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ALL-SECTION PLAYERS!!!

Photos Courtesy of Steph Anderson

THREE LADY TIGERS SELECTED TO SECTION ALL-STAR SQUAD

Senior catcher Jocelyn Dimpel, senior shortstop Mary DeMino, and senior center fielder Kelsey Fedell were selected to the WPIAL Section 3-AAAA All-Section team as reported in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  All-section selections were chosen by the Post-Gazette scholastic sports staff based on voting by coaches in the section.  DeMino was also named to the PG North All-Star team.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
WPIAL SECTION 3-AAAA ALL-SECTION TEAM

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HEMPFIELD ELIMINATES LADY TIGERS,
3-2, IN WPIAL QUARTERFINALS

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

The Hempfield Lady Spartans scored in the bottom of the seventh to break a 2-2 tie and end the Lady Tigers season in the WPIAL Quarterfinals at Hampton Community Park on Wednesday afternoon.  Senior shortstop Mary DeMino had a triple while junior DP Amber Steenbeke and senior 1B Sarah Moore added doubles to pace NA.

The Lady Tigers got off to a quick start in the top of the first.  Freshman CF Jordan Macey led off with a base hit to right field.  After senior RF Jane Miner sacrificed Macey to second, DeMino sent a long drive to deep right field for a triple that scored Macey to give NA a 1-0 lead.  Hempfield pitcher T'Nia Falbo was able to get the next two outs without further scoring .  In the bottom of the inning, the Lady Spartans answered with a run.  After Melissa Lupinacci beat out an infield single, CF Jordan Sherrow sacrificed her to second.  Shortstop Alyssa Bates singled to center to score Lupinacci but the Tiger nailed Bates trying to get into second.  NA senior pitcher Julie Heinl got a ground out to end the inning with the score tied at 1-1.

The game remained tied until the fifth inning as both pitchers settled down.  Falbo retired eleven in a row thanks to a caught stealing in the fourth.  Heinl allowed only a harmless single in the second as she got eight in a row during the stretch.

In the top of the fifth, the Lady Tigers took their second lead of the game.  Senior catcher Jocelyn Dimpel led off with a base hit to center field.  Sophomore Steph Bartlam went in as a courtesy runner.  Steenbeke followed with a line shot into the left center field gap to score Bartlam to make it a 2-1 game.  Sophomore Jenna Darrah was sent in as a pinch runner for Steenbeke.  After senior LF Beth Chidester sacrificed Darrah to third, Falbo got the next out on a pop fly on a bunt attempt.  With two outs, Macey was hit by a pitch.  Once again, Falbo got out of trouble with a strike out to end the inning.  NA took a 2-1 advantage into the bottom of the fifth.

The Lady Spartans again answered to tie the game.  After a ground ut, RF Katie Balko singled to center field.  After a sacrifice moved Balko to third, second baseman Amanda Rupert lined a two out single to left field to tie the game at 2-2.  Lupinacci followed with an infield single, but Heinl grabbed a one-hop ground ball to get the final out of the inning.

In the top of the sixth, Moore lined a two-out double into the right center field gap.  Sophomore Hannah Jones went in as a pinch runner but Falbo once again stranded a runner in scoring position as she got a ground out to end the inning.  In the bottom of the sixth, Bates walked to lead off, but Heinl got the next three outs to keep the game tied at 2-2.

The Lady Tigers threatened in the top of the seventh but did not score.  After Steenbeke walked to lead off, a bunt attempt failed but a wild pitch sent Steenbeke to second.  After a walk to junior 2B Christy Cotter, Falbo again stymied NA as she got a ground out and fly ball to center field to end the inning.  The Lady Spartans won the game with a run in the bottom of the seventh.  Balko led off with a double down the left field line and was sacrifice to third.  After Rupert beat out an infield single, Lupinacci walked to load the bases.  Freshman Nina Italliano was sent in as a pinch hitter and came through with a base hit to left field to end the game.

It was a tough loss for the Lady Tigers as they finished the season with a 15-4 mark and a section title.  A key was the inability to score runners in scoring position as NA was just 2 for 11.  The Lady Tigers also had trouble getting bunts down as they were retired three pop flies in sacrifice situations.  For her efforts at the plate, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Amber Steenbeke as the Player of the Game.  Hempfield moves on to the semifinals to meet Connellsville.

