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GAME SUMMARIES

TIGER POWER STOPS SENECA VALLEY AS NA TAKES 7-1 WIN

Box Score

The Tigers blasted three home runs on their way to a 7-1 section victory over Seneca Valley at the Senior High field on Monday night.  Senior 1B Mark Jackson, junior LF Brice Nikithser, and senior 2B Eric Harbison led the Tigers with two-run homers early in the game as NA took a 6-0 lead after two innings.  Nikithser added a triple while Harbison had a three hit night with a pair of singles to go with his home run.  Senior RHP Tanner Wilt allowed no runs, one hit, and struck out ten in earning the victory.

After Wilt kept the Raiders off the board in the top of the first, the Tigers struck quickly in the bottom of the inning.  After Harbison singled, the Raiders got a strike out and throw out at second base on a steal attempt for the first two outs of the inning.  Junior DH Nick Sell drew a walk, and Jackson followed with a two-run homer over the right center field fence to give NA a 2-0 lead after one inning of play. 

In the second, Wilt struck out the side around a base hit by Mike Graham.  In the bottom of the inning, the Tigers added four more runs.  With one out, senior 3B Justin Brozick walked.  Nikithser followed with a drive over the left field fence for his second of the year to give NA a 4-0 lead.  After senior CF Zach Jergan walked, Harbison drilled another two-run shot over the right center field fence to extend the NA margin to 6-0 after two innings.

Neither team was able to score over the next three and one half innings.  Wilt continued to baffle the Raider batters allowing just one hit and two walks while stiking out seven batters.  NA threatened in the bottom of the fourth when Jergan walked with one out.  Harbison followed wiith his third hit of the game.  Raider pitcher Matt Smith got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.  The Tigers continued to lead, 6-0, going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the sixth, Nikithser greeted Raider relief pitcher Chris Doroy with a long triple to left field.  After a walk to Jergen, Dorogy was able to pick the Tiger runner off first.  Harbison was able to drive in Nikithser with a ground ball to first with Harbison reaching safely when Dorogy missed first while covering.  After senior SS Rob Sittig singled, Sell grounded to short to end the inning.  In the top of the seventh, senior Eric Dorsch came in to pitch for the Tigers.  With one out, pinch hitter Ben Murray walked.  Pinch hitter Blake Henderson followed with an infield single.  After a ground out to the mound, Sam Fragale singled home Murray with the Seneca run.  Dorsch got the final out on another ground ball back to the mound as the Tigers completed the 7-1 victory.

It was another good team effort by the Tigers as they continued to play well in the field with no errors committed.  With the win, NA improved their section record to 5-0, the overall mark to 10-1 on the season.  The Tigers will travel to North Hills tomorrow to meet the Indians in a 4:00 pm section contest.

Photo Gallery

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 7  SENECA VALLEY - 1

WP - Tanner Wilt (2-0)  LP - Matt Smith

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FOX CHAPEL FALLS TO TIGERS, 13-5

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It took two days to complete but the Tigers scored early and often on their way to a 13-5 victory at Fox Chapel in a game that was started on Friday and finished on Saturday afternoon in the cold and rain.  Senior shortstop Rob Sittig had three hits and a pair of RBIs to pace NA with senior 3B Justin Brozick adding a pair of doubles and an RBI.  Senior RF Mike Cammarata added a three-run double with junior Nick Sell posting a two-run double as a pinch-hitter.  Senior RHP Patrick Bradley picked  up the victory in relief.

On Friday afternoon, the Tigers threatened in the top of the first when senior 1B Mark Jackson struck out but reached base when the FC catcher could not come up with the pitch.  Senior DH Zach Stein followed with a base hit but FC pitcher Healy got out of the jam with a fly ball to right field.  Junior RHP Tanner Wilt started for the Tigers and also ran into a little trouble in the bottom of the first.  After the first two batters were out, Terwilliger was hit by a pitch and Sipple walked.  Healy reached on an error but Terwilliger was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a good throw from senior 2B Eric Harbison to junior catcher Cody Gaertner.  In the top of the second with two outs, the game was suspended because of rain.

When play resumed on Saturday afternoon, Healy remained on the mound for the Foxes.  With two outs, junior LF Brice Nikithser was hit by a pitch and then stole second.  Senior CF Zach Jergan followed with a base hit to right center field that scored Nikithser with the game's first run.  After Harbison singled, Sittig drove in two more runs with a base hit as the Tigers took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the inning.  Bradley came in to pitch for the Tigers.  After the first two batters drew walks, Pistorius singled home a run.  Bradley got the next two on a fly out and strike out, but Williams doubled home Killian to cut the lead to 3-2 after two innings of play.

