us this year."

Another freshman who has made a seamless transition to the varsity level is shortstop Angelina Masters. Masters has been batting cleanup and was hitting .349 with 15 hits and 14 runs.

A third freshman making significant contributions is Allison Rayburn, who is playing third base and batting sixth in the order. She has 12 RBIs, many coming in clutch situations. Rayburn splits time at third with junior Kelsey Barbiaux.

Juniors Eboni Thrower (center field) and Jordan Ritchie (first base while Traini is out, which could be for the season) round out the lineup.

With all the young talent and only one senior in the lineup, Valley appears to be establishing itself as a power for the next couple years -- but Perroz doesn't want to have to wait that long.

"The future looks bright," Perroz said. "But I don't want to look to the future. I want to look to the next game."