Box Score
Photo Gallery

GAME SUMMARY
HEMPFIELD - 3  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 2

WP - T'Nia Falbo   LP - Julie Heinl (6-2)

WPIAL CLASS AAAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

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OHIO TEAM SHUTS OUT LADY TIGERS, 3-0

by Rick Meister

The North Allegheny Varsity Softball Team was shut out by the Poland, Ohio, Bulldogs yesterday at NASH Field, 3-0, behind an exceptional two-hit pitching performance by Poland freshman Erin Gabriel.

Poland got the only run it would need when first baseman Nicole White hit a long home run over the right-center field fence in the second inning to give Poland a 1-0 lead.  The Bulldogs added runs two and three in the fifth when designated player Chelsea McCree singled to left and scored when Gabriel lined a home run over the center field fence to bring Poland to its final 3-0 advantage.

Senior pitcher Julie Heinl took the loss for North Allegheny, surrendering only  one run, White’s home run,  over three innings.  Amber Steenbeke pitched the last four innings, allowing two runs on the Gabriel home run.

The loss drops North Allegheny to 15-3 on the season.  The Tigers await their playoff schedule, which will be released following the W.P.I.A.L. Committee meeting this Thursday.  The next scheduled game for the Tigers is on Thursday when they will host Mt. Lebanon 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 scheduled for 4:00 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
POLAND SEMINARY (OH) - 3  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 0

 WP - Erin Gabriel  LP - Julie Heinl (6-1)

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TIGERS TAME TORNADO, 4-1, IN SECTION FINALE

 by Rick Meister

The North Allegheny Varsity Softball Team traveled to sun-bathed Butler yesterday to take on the Golden Tornado and returned home with a solid 4-1 victory over playoff-bound Butler.  Senior RHP Julie Heinl and junior RHP Amber Steenbeke shared the pitching duties, with Steenbeke garnering the win by throwing hitless ball over the final three innings.  Senior 3B Steph Cassidy had a home run and double good for three RBIs to pace NA to the victory.

Butler struck first in the bottom of the first when second baseman Amy Steinheiser hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a Tiger infield error, and scored on an RBI single to center by shortstop Jenna Geibel.  North Allegheny answered quickly when Cassidy drilled a leadoff home run over the left-center field fence to knot the score at 1-1.

The Tigers added three more in the third to settle the issue.  Freshman left fielder Jordan Macey hit a one-out single to center field. Senior right fielder Jane Miner drove Macey in with a long double to left center.  Senior shortstop Mary DeMino then singled Miner to third.  Once again Cassidy came through with the big hit, a double to the left field corner that drove in both Miner and DeMino to put the Tigers ahead by the final 4-1 margin.

With the win, North Allegheny completed section play with a 9-1 record, and raised their overall record to 15-2.  The Tigers will entertain Poland Seminary School from Ohio at 5:00 this afternoon at NASH Field.  NA will complete the regular season with a non-section home game against Mt. Lebanon on Thursday at 4:00 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 4  BUTLER - 1

 WP - Amber Steenbeke (6-1)  LP - Angie Reddick

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LADY TIGERS RALLY TO DOWN NORTH HILLS, 4-3

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

Trailing 3-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lady Tigers rallied for two runs in each of the final two innings to defeat rival North Hills, 4-3, on Senior Day at the Senior High field on Saturday afternoon.  Senior shortstop Mary DeMino led the NA rally with a two-run home run while senior catcher Jocelyn Dimpel posted a pair of hits and a key stolen base.  Freshman RF Jordan Macey doubled to lead off the seventh inning for the winning Lady Tigers.

North Hills started quickly with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning.  Indian shortstop Steph Wiegand singled to center field on the first pitch of the game.  After a force play at second, LF Jess Rectenwald dropped a single just inside the right field line.  After a ground out moved both runners up a base, !B Kristen Gumpf lined a single into right field to score both runners and give NH a 1-0 lead.  In the bottom of the first, NH senior left hander Rachel Van Atta got the side in order. 