The Tigers added another run in the top of the third.  After Stein walked, Cammarata flew out to right field.  Stein then stole second and moved to third on a passed ball.  Gaertner followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Stein and make it a 4-2 NA lead.  In the bottom of the inning, the Foxes threatened but a 6-4-3 double play ended the inning.

In the top of the fourth, NA added four more runs.  After Nikithser walked and stole second, Harbison singled with one out to drive him in with the fifth NA run.  After Harbison stole second, Sittig beat out an infield single.  With two outs, Stein walked to load the bases.  Cammarata then came throw with a double that cleared the bases and gave the Tigers an 8-2 advantage going into the bottom of the fourth.  In the Foxes' half of the inning, Killian doubles and was driven in by a Williams single.  After a stolen base, Sipple singled to score Killian and cut the lead to 8-4.  Senior RHP Kevin Monper came in to pitch and got the third out on a comebacker to the the mound.

The Tigers loaded the bases but did not score in the top of the fifth.  After Brozick doubled to lead off, Nikithser flew out to center field.  Jergan walked and Brozick moved to third on a passed ball.   After Harbison was hit by a pitch to load the bases, two fly balls ended the inning.  In the bottom of the inning, the Foxes scored a run to cut the lead to 8-5.  A Killian sacrifice fly scored Barbona with the FC tally.

In the top of the sixth, NA answered.  With two outs, Gaertner singled with junior Matt Steinbeck coming in to run.  Brozick followed with a double that scored Steinbeck to give the Tigers a 9-5 lead going into the bottom of the sixth.  Monper struck out two in the bottom of the inning with Gaertner throwing out Sipple at second on a steal attempt for the other out in the frame.

In the top of the seventh, the Tigers struck for four more runs off Fox Chapel reliever Hersteck.  After Harbison led off with a walk, Sittig singled.  Sell pinch hit and drove a double that scored both runners.  After Sell moved to third on a wild pitch, Stein sent him home with a sac fly.  Cammarata then walked, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch.  After Gaertner walked, Cammarata came in to score on yet another wild pitch as the score went to 13-5.  Hersteck then got a strike out and ground out to end the inning.  Monper allowed just a harmless walk in the bottom of the seventh as he finished the job with the Tigers taking the 13-5 victory.

With the win, the Tigers improved to 4-0 in section play, 9-0 overall on the season.  NA will host Seneca Valley tomorrow night at the Senior High field with game time scheduled for 7:00 pm.

(Thanks to Rod Wilt for information in this report!)

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 13  FOX CHAPEL - 5

WP - Patrick Bradley (2-0)  LP - Healy

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TIGERS TAKE OVER FIRST PLACE WITH 3-1 WIN OVER BUTLER

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The Tigers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and defeat Butler, 3-1, in a key section game at the Senior High field on Wednesday night.  Senior RHP Ryan Oglesby went the distance to earn the win allowing just five hits and no earned runs while striking out three and walking none.  Senior shortstop Rob Sittig led NA with a pair of doubles with senior !B Mark Jackson adding an RBI single.

Both teams threatened in the first inning but did not score.  Butler's Mick Fennell led off with an infield single for Butler.  With one out, John Crummy was hit by a pitch.  Oglesby was able to get a strikeout and ground out to end the inning.  In the bottom of the inning, Sittig doubled into the right center field gap with one out.  After two outs, senior DH Zach Stein walked.  Senior CF Zach Jergan flew out to deep center field to end the threat.

Oglesby was able to get the side in order in the next two innings.  In the bottom of the third, the Tigers took the lead.  Senior 2B Eric Harbison beat out an infield single and was sacrificed to second by Sittig.  Jackson followed with a base hit into left center field to score Harbison and give NA a 1-0 lead after three innings of play.  The Tornado again threatened in the top of the fourth.  With one out, Bobby Swartout beat out an infield single.  Roman Bargo then singled to right field.  Oglesby was able to get DH Ryan Fennell to ground to senior 3B Justin Brozick who touched third and threw to first for an inning ending double play.  NA continued to lead, 1-0, after four innings. 

After Oglesby shut down Butler in the top of the fifth, the Tigers had a chance for more runs in the bottom of the inning.  With one out, Sittig doubled into the left center field gap.  With two outs, Stein drew another walk.  Sessa got a pop fly to short to end the NA chances in the inning.  Butler tied the game in the top of the sixth.  With one out, Crummy singled to right field.  With two outs, a wild pitch moved CR Wes Henderson to second base.  Bargo then lifted a fly ball to left center field that was not played by the NA outfielders who collided and dropped the ball with Henderson scoring.  A pop fly ended the inning but Butler had tied the game at 1-1.

