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MINER NAMED TO
PG NORTH ALL-STARS

Sophomore outfielder Jane Miner was selected to the PG North All-Star team as chosen by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette scholastic sports staff.  Miner led the Lady Tigers with a .421 average and also posted a team high 20 RBIs, six doubles, fourteen runs, and 24 hits.

CONGRATULATIONS, JANE!!!!!

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
PG NORTH ALL-STAR TEAM

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BOOZEL, FEDELL SELECTED TO
ALL-SECTION TEAM

Senior shortstop Melanie Boozel and sophomore outfielder Kelsey Fedell were named to the WPIAL Class AAAA Section 3 All-Section team selected by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette scholastic sports staff based on voting by WPIAL coaches.  Boozel was a two-year starter for the Lady Tigers and batted .388 in her senior season along with being an outstanding fielder.  Fedell is also a two-year starter and batted .250 with ten RBIs for the season.

CONGRATULATIONS, MELANIE AND KELSEY!!!

WPIAL CLASS AAAA
SECTION 3 ALL-SECTION TEAM

File Photo Courtesy of Glenn Miner

PETERS TOWNSHIP TOPS LADY TIGERS, 5-1

To listen to a replay of the game, click here!

Junior right hander Shaylee Ianno allowed only three hits and struck out 16 to lead the Peters Township Indians to a 5-1 victory over NA at Lind Field in Fairhaven Park on Monday afternoon.  Sophomore LF Jane Miner singled home senior 2B Lauren Vrabel in the top of the sixth inning for the only Lady Tiger run.  The loss knocked NA from the WPIAL Quad A playoffs.

In the top of the first inning, senior shortstop Melanie Boozel led off with a slap single over the second baseman's head.  Ianno struck out the next three to end the inning.  The junior hurler would go on to strike out five additional consecutive batters over the next two innings as the game remained scoreless going into the bottom of the third.

With one out in the bottom of the third, RF Kelly Walker beat out a bunt single.  Shortstop Sarah Early dropped a single down the left field line.  When the throw to third was late, Early took second.  Senior lefthander Kelly Baxter then struck out catcher Jessica Berardino for the second out.  A walk to Kelsey Cunningham brought up Ianno, the cleanup hitter for the Indians.  Ianno responded with a hard shot down the left field line that scored both runs to give the Indians a 2-0 lead after three innings of play.

Both pitchers controlled the game over the next two innings with neither side threatening.  In the top of the sixth, Vrabel beat out a bunt with one out.   With two outs, Vrabel stole second.  Miner followed with a solid single to center field scoring Vrabel and cutting the lead to 2-1.

Peters Township answered in the bottom of the inning.  Cunningham led off with a double into the right center field gap.  Ianno followed with a base hit to center field.   DP Lindsay Hoover then hit a long double down the right field line to score both runners and increase the lead to 4-1.  After a sacrifice bunt, pinch hitter Alicia Johns looped a single to left field to score Hoover.  The Indians took a commanding 5-1 lead into the seventh inning.

With one out in the seventh, sophomore 3B Steph Cassidy drew a walk.  Ianno then finished the game with two strike outs as Peters Township took a 5-1 victory.  It was a tough loss for the Lady Tigers who ran into a dominant pitcher in the first round of the playoffs.  Ianno came into the game leading the WPIAL in strikeouts.  The Indian pitcher had already struck out 18 in a game twice this season.  For her efforts in getting the Lady Tigers back in the game in the sixth inning, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Jane Miner as the Player of the Game.

The loss ended an eight-game winning streak by the Lady Tigers that took them from the bottom of section play into the playoffs.  NA finished with a final mark of 15-6 overall on the season.

GAME SUMMARY
PETERS TOWNSHIP - 5  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1

WP - Shaylee Ianno  LP - Kelly Baxter (11-5)

WPIAL CLASS QUAD A PLAYOFFS

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LADY TIGERS RALLY TO DOWN LATROBE, 3-2,
ON SENIOR DAY

To listen to a replay of the game, click here!

The Lady Tigers rallied from a two-run deficit to defeat the Latrobe Wildcats, 3-2, at the Senior High field on Senior Day on Thursday afternoon.  NA scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning for their eighth straight victory.  Senior 2B Lauren Vrabel had two RBIs to pace the Lady Tigers.