After a leadoff single by third baseman Courtney Waters in the top of the second, NA senior pitcher Julie Heinl got the next three batters, two on strikeouts to end the inning.  In the bottom of the inning with one out, senior 1B Sarah Moore lined a shot that hit Waters in the face resulting in an infield single.  Waters left the game but returned later.  With two outs, junior DP Amber Steenbeke drew a walk, but Van Atta got a strike out to end the inning.  The Indians threatened in the top of the third on singles by Rectenwald and Van Atta with one out.  Gumpf then popped up to junior 2B Christy Cotter who threw to second to double off Rectenwald. 

Neither team had another base runner until the top of the fifth.  With one out, Wiegand singled to left field and was sacrificed to second.  Heinl then got Rectenwald to ground out to shortstop to end the threat.  In the bottom of the inning, Dimpel singled to center field to lead off.  Van Atta then got the next three outs as North Hills took a 2-0 lead into the top of the sixth.

The Indians added an unearned run in the top of the sixth.  With one out, Gumpf doubled into right center field.  Havrilla beat out an infield hit that moved Gumpf to third.  After Havrilla stole second, Waters lined a shot back to the mound that Heinl caught.  In an attempt to double off Gumpf at third, the throw was wide allowing the NH runner to come home.  North Hills took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth.  Macey lined a shot off first baseman Gumpf to lead off with the ball caroming into right center field allowing Macey to hustle into second base.  DeMino followed with a line shot home run over the right center field fence to cut the NH lead to 3-2.  Rectenwald then came in to pitch for the Indians.  After an error, the NH sophomore left got out of the inning on a strikeout and a ground ball double play.  The Indians still held a 3-2 lead after six innings.

After Heinl retired the side in order in the top of the seventh, the Lady Tigers rallied for the win.  Dimpel led off with a short fly ball into center field that fell in for a base hit.  After Steenbeke sacrificed Dimpel to second, Rectenwald struck out junior pinch hitter Kelsey Birsic.  Dimpel then stole third base to put the tying run just 60 feet away.  The move paid off when Rectenwald sailed a 3-2 pitch to Cotter over catcher Amy Augustine's head allowing Dimpel to score the run to tie the game at 3-3.  After Cotter stole second, Macey grounded to second base where the ball was bobbled.  The ensuing throw to first was wide and Cotter raced home with the winning run.

It was a quality comeback for the Lady Tigers who were down to their last strike.  Heinl was tough on the mound after the first inning and picked up the victory allowing no walks and striking out four.  With the win, Heinl's record improved to 6-0 on the year.  The North Allegheny Sports Network named Jocelyn Dimpel as the Player of the Game for her key play down the stretch.

With their ninth consecutive victory, NA clinched the section title with an 8-1 section record along with boosting their overall mark to 14-2 on the season.  The Lady Tigers will complete section play with a trip to Butler tomorrow afternoon for a 4:00 pm contest.

Photo Gallery
Box Score

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 4  NORTH HILLS - 3

WP - Julie Heinl (6-0)  LP - Jess Rectenwald

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LADY TIGERS ROLL OVER SENECA VALLEY, 9-1

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

The Lady Tigers won their eighth straight with a 9-1 victory over Seneca Valley at the Senior High field on Monday afternoon.  Senior RF Jane Miner slammed a home run and a single good for three RBIs while senior LF Beth Chidester added a double also driving in three runs.  Junior right hander Amber Steenbeke allowed just six hits and struck out 11 in earning the victory.

Seneca Valley scored first with a run in the top of the second.  After a walk and a bunt single by 3B Emily Watson, a fielder's choice did not get an out as the Raiders loaded the bases with no outs.  After a pop fly and strike out, Julia Vandrak hit a ground ball single to center field to score what would be the only run of the game for the Raiders.

In the bottom of the second, the Lady Tigers came back to take the lead.  Senior CF Kelsey Fedell led off with a hard single to right field and senior 1B Sarah Moore drew a walk.  With two outs and two strikes, Chidester drilled a long double to the fence in left field to score both runners and give NA a 2-1 lead.  Freshman Jordan Macey singled to left moving Chidester to third.  After Macey stole second, Miner singled to right field to score Chidester with Macey coming in to score when the throw to home was wide.  After two innings, the Lady Tigers held a 4-1 lead.