The Tigers wasted little time in regaining the lead.  In the bottom of the sixth, junior pinch hitter Nick Sell lined a single to left field to lead off and went to second on a wild pitch.  Senior RF Mike Cammarata dropped down a well-placed bunt along the first base line and reached safely when the base was uncovered with Sell advancing to third.  Junior catcher Cody Gaertner followed with a ground ball to second with the throw home too late to get a sliding Sell as NA took a 2-1 lead.  After Jergan was hit by a pitch, C.J. Miller came on in relief for the Tornado.  With the bases loaded and no outs, Miller got a strike out for the first out.  Sittig lifted the pitch down the right field line where it was caught by Fennell in foul territory.  Cammarata tagged up and scored on the play to give NA a 3-1 lead.  Miller was able to get a strike out for the third out, but the Tigers took a two-run lead into the seventh.

In the top of the seventh, Oglesby retired the side in order to complete the victory.  It was another good team win for the Tigers that featured outstanding pitching and good fielding (the play in left field the only error by NA).  For his complete game victory, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Ryan Oglesby as the Player of the Game.   With the win, the Tigers improved to 3-0 in section play, 8-1 overall on the season.  NA will travel to Fox Chapel tomorrow afternoon to meet the Foxes in a 4:00 pm section contest.

Box Score
Photo Gallery

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3  BUTLER - 1

WP -  Ryan Oglesby (4-0)  LP - Zac Sessa

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TIGERS TAKE CARE OF HAMPTON, 8-2

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The Tigers rebounded from their first loss of the season with an 8-2 non-section victory over Hampton at the Senior High field on Monday night.  Senior 3B Justin Brozick had a pair of hits plus two RBIs to pace a 12-hit NA attack.  Senior 1B Mark Jackson, senior SS Rob Sittig, and senior 2B Eric Harbison added two hits each with junior DH Nick Sell driving an RBI triple and senior catcher Zach Stein an RBI double for the winning Tigers.  Junior RBI Kevin Monper pitched four scoreless innings allowing just three hits to earn the victory.

After Monper got the side in order in the top of the first, the Tigers took the lead in the bottom of the inning.  Harbison lined a single to left center field to lead off and Sittig followed with a base hit up the middle.  After a walk loaded the bases with one out, Hampton pitcher Zach Davis got a fly ball to center field for the first out.  Junior LF Brice Nikithser followed with a ground ball fielder's choice that scored Harbision with the game's first run.  Brozick then lined a single to center field as the Tigers took a 2-0 lead after one inning.

The Tigers added five runs in the bottom of the third to take command of the game.  After Jackson singled along the third base line, the Tiger first baseman moved to second on a wild pickoff throw.  Stein reached on an error by the Talbot shortstop that allowed Jackson to score.  After a walk to Nikithser, Brozick singled to right field scoring Stein to make it a 4-0 game.  Sell then hit a long drive to the fence in center field for a triple that scored Brozick.  With two outs, Jergan drew a walk and stole second.  A wild pitch allowed Sell to score and Jergan to move to third.  Harbison followed with a ground ball that was misplayed at first allowing Jergan to score.  After three innings of play, the Tigers held a 7-0 advantage.  

In the top of the fourth, Hampton threatened with two outs.  DH John Koch singled to right and LF Eric Donatelli followed with a base hit to left.  Monper got out of the jam with his fifth strikeout of the game to end the inning.  NA added another run in the bottom of the fourth.  After Jackson singled to left field, Stein doubled him home with a line shot into the left center field gap.  After five innings, the Tigers held a comfortable 8-0 lead.  Sophomore RHP Chris Helkowski came in to pitch in the fifth and retired the side in order.  In the bottom of the inning, Nikithser singled with one out.  A wild pitch sent Nikithser all the way to third, but relief pitcher Joey Vita picked off a runner and got a ground out to end the inning.

Hampton finally got on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth.  After a lead off walk to RF Matt Coholich, Helkowski got Frank Poreio to fly out to right field.  With one out, Vita beat out an infield single.  PH Phil Powell followed with a base hit to short right field to load the bases.  A catcher's interference call allowed Coholich to score and sent Donatelli to first base.  After a strike out, SS Jordan Ferrero walked to score Vita.  Helkowski then struck out Ryan Gally to end the inning.  After five and one-half innings, the Tiger lead was cut to 8-2.  In the bottom of the inning, NA threatened but did not score.  After senior PH Mike Cammarata led off with a single, Jergan flew out to right field.  After Harbison hit into a force play, Sittig beat out an infield single to deep short.  Vita got a ground ball back to the mound to end the inning.  In the top of the seventh, Helkowski got the side in order to preserve the 8-2 victory.