Neither team was able to score in the first two innings with just one hit recorded for each team.  In the top of the third, 3B Rachel Eaglehouse led off with a single to short center field.  With Socie Eaglehouse as a pinch runner, LF Sam Ferry laid down a successful sacrifice bunt.  After a ground out moved Eaglehouse to third, shortstop Kristin Schmucker singled off Baxter's glove to drive in the first run of the game.  Latrobe took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the third. 

The Wildcats picked up another run in the top of the fifth inning.  After catcher Lauren Taylor singled to lead off, Alyssa Maley was sent in as a courtesy runner.  Eaglehouse bunted along third and reached when the throw to first was wide.  After a pop fly out, 2B Mollie Kovalcin walked to load the bases.  Schmucker followed with another base hit to center field to score Maley and make it a 2-0 game.  NA senior LHP Kelly Baxter got two infield pop flies to end the inning.

The Lady Tigers came back in the bottom of the fifth to score a run.  With one out, sophomore CF Mary DeMino reached on an error.  With two outs, DeMino stole second.  Vrabel then lined a single to right field to score DeMino and cut the Latrobe lead to 2-1.

Baxter kept the Wildcats off the board in the sixth and seventh innings.  In the bottom of the seventh, NA tied the game.  After a leadoff walk to PH Julie Heinl, junior RF Steph Cassidy was hit by a pitch.  Senior 3B Karen Baxter sacrificed both runners up a base.  Vrabel followed with a long fly ball to left field that scored Heinl on the sacrifice fly.  Senior SS Mel Boozel grounded out to send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Baxter allowed a two-out single but got a ground out to the mound to end the inning.  In the bottom of the eighth, sophomore LF Jane Miner led off with a single to left field.  Sophomore CF Kelsey Fedell then sacrificed Miner to second.  Junior 1B Leslie Vanderkolk singled to left moving Miner to third with Vanderkolk going to second on the throw to the plate.  Junior DH Katie Polley followed with a ground ball to short.  Shortstop Meghan Korusko chased Miner back to third allowing Polley to reach on the fielder's choice.  Sophomore catcher Jocelyn Dimpel then hit a ground ball to second that was bobbled allowing Miner to score the winning run.

Although it was a non-section game, it was a good win for the Lady Tigers on Senior Day.  Latrobe entered the game as the #3 ranked team in Quad A and had a record of 15-2 coming into the game.  For her efforts at the plate and in the field, the North Allegheny Sports Network named senior Lauren Vrabel as the Player of the Game.

With the win, NA completed the regular season with an overall record of 15-5 as they prepared for the playoffs.  The Lady Tigers will travel to Fairhaven Park on Monday afternoon to meet Peters Township in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs.  Game time has been moved to 2:00 pm.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there to broadcast the game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 1:45 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3  LATROBE - 2

WP - Kelly Baxter (11-4)  LP - Amanda Malnofsky

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BAXTER BLANKS NORTH HILLS,
2-0, AS LADY TIGERS CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT

To listen to a replay of the game, click here!

Senior lefthander Kelly Baxter allowed only five hits while keeping North Hills scoreless as the Lady Tigers defeated the Indians, 2-0, at Scharmyn Park on Tuesday afternoon.  Sophomore CF Mary DeMino had two hits and an RBI while senior 2B Lauren Vrabel lined an RBI triple to pace NA. 

After neither team threatened in the first inning, the Lady Tigers scored the game's only runs in the top of the second.  With two outs, sophomore catcher Jocelyn Dimpel singled to right field.  Junior courtesy runner Leslie Vanderkolk stole second and went to third when the throw sailed into center field.  DeMino followed with a base hit to right field to score Vanderkolk and give NA a 1-0 lead.  Vrabel then lined a triple into right center field to score DeMino and make it a 2-0 game after an inning and a half.

In the bottom of the second, catcher Kelly Cummings lined a shot down the right field line that sophomore Kelsey Fedell dove and caught for the first out. After 1B Nicole Tshannen doubled to right center and SS Megan Hollyfield walked, Baxter got a strike out and a pop out to end the inning.