In the top of the third, Seneca Valley got bunt singles by Ciara Mislan and Lauren Davies to lead off the inning.  After a sacrifice moved the runners up a base, Steenbeke struck out the next two batters to end the threat.  In the bottom  of the inning, the Lady Tigers added another run.  After senior 3B Steph Cassidy led off with a base hit to right field, she moved to third on a ground out.  Moore followed with an infield single and then stole second.  Senior catcher Jocelyn Dimpel then grounded to third and Cassidy was caught in a run down.  The throw to home went over the catcher's head allowing Cassidy to score the fifth NA run as the Lady Tigers took a 5-1 lead after three innings.

In the top of the fourth, Steenbeke allowed a harmless two-out double to Vandrak before getting another strike out to end the inning.  In the bottom of the inning, Macey led off with a long double to the fence in right center field.  Miner followed with a line drive home run over the right center field fence to give NA a 7-1 lead.  Seneca Valley Coach George Trew went to the bullpen and brought in third baseman Emily Watson to pitch.  NA did not score again in the inning but took a 7-1 advantage into the top of the fifth.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Tigers struck again with a pair of runs.  After junior catcher Maria Shevchik led off with a base hit up the middle, she went to second on a wild pitch.  After Steenbeke reached on an error, another wild pitch scored a run and moved courtesy runner Julie Heinl to third.  Chidester followed with a sacrifice fly to score Heinl to give NA a commanding 9-1 lead after five innings.

Steenbeke got out of a two on and one out jam in the top of the sixth when senior shortstop Mary DeMino caught a line drive and threw to first for an inning ending double play.  In the top of the seventh, Steenbeke ended the game in style by striking out the final two Seneca Valley batters.  The Lady Tigers completed the 9-1 victory.

It was another good team victory for NA.  The Lady Tigers pounded out ten hits with Macey, Miner and Cassidy all recorded two-hit games.  Steenbeke won her fifth game of the season against just one loss with a good pitching performance.  For her efforts at the plate, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Jane Miner as the Player of the Game.

With the win, NA improved their section record to 7-1 and clinched at least at tie for the section title.  The overall mark went to 13-2 on the season.  The Lady Tigers will travel to Butler this afternoon for a 4:00 section contest against the Tornado.

Box Score

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 9  SENECA VALLEY - 1

WP - Amber Steenbeke (5-1)  LP - Ashley Kuhn

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LADY TIGERS TRAMPLE PINE-RICHLAND, 8-1,
FOR SEVENTH STRAIGHT WIN

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

by Rick Meister

Senior center fielder Kelsey Fedell had a double and two singles good for three RBIs as the Lady Tigers downed Pine-Richland, 8-1, at the Senior High field on Saturday afternoon.  Senior RHP Julie Heinl went the distance to earn her fifth victory without a loss as NA opened a two-game lead in section play.

NA blitzed Pine Richland with four first-inning runs and never looked back.  Freshman left fielder Jordan Macey led of for the Tigers with a solid single up the middle. Senior right fielder Jane Miner reached on an error, going to second and sending Macey to third when the Rams’ throw sailed into right field.  With one out, senior third baseman Stephanie Cassidy reached on an error, with the runners having to hold on the play. Fedell singled to center to drive in Macey.  Another single to right center by senior first baseman Sarah Moore plated Miner with run number two.  Senior catcher Jocelyn Dimpel then singled to drive in Cassidy. Junior designated player Amber Steenbeke’s single scored Moore to give NA a 4-0 advantage after one.

The Tigers tallied twice more in the second when Macey once again led off with a single through the middle. Macey was erased on a fielder’s’choice by Miner.  With two outs, Cassidy singled to move Miner to third, and took second on the play.  Fedell then drove in Miner with her second single of the afternoon.  With Fedell purposely creating a rundown between first and second, Cassidy raced home to make it 6-0 NA after two.

 Pine Richland got it’s only run in the top of the fourth when designated player Kat Rausch singled and came around to score on center fielder Deanna Kelly’s long double to right center.  The Tigers added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.  In the fifth, Moore walked to lead off the inning.  Senior pinch runner Beth Chidester ran for Moore.

A single by Dimpel pushed Chidester to second.  She advanced to score on two consecutive fielder’s choices, with sophomore pinch hitter Kelsey Birsic picking up the RBI.  In the sixth, Miner led off with a single and was run for by sophomore pinch runner Stephanie Bartlam.  Bartlam advanced to second on a fielder’s choice,, and scored on Fedell’s double to deep center field.