It was a good team effort on the part of the Tigers with a number of players making contributions.  The North Allegheny Sports Network named Justin Brozick as the Player of the Game because of his two hits, two RBIs and sparkling defensive play in the top of the seventh inning.

With the win, the NA overall record improved to 7-1 on the season.  The Tigers will host Butler on Wednesday night in an early season showdown for first place in Section 1-AAAA.  Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm at the Senior High field.

Photo Gallery
Box Score

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 8  HAMPTON - 2

WP - Kevin Monper (1-0)  LP - Zach Davis

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BETHEL PARK ENDS TIGERS’ UNBEATEN STREAK, 7-5

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The Bethel Park Blackhawks built a 6-0 lead and held off a Tiger rally to defeat the Tigers, 7-5, in a non-section contest at the Senior High field on Saturday afternoon.  Senior SS Rob Sittig led NA with a double and a single with two RBIs with senior catcher Zach Stein adding a pair of hits and an RBI and junior DH Cody Gaertner an RBI double.  Anthony Girdano led Bethel with a home run, three singles, and four RBIs. 

Bethel Park started quickly and built a 3-0 lead after one half inning of play.  David Pyles led off with a base hit to right field, and Logan Corrigan followed with a single to left field.  After Ben Nolan walked, Grant Brown singled to right field, scoring both Pyles and Corrigan.  Anthony Girdano grounded into a force play with Nolan scoring.  The Tigers went in order in the bottom of the first.  Junior LHP Anton Constantino settled down after the first inning and retired eight straight batters before Girdano homered over the left field fence.  The Tigers continued to struggle against Bethel starter Mike Lynn and trailed, 4-0, after four innings of play.

In the top of the fifth with freshman RHP James Meeker on the mound, the Blackhawks added a pair of unearned runs.  With one out, Pyles singled to right field.  Corrigan then reached on an error.  Nolan followed with an infield single with Pyles scoring.  When the ball got away at first base, Corrigan came in to score to make it a 6-0 Bethel lead.  In the bottom of the inning, the Tigers rallied to score four runs, two unearned.  Junior LF Brice Nikithser lined a singled up the middle to lead off and went to second on a wild pitch.  With one out, Stein singled to drive in Nikithser with the first NA run.  After Harbison walked, senior CF Zach Jergan hit into a force play.  With two outs, junior RF Matt Steinbeck hit a slow ground ball to Lynn who threw wildly down the right field line with Stein scoring.  Sittig followed with a drive into the left center field gap scoring both Steinbeck and Jergan.  On the play, Sittig was thrown out trying for a triple.  After five innings of play, Bethel Park still led, 6-4.

Meeker got the side in order in the top of the sixth.  In the bottom of the inning, the Tigers cut the margin to one.  After two were out, Nikithser drew a walk by relief pitcher Alex Edgar.  Gaertner followed with a line drive double over the head of the center fielder with Nikithser scoring to cut the lead to 6-5.  Stein then singled to left field, but Gaertner was thrown out at the plate as the Blackhawks held on to the 6-5 advantage after six innings.

In the top of the seventh, Bethel Park added an important insurance run.  With one out, Corrigan singled to center field.  Nolan followed with a base hit to left field.  After Brown hit into a force play, Girdano hit a two-out, two-strike pitch into left field driving in Nolan to make it 7-5.  After an error loaded the bases, sophomore RHP Chris Helkowski came in to pitch.  It took only one pitch to get the final out on a soft line drive to senior 2B Eric Harbison.  In the bottom of the seventh, Harbison singled to lead off and Jergan was hit by a pitch.  Bethel shortstop David Pyles came to pitch and got three quick outs to end the day for the Tigers.