North Hills pitcher Louanne Wiegand allowed only singles by sophomore LF Jane Miner, DeMino and senior shortstop Melanie Boozel for the remainder of the game as the Lady Tigers did not score again.

Baxter retired the side in order in the third and fourth, but the Indians threatened in the fifth.  After a leadoff double by Hollyfield down the left field lline, Baxter struck out CF Rachel Van Atta.  DP Ally Gross was then hit by a pitch, but Baxter got two pop fly outs to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Indians got a pair of base hits but Baxter again was able to get an infield pop fly to end the threat.  In the bottom of the seventh, the Indians again threatened.  After a leadoff double by Van Atta to left center field, Gross drew a walk.  Third baseman Katie Reed followed with a sacrifice bunt advancing both runners into scoring position.  After a walk to 2B Stefanie Wiegand loaded the bases, Baxter got a key strikeout of RF Mallory Klein.  With two outs, Louanne Wiegand lined a shot that Boozel fielded on a short hop before racing over to touch second to end the game.

It was a good effort by both teams in the battle for the playoffs.  Baxter was tough when necessary as she struck out seven batters, one in each inning while walking only three.  For her efforts, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Kelly Baxter as the Player of the Game.

With the win, the Lady Tigers clinched a spot in the upcoming WPIAL playoffs.  Congratulations to North Hills for a great effort -- the Indians may be the best team in many years to not make the WPIAL post-season.  The playoff information will be available tomorrow night when pairings are announced.  NA will host Latrobe tomorrow afternoon on Senior Day.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there to broadcast the game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 3:45 pm.  Game time is scheduled for 4:00 pm.

Box Score

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 2  NORTH HILLS - 0

WP - Kelly Baxter (10-4)  LP - Louanne Wiegand

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TIGERS DEFEAT AMBRIDGE, 12-6, AS WINNING STREAK CONTINUES

by Coach Rick Meister

The North Allegheny Lady Tigers defeated Ambridge in their third consecutive road game on Friday by a final score of 12-6.  Sophomore pitcher Julie Heinl went the distance for NA, allowing ten hits and three earned runs to earn the victory.  Sophomore RF Kelsey Fedell slammed a three-run homer along with an RBI single, and sophomore CF Jane Miner had a double and single good for three RBIs to pace NA.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first, the Tigers erupted for six second-inning runs.  With one out, junior first baseman Katie Polley started the action with a single.  Sophomore catcher Jocelyn Dimpel followed with another single, as did sophomore shortstop Mary DeMino to load the bases.  Senior second baseman Lauren Vrabel hit into a fielder’s choice to erase Polley at the plate.  Junior left fielder Julie Angeloni worked a walk to score junior courtesy runner Leslie Vanderkolk.  Miner then lined a double to score both DeMino and Vrabel.  Fedell hit the first pitch deep over the center field fence for a three-run home run to complete the scoring in the second, giving the Tigers a 6-1 lead.

In the third inning, NA scored three more times. DeMino opened with a one-out single.  Vrabel then singled DeMino to third.  Following a steal of second, Angeloni hit a ball to shortstop, and DeMino was cut down at the plate on a fine play.  Miner delivered an RBI single scoring Vrabel.  Following a steal by Miner, Fedell hit a single to score both Angeloni and Miner to make the score 9-1 in favor of the Tigers.

Ambridge answered with three runs in their half of the third, using three singles, a walk, and an NA error to pull within five at 9-4.

In the fourth, the Tigers added three more runs to open a 12-4 advantage.  Polley drew a one-out walk.  Following a fly out to center field by Dimpel, Polley stole second.  Consecutive singles by DeMino and Vrabel scored Polley, with runners moving up on an Ambridge throwing error.  Angeloni then reached on an Ambridge error, with both DeMino and Vrabel scoring.

The Tigers were held scoreless the rest of the way, but Heinl allowed only two more runs in the seventh to pick up the complete-game victory.  With the win, NA moves to 13-5 overall for the year, and will travel to North Hills on Tuesday for a showdown with the Indians.  Game time is set for 5:00 P.M. at Scharmyn Park.

 GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 12  AMBRIDGE - 6

          WP - Julie Heinl (4-1)   LP -

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LADY TIGERS POUND FOX CHAPEL, 12-2, FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT VICTORY

by Coach Rick Meister

The North Allegheny Lady Tigers defeated the Fox Chapel Foxes yesterday 12-2 in a six- inning contest at Fox Chapel.  North Allegheny pounded out 19 hits, with all 15 players receiving at least one at bat in the contest.  Senior LHP Kelly Baxter scattered four hits and limited the Foxes to two sixth-inning runs to pick up the victory, striking out six and walking just one batter.

North Allegheny scored one run in the first inning when sophomore center fielder Jane Miner hit a one-out double to deep center field and scored on an RBI single by sophomore right fielder Kelsey Fedell.  After a scoreless second inning, the Tigers erupted for seven runs in the third.  Junior left fielder Julie Angeloni led off with a single. Miner walked and Fedell picked up her second single, loading the bases.  Sophomore first baseman Sarah Moore then worked a walk to score Angeloni.  A single by sophomore third baseman Stephanie Cassidy scored Miner. Junior designated player Katie Polley then lined a single to score both Fedell and Moore.  Sophomore catcher Jocelyn Dimpel sacrificed Polley to third. A solid single by sophomore shortstop Mary DeMino knocked in Polley.  Senior second baseman Lauren Vrabel then lined a double into the right field corner to drive in DeMino.  Angeloni’s second single of the inning scored Vrabel, and the Tigers had a comfortable 8-0 advantage.

The Tigers were held scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, but put the game away in the top of the sixth with four more tallies.  Moore led off with a single, and was forced at second by Cassidy. A pitcher-to-first fielder’s choice on Polley sent Cassidy to second. Dimpel hit an RBI single to score Cassidy. Following a single by DeMino, Vrabel then hit a ball to deep right center field which went for a three-run inside-the-park home run to ice the game.

Fox Chapel scored its only runs in the bottom of the sixth on two singles and a double, but Baxter then retired the Foxes to preserve the ten-run margin and earn the win. 

With the win, North Allegheny moves to 12-5 overall and 6-5 in Section 3AAAA, setting up a playoff battle with North Hills next Tuesday at North Hills.  North Allegheny will travel to Ambridge today to take on the Bridgers in a non-section contest.  Game time is 4:00.

SPECIAL NOTE:  The win by the Lady Tigers was the 200th for NA Coach Rick Meister who has posted a 200-80 record in his tenure as the Lady Tiger mentor!
CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH MEISTER AND THE LADY TIGERS!

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 12  FOX CHAPEL - 2

WP - Kelly Baxter (9-4)  LP - Maggie Kichler

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LADY TIGERS HOLD OFF PINE-RICHLAND, 8-7

by Coach Rick Meister

The North Allegheny Lady Tigers hung tough in a thriller at Pine Richland and came out on top in an 8-7 victory over the Rams.  For NA, senior lefthander Kelly Baxter pitched effectively in allowing only three earned runs, as Pine Richland capitalized on uncharacteristic 5-error Tiger defense to keep the outcome in doubt until the final out.

For North Allegheny, the scoring began in the top of the third when sophomore catcher Jocelyn Dimpel hit a one-out single to center field. Courtesy runner sophomore Julie Heinl stole second base. Senior shortstop Mel Boozel then sacrificed Heinl to third, and was safe at first on a Pine Richland throwing error. Boozel then stole second base, and both runners came around to score on a two-out triple to deep left center by sophomore right fielder Kelsey Fedell to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

Pine Richland tied the score in the bottom of the third on three hits and three North Allegheny fielding miscues.  Baxter, however, maintained her composure and forced Pine Richland to leave the bases loaded.

North Allegheny came back to score two more times in the top of the fourth,  Junior designated player Katie Polley led off with a solid single to left field.  Polley was forced at second base on a fielder’s choice hit by sophomore center fielder Mary DeMino, who was safe at first. Following a pitcher-to-first ground out by senior second baseman Lauren Vrabel which moved DeMino to third, Dimpel hit a drive to deep right center field which was dropped by the right fielder after a long run, scoring DeMino, with Dimpel winding up at second base on the play.  Boozel then singled courtesy runner Julie Heinl to third.  Sophomore left fielder Jane Miner hit an RBI single to right field to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead.