The Lady Tigers got contributions from a number of players in the section victory.  NA pounded out 13 hits led by Fedell who was named the Player of the Game by the North Allegheny Sports Network.

The win improved the NA section record to 6-1, the overall mark to 12-2 on the season.  The Lady Tigers will host Seneca Valley this afternoon at the Senior High field as section play continues.  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 - 8  PINE-RICHLAND - 1

 WP - Julie Heinl (5-0)  LP - Hayley Morgan

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LADY TIGERS TOP TITANS, 2-1,
TO TAKE SECTION LEAD

by Rick Meister

          Behind the three-hit pitching of senior right hander Julie Heinl, the Lady Tigers came from behind to defeat Shaler, 2-1, on the road on Thursday afternoon.  Senior 3B Steph Cassidy drove in freshman LF Jordan Macey with the game winner in the top of the sixth inning.  Macey had a pair of hits and junior DP Amber Steenbeke had a key double for the winning Lady Tigers. 

            Shaler struck first in the bottom of the first inning when third baseman Sam Montoya hit a one-out double to the left-center field fence and was driven in by left fielder Holly Pefferman with a single up the middle.

            The game remained 1-0 until the Tigers broke through with two in the top of the sixth.   Steenbeke led off with a long double to deep center field that just missed going over for a home run.  Sophomore pinch runner Stephanie Bartlam ran for Steenbeke, and was advance to third on a sacrifice by junior second baseman Christy Cotter.  Macey then picked up her second hit of the game, a single up the middle to drive in Bartlam to tie the game at one.  Macey advanced to second on a single by senior shortstop Mary DeMino, and scored when Cassidy hit a two-out RBI single to center.  Heinl  got Shaler on six consecutive ground outs in the sixth and seventh to lock up the win.

             Heinl struck out 4 and walked none, and did not allow a Shaler batter to reach base after the second inning, as she received outstanding defensive support from her Tiger teammates.  The win was the fourth for Heinl without a loss this season.

            With the win, North Allegheny takes over sole possession of first place with a section record of 5-1 and an overall record of 11-2, in what will still be a hotly contested race with four section games remaining.  The Tigers next see action on Saturday afternoon at home at 3:00 vs. Pine-Richland at NASH Field.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there to broadcast the game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 2:45 pm.  Game time is scheduled for 3:00 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 2  SHALER - 1

 WP - Julie Heinl (4-0)  LP - Abby Nichter

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LADY TIGERS WIN TWO AT CHARITY EVENT

The Lady Tigers posted a pair of shut outs as they defeated Latrobe, 6-0, and Montour, 11-0, at the Senior High field on Saturday.  Senior right hander Julie Heinl won both games as she allowed only four hits to Latrobe and two to Montour.  In the first game, senior 3B Steph Cassidy had a pair of hits and two RBIs while in the nightcap, junior catcher Maria Shevchik blasted a three-run homer and senior RF Jane Miner added a solo shot for the winning Lady Tigers.

NORTH ALLEGHENY - 6  LATROBE - 0

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

The opening game between the Lady Tigers and Latrobe started out as a pitching duel between NA senior Julie Heinl and Latrobe sophomore and lefthander Alexa Larkin.  Heinl retired the side in order over the first three innings.  The only Tiger baserunner over the front three was freshman Jordan Macey who walked to lead off the bottom of the first.  Macey got to second on a wild throw to first but was stranded there.

In the top of the fourth, RF Lindsay Yelenic got the first Wildcat hit as she beat out an infield single.  After Yelinic was forced at second, 3B Meghan Kozusko lined a shot to center field, but NA center fielder Kelsey Fedell caught the ball on one hop and threw to junior 2B Christy Cotter to force Ashley Webb at second base.  Heinl then got a fly ball to end the threat.

The Lady Tigers finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth thanks to some help from the Latrobe defense.  With two outs, senior 3B Steph Cassidy lined a single to center field and then stole second.  Fedell followed with a ground ball to short but the throw to first was high allowing Fedell to reach and Cassidy to go to third.  After Fedell stole second, senior catcher Jocelyn Dimpel lifted a fly ball to right center field that was misplayed allowing two runs to score.  NA took a 2-0 lead into the top of the fifth inning.