Pine Richland parlayed a hit, a sacrifice, and an error into one run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the margin to one.

The Tigers scored two more times in the top of the fifth.  Sophomore first baseman Sarah Moore led off with a single. Sophomore third baseman Stephanie Cassidy then singled junior pinch runner Leslie Vanderkolk to third.  Polley hit into a 5-3 fielder’s choice, scoring Vanderkolk and sending Cassidy to third. Sophomore pinch hitter Beth Chidester then drove in Cassidy on a fielder’s choice to give the Tigers a 6-3 lead.

Pine Richland came back to score twice in the bottom of the fifth to narrow the lead to 6-5.  The Rams scored on two singles, a walk, and a fielder’s choice in the inning.

NA added one run in the top of the sixth. Boozel led off with a single but was caught stealing.  Miner then walked. Following a stolen base, Miner scored on an RBI single by Moore.  Following a scoreless bottom of the sixth, NA scored what would prove to be a critical run in the top of the seventh.  Polley led off with a solid single and was sacrificed to second by DeMino.  Junior pinch hitter Julie Angeloni was then hit by a pitch.  Dimpel then singled to load the bases. Following a fielder’s choice which cut Polley down at the plate, Miner beat out a grounder to shortstop for an infield hit which drove in Angelloni with the Tigers’ final run.

Pine Richland made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore pitcher Brittany Dovey hit a two run home run to deep left field to narrow the score to 8-7, A Tiger error had put the Rams Kayla Dishler on base ahead of Dovey’s no-out blast, but Baxter was able to retire the side without further scoring to seal the win.

With the win, the Lady Tigers improved their section record to 5-5, good for a third place tie with North Hills.  NA will travel to Fox Chapel this afternoon for a 4:00 pm section contest against the Foxes.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 8  PINE-RICHLAND - 7

WP - Kelly Baxter (8-4)  LP - Kayla Dishler

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BAXTER TOSSES FOUR-HITTER TO BEAT
 NORTH HILLS, 3-0

Photo Gallery

Senior left hander Kelly Baxter allowed just four hits as the Lady Tigers downed rival North Hills, 3-0, at the Senior High field on Monday afternoon.  NA scored all three runs in the bottom of the third inning with key hits coming from sophomore LF Jane Miner, sophomore RF Kelsey Fedell, and sophomore 1B Sarah Moore.

The Lady Tigers needed only one inning to score their runs.  In the bottom of the third, senior shortstop Melanie Boozel led off with a bunt single that rolled dead right on the third base foul line.  Miner followed with a line shot into the right field corner for a double that sent Boozel to third.  Fedell then lined a single to left field scoring Boozel and moving Miner to third.  After Fedell stole second, Moore then singled to center scoring Miner to make it a 2-0 NA lead.  Fedell went to third on the play.  Sophomore 3B Stephanie Cassidy lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center field to score Fedell with the third run as the Tigers took a 3-0 lead.

The three runs were all Baxter needed as she shut down the Indians the rest of the way.  On the day, Baxter struck out three and walked three as she picked up her seventh win of the season against four losses.

With the win, the Lady Tigers jumped back into the playoff race moving into a tie with North Hills for third place and the final playoff spot.  The NA section record improved to 4-5, the overall mark to 10-5 on the season.  The Lady Tigers will travel to Pine-Richland tomorrow afternoon for a key section matchup.  Game time is set for 4:00 pm.

(Thanks to Coach Meister for the information in this report!)

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3  NORTH HILLS - 0

WP - Kelly Baxter (7-4)  LP - Rachel Van Atta

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LADY TIGERS BLANK BUTLER, 10-0

To listen to a replay of the game, click here!

The Lady Tigers gained a measure of revenge for an early season loss with a 10-0 five -inning victory over Butler at the Senior High field on Tuesday afternoon.  Sophomore LF Jane Miner had a triple and a single while sophomore 3B Stephanie Cassidy, sophomore DP Sarah Moore, and senior shortstop Melanie Boozel had two hits each to pace a ten-hit NA attack.  Senior LHP Kelly Baxter and sophomore RHP Julie Heinl held Butler to just three hits.

Butler threatened in the top of the first.  With one out, Jess McWilliams doubled to left center field and shortstop Jenna Geibel walked.  Baxter struck out the next two batters to end the threat.  In the bottom of the first, the Lady Tigers scored a pair of runs to take the lead for good.  After Boozel led off with a bunt single, Miner sacrificed her to second.  Sophomore RF Kelsey Fedell singled up the middle to score Boozel.  After Fedell stole second and moved to third on a passed ball, Moore singled to right field to give NA a 2-0 lead after one inning.

Baxter got the side in order the next two innings, and the Lady Tigers broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the third.  Once again, Boozel led off with a bunt single.  Miner followed with a line drive into the left center field gap for a triple scoring Boozel with the third NA run.  After a wild pitch scored Miner, Fedell drew a walk.  After Fedell stole second again, Moore walked.  Cassidy followed with a single to left field to score Fedell and make it 4-0.  A passed ball scored Cassidy, and sophomore CF Mary DeMino beat out on infield single.  Junior 1B Katie Polley reached on an error that scored another run and forced a Butler pitching change.  Amy Steinheiser replaced Stacy Reges and quickly got a strike out for the first out.  Sophomore catcher Jocelyn Dimpel lifted a sacrifice fly ball to left field scoring DeMino to give NA a commanding 8-0 lead after three innings.

Heinl came in to pitch for the Lady Tigers and allowed just a two-out single in the top of the fourth.  In the bottom of the inning with one out, Fedell walked and Moore grounded a double down the left field line.  Cassidy hit into a 1-3-2 double play to end the inning.

In the fifth, Heinl again stopped the Tornado allowing two-out single again.  In the bottom of the inning, the Lady Tigers ended the game with a pair of runs.  After senior pinch hitter Karen Baxter was hit by a pitch, Polley walked.  The next two batters were retired on fly balls.  After junior pinch hitter Leslie Vanderkolk was walked, Miner singled to left center field to drive in the runs that made it 10-0 and end the game because of the ten-run rule.

The Lady Tigers dominated the contest from the outset.  The NA pitchers gave up only three hits and struck out six as the Lady Tigers won their second straight game.  For her efforts at the plate, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Jane Miner as the Player of the Game.

The win improved the NA section record to 3-5, the overall mark to 9-5 on the season.  The Lady Tigers will host rival North Hills this afternoon at the Senior High field with game time scheduled for 4:00 pm.

Box Score

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 10  BUTLER - 0

WP - Kelly Baxter (6-4)  LP - Stacy Reges

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CASSIDY LEADS LADY TIGERS TO 7-6 COMEBACK WIN OVER PINE-RICHLAND

To listen to a replay of the game, click here!

The Lady Tigers scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat  Pine-Richland, 7-6, at the Senior High field on Monday afternoon.  Sophomore 3B Steph Cassidy had four hits, including two doubles, with two RBIs to pace NA.  Sophomore Sarah Moore drove Cassidy home with the winning run as NA broke a two-game losing streak.

Pine-Richland jumped off to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first.  With one out, 2B Erin Straw singled to left field.  After pitcher Kayla Dishler walked, first baseman Britt Dovey hit a three-run homer over the right center field fence to give the Rams a 3-0 lead.  Left fielder Erin King followed with a double and a single by SS Cait Baier moved her to third.  Catcher Molly King then singled to left field to score Erin to make it a 4-0 Ram lead going into the bottom of the first.

The Rams added another run in the bottom of the second.  With one out, 3B Deanna Kelly doubled to deep center field.  After a strike out, senior LHP Kelly Baxter walked the next three batters to force in a run to make it a 5-0 game.  In the bottom of the second, Cassidy doubled to right center field with two outs but did not score.  NA threatened again in the bottom of the third.  Sophomore catcher Jocelyn Dimple led off with a base hit to right field.  With one out, sophomore DP Julie Heinl beat out an infield hit.  On the next play, senior SS Melanie Boozel hit a slow roller to short.  Junior courtesy runner Casey Blendinger collided with P-R shortstop Cait Bair and was ruled out for interference.  Bair was injured but did return later in the game.  After a walk, Dishler got a ground out to end the threat.