After Larkin led off with a single to center field to lead of in the top of the fifth, Heinl go the next three batters in order to preserve the two-run lead.  In the bottom of the inning, NA scored four more runs to put the game away.  With sophomore right hander Rebecca Taylor pitching, Cotter reached on another Wildcat error.  After one out and a steal of second by Cotter, senior RF Jane Miner beat out an infield single with Cotter moving to third.  After Miner stole second, senior SS Mary DeMino walked to load the bases.  Cassidy followed with a long drive off the fence in left field that scored a pair of runs.  DeMino then scored on a wild pitch and Cassidy came home on a passed ball as the NA lead went to 6-0 after five innings.

Heinl allowed a double to Webb in the sixth and a single to Taylor in the seventh but was able to keep Latrobe off the board to earn the victory.  For her efforts on the mound, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Julie Heinl as the Player of the Game.

Box Score

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 6  LATROBE - 0

WP - Julie Heinl (2-0)  LP - Alexa Larkin

NORTH ALLEGHENY - 11  MONTOUR - 0

by Rick Meister

The North Allegheny varsity Softball Team won its second game of the day on Saturday by defeating Montour, 11-0, in five innings behind the two-hit pitching of senior Julie Heinl, who also picked up her second victory of the day.

            The Tigers struck immediately in the first, when leadoff batter senior right fielder Jane Miner  hit a 3-1 pitch deep over the left-center fence, nearly hitting the scoreboard to give NA a 1-0 lead after one.  In the second inning, the Tigers added three more when senior first baseman Sarah Moore led off with a single.  Sophomore third baseman Kelsey Birsic followed with a walk, moving Moore to second.  Sophomore catcher Maria Shevchik followed with another single, but Moore was erased at the plate as she tried to score from second. On the play, Birsic took third and Shevchik advanced to second. Senior left fielder Beth Chidester then singled to drive in both Birsic and Shevchik., with Chidester advancing to second on the throw to the plate.  A single by Heinl sent Chidester to third.  Miner hit a double to drive in Chidester for her second RBI of the contest.  In the third, the Tigers added run number five when senior center fielder Kelsey Fedell led off with a double to deep center.  Fedell advanced to third as Moore was safe at first on a fielder’s choice.  A single by Chidester  brought in Fedell, and the Tigers led 5-0 after three.

            In the fourth, North Allegheny put it away with a six-run outburst.  Junior shortstop Christy Cotter led off with a walk.  A single by senior second baseman Stephanie Cassidy moved Cotter to second.  A walk to Fedell loaded the bases, and a single by Moore drove in Cotter. Birsic the drove in both Cassidy and Fedell with a single.  With Moore at third and Birsic at second, Shevchik drove a ball over the left field fence for a three run home run that gave the Tigers their 11-0 advantage.

            The victory capped a successful day for NA, who now stand at 10-2 overall and remain 4-1 in a first place tie with Shaler in section play.  The Tigers will next see action on Tuesday afternoon at NASH Field  when they host Seneca Valley in an important Section 3AAAA contest.  Start time is 4:00 PM.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there to broadcast the game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 3:45 pm.

            Special thanks go to all who attended and supported today’s events to benefit the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.  The North Allegheny Softball Program appreciates all who worked and all who contributed.

Photo Gallery

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 11  MONTOUR - 0

WP - Julie Heinl (3-0)  LP - Sabrina Schmittlein

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TIGERS FALL BEHIND EARLY, THEN GET RAM-BUNCTIOUS TO DEFEAT PINE-RICHLAND, 8-7

by Rick Meister

            The North Allegheny Varsity Softball Team traveled to Pine-Richland on Friday afternoon and came home with an exciting 8-7 victory to end the first half of section play tied with Shaler for the Section 3-AAAA lead.  North Allegheny fell behind 4-0 after two innings of play before scoring two runs in the fourth and fifth innings and adding three more in the sixth.  Pine-Richland came back with three runs in the seventh to lead to a heart-stopping final play of the game that gave the Tigers the victory.