Baxter settled down and retired ten in a row including striking out the side in the fourth.  NA finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Sophomore pinch hitter Jane Miner led off with a wind blown infield single.  After two ground outs that moved Miner to third, sophomore RF Kelsey Fedell came through with a single to right field to score Miner and make it a 5-1 game.

The Rams answered in the top of the sixth with a two-out double by Kelly to score courtesy runner Katrina Morgan and push the lead back to five at 6-1.  In the bottom of the sixth with one out, Cassidy singled to left field and Moore pinch hit a base hit to right.  After a ground out moved both runners up a base, Miner lined a single up the middle to score both runners and cut the lead to 6-3 after six innings.

After Baxter got the side in the top of the seventh after a harmless single, the Lady Tigers rallied to win the game.  Sophomore Beth Chidester started things with a base hit to left field.  After a force play at second, junior 1B Katie Polley singled up the middle.  Junior Julie Angeloni followed with a base hit to right with the throw to first base hitting Angeloni and allowing Chidester to score and Polley to go to third.  After Angeloni stole second, Cassidy followed with her fourth hit, a hard ground ball along the left field line for a double that scored both runners and tied the game at 6-6.  That set the stage for Moore's winning hit, a single to right field that brought Cassidy home with the game winner.

It was a big win for the Lady Tigers who were coming off a tough loss at Seneca Valley on Saturday.  NA pounded out 14 hits, ten in the last three innings.  Baxter settled down after the second inning allowing only one run and finishing with nine strikeouts.  For her efforts at the plate and in the field, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Stephanie Cassidy as the Player of the Game.

With the win, the Lady Tigers improved their section record to 2-5, the overall mark to 8-5 on the season.  NA will host Butler this afternoon in a section contest at the Senior High field.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there to broadcast the game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 3:45 pm.  Game time is set for 4:00 pm.

Box Score

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 7  PINE-RICHLAND - 6

WP - Kelly Baxter (6-4)  LP - Kayla Dishler

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WPIAL SOFTBALL - 2007

The Lady Tigers will compete again in Class AAAA along with 25 other teams.  The top three teams and ties will enter the WPIAL tournament.  All playoff entries will be determined by section record only and will be determined by the best section won/lost record.  Teams that tie for first place will not have the tie broken and both will be declared co-champions and each will receive a section winner's plaque.  Those two teams will enter the tournament and the second place team will enter as the third section representative.  In the event of a tie for second and third place, the tiebreaker system will be employed.  If the tie persists, head to head competition will determine the qualifier.  In the event of multiple ties the following tiebreaker will be employed:

a.  Section won-lost records of the tied teams will be compiled
b.  The team with the best numerical section record among the tied teams will enter post-season play
c.  If the tie cannot clearly be broken, all tied teams will enter post-season play

The two WPIAL finalists in Quad A will represent the WPIAL in PIAA inter-district play.

POSTPONED GAMES MUST BE PLAYED IN ORDER OF POSTPONEMENT AND SCHEDULED ON THE FIRST COMMON AVAILABLE DATE.  MAKE UP WPIAL SECTION GAMES MUST HAVE PREFERENCE OVER EXHIBITION GAMES, JV AND JUNIOR HIGH CONTESTS.  ALL GAMES POSTPONED DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON MUST BE RESCHEDULED AND PLAYED PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND HALF.

During all WPIAL competition, any game that is interrupted by bad weather prior to becoming a legal game will be resumed at that point and concluded on the next available playing date.

The Ten Run/Fifteen Run Rule will be in effect for all WPIAL softball games.  It reads:
If a team is ahead by ten runs or more at the end of five innings the game shall be terminated.  This also means if the home team is ahead by ten runs after four and one-half innings, the game will be terminated.  Thereafter, if one team should go ahead by ten runs, the same rule must apply.  If the visiting team should go ahead by ten runs after the game has become official, the home team will be permitted to bat in their half of the inning.  The same procedure applies at the end of three innings if a team is ahead by fifteen runs or more.

WPIAL Championship play is scheduled to begin the week of May 14, 2007.  The finals will be played Thursday, May 31, 2007 with a rain date of Friday, June 1, 2007.  The site will be California University, California, PA.

CLASS AAAA - 26 TEAMS

Any questions or comments should be directed to Athletic Director Bob Bozzuto at:  bbozzuto@northallegheny.org