            Pine-Richland did its damage with two outs in the first inning.  A single by center fielder Deanna Kelly was misplayed in the NA outfield, with Kelly winding up at second base. A double by catcher Molly King scored Kelly. Following a walk, an RBI single by left fielder Megan Okuda drove in run number two.    In the second, Pine-Richland added two more when designated player Katherine Rausch singled, Rausch was sacrificed to second by third baseman Kayla Dishler and took third on a wild pitch.  Rausch scored when a pickoff attempt was thrown into left field.  Kelly then hit a two-out single, advanced to second on a walk, and was driven in on a single to left by second baseman Emma Kohley.  NA pitcher Amber Steenbeke then settled in to hold the Rams scoreless until the wild seventh inning.

            The Tigers got on the board with two runs in the fourth inning on a single by senior third baseman Stephanie Cassidy, Senior center fielder Kelsey Fedell forced Cassidy at second on a fielder’s choice.  A single by senior catcher Jocelyn Dimpel put runners on first and second.  A two-out double to deep right center field by senior first baseman Sarah Moore drove in both Dimpel and Fedell.  NA added two in the fifth to tie the contest at four.  Freshman right fielder Jordan Macey led off with a single up the middle. Junior second baseman Christy Cotter sacrificed Macey to second, and senior shortstop Mary DeMino’s single to center scored Macey.  A fielder’s choice moved DeMino to second, and an RBI single by Fedell tied the game after five innings.

            The Tigers seemingly put the game away with a four-run sixth inning.  Moore led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by senior designated player Julie Heinl.  Sophomore pinch runner Stephanie Bartlam then ran for Moore.  Macey reached on an infield error, with Bartlam racing home with the go-ahead run.  Cotter then followed with a single up the middle moving Macey to second.  Following a single by Cassidy that drove in Macey and putting Cotter on third, with Cassidy taking second on the throw, Fedell doubled to left center to drive in both Cotter and Cassidy to give the Tigers what appeared to be a comfortable 8-4 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

Pine-Richland did not go quietly.  A single by Okuda was followed by a one-out walk to pinch hitter Marissa Kohley.  Relief pitcher Kayla Dishler hit a single to left to drive in Okuda and send Kohley to third, with Dishler taking second on the throw to third.  Kohley scored on a double by shortstop Erin Straw to narrow the lead to 8-6 and put runners on second and third with two outs.  Kelley then singled to center to drive in Dishler, but a strong throw from Fedell to Dimpel stopped Straw, who had rounded third.  A perfect throw to Cassidy from Dimpel cut down Straw as she tried to get back to third and the Tigers had hung on for the victory.

The win raised the Tigers’ section mark to 4-1 and their overall record to 7-2.  The Tigers will play a non-section double header on Saturday at NASH Field, with the first game vs. Greater Latrobe beginning at 10:00 AM.  Following a noon contest between Greater Latrobe and Montour, the Tigers will then play Montour in a 2:00 start.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will broadcast the NA-Latrobe game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 9:45 am.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 8  PINE-RICHLAND - 7

 WP - Amber Steenbeke (4-1)  LP - Kayla Dishler

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WPIAL SOFTBALL - 2009

The Lady Tigers will compete again in the WPIAL in Class AAAA along with 24 other teams.  The top three teams in each section 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 ALL of the tied teams will be declared section champions, will receive a section winner's plaque, and will be entered into the WPIAL tournament.  If three or more teams tie for first place, only those teams will qualify for the playoffs.

In the event of a multiple team tie (two or more teams) for a playoff position, head-to-head competition will be the first determinant.  If head-to-head does not break the tie, the following tie-breaking system will be used.  If three or more teams are tied for second place and the tie breaking system identifies one team as the second place team, the remaining teams will be then tied  for third place and the process begins all over with head-to-head competition being the first determinant for establishing the third place team.  If a tie cannot be broken, all tied teams will enter the playoffs.

TIE-BREAKING SYSTEM

a.  Section won-lost records of the tied teams will be compiled.
b.  The team with the best numerical head-to-head section record among the tied teams will enter post-season play.
c.  If the tie cannot be clearly 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 GAMES.  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 section competition, any game that is interrupted by bad weather prior to becoming a legal game will be declared a suspended game and 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 12, 2009.  The finals will be played Thursday, May 28, 2009 with a rain date of Friday, May 29, 2009.  The site will be California University, California, PA.

CLASS AAAA - 25 TEAMS

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