It was a tough loss for NA after the exciting section victory over Pine-Richland on Friday afternoon.  The loss will not hurt the NA section standings but did put a loss on the overall record as it fell to 6-1.  For his efforts at the plate and in the field, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Rob Sittig as the Player of the Game.  The Tigers will host Hampton tomorrow night 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 6:45 pm.  Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

Box Score
Photo Gallery

GAME SUMMARY
BETHEL PARK – 7  NORTH ALLEGHENY – 5 

WP – Mike Lynn    LP – Anton Constantino (0-1)

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TIGERS EDGE PINE-RICHLAND, 7-6, IN EIGHT INNINGS TO REMAIN UNBEATEN

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The Tigers traveled to Pine-Richland on Friday afternoon and came home with a hard-earned 7-6 victory over the Rams.  NA scored a run in the top of the eighth inning to earn the win after P-R had tied the game in the bottom of the seventh.  Senior CF Zach Jergan led NA with triple while senior 1B Mark Jackson and junior LF Brice Nikithser added doubles.  Senior RHP Patrick Bradley picked up the win in relief.

Steve Laylock started for the Rams and got the side in order in the first.  In the bottom of the first, junior Tanner Wilt was on the mound for the Tigers.  After Matt Berezo singled, Laylock walked.  Zac LaNeve singled home a run to give P-R a 1-0 lead.  After a ground out, Ronny Peirish grounded out driving in a run to give the Rams a 2-0 lead after one inning.

After both sides went down in order in the second inning, the Tigers rallied to take the lead in the top of the third.  After senior Zach Stein walked, senior 2B Eric Harbison singled.  Jergan and junior RF Matt Steinbeck followed with RBI singles to tie the game at 2-2.  After junior SS Nick Sell drove in a run with a ground out, senior 3B Justin Brozick drove in another run with a  ground out as NA took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the third.  In the top of the fourth, Nikithser led off with a double but did not score.  In the bottom of the inning, the Rams tied the score.  After Russell Clark doubled, Shawn Rudolph brought him home with a base hit.  After a sacrifice bunt by Mike Hess, Ryan Hanahan singled Rudolph home to tie the game at 4-4 after four innings of play.

In the top of the fifth, the Tigers regained the lead.  Jergan led off with a triple but was caught stealing on an attempted squeeze bunt.  Steinbeck was hit by a pitch and Sell hit into a fielder's choice.  Brozick followed with an RBI single and Jackson drove Sell in with a double as NA took a 6-4 lead.  Wilt got the side out without a run in the bottom of the fifth and left the game after pitching five innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out two and walking four.

After the Tigers went down in order in the top of the sixth, Bradley came in to pitch in the bottom of the inning allowing just a harmless walk.  NA went down in order again in the top of the seventh.  In the bottom of the inning, the Rams tied the score.  Zac LaNeve led off with a base hit and moved to second on a ground out.  Peirish followed with an RBI single to cut the lead to 6-5.  After Clark reached on an error, Peirish was caught stealing at third.  Hess followed with a base hit with Clark scoring as the throw to the plate was dropped.  After a walk to Hanahan, Bradley got Berezo to ground out but the game went to extra innings with the score tied at 6-6.  Bradley left after pitching two innings and allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out one and walking three.

In the top of the eight, Jackson left off with a base hit.  With one out, junior catcher Cody Gaertner singled and Stein walked to load the bases.  Harbison then lifted a sacrifice fly to score Jackson with what proved to be the winning run.  In the bottom of the eighth, senior RHP Eric Dorsch came in to pitch.  After a ground out, LaNeve beat out an infield single.  Dorsch then got a ground out and strike out to end the game with the Tigers holding on for the key 7-6 victory.

With the win, the Tigers improved their section record to 2-0, the overall mark to 6-0 on the season.  NA will host Bethel Park this afternoon in a non-section contest.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there to broadcast the game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 12:45 pm.  Game time is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

(Thanks to Rod Wilt for information in this report!)

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 7  PINE-RICHLAND - 6

WP - Patrick Bradley (1-0)  LP - n/a   SV - Eric Dorsch

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TIGERS SLIP BY SHALER, 3-2, IN SECTION OPENER

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Senior RHP Ryan Oglesby allowed just one earned run while striking out eleven and walking none to lead the Tigers to a 3-2 victory over rival Shaler in the section opener at the Senior High field on Wednesday night.  Senior RHP Patrick Bradley earned the save with senior 1B Mark Jackson pacing the NA attack with a double, single and RBI.  Junior shortstop Nick Sell lined a double and scored two runs for the winning Tigers. 

Shaler's John Orr opened the game with a line drive double to left center field as he hit the first pitch.  After Oglesby struck out Ben Mulig, DH Mike Magliocco reached on catcher's interference.  Oglesby then got the final two outs on a fly ball to center field and another strikeout.  The Tigers took the lead in the bottom of the first.  With one out, Sell struck out but Shaler catcher Zack Schramm could not pick the ball out of the dirt and Sell reached first safely.  Senior 3B Justin Brozick and Jackson followed with walks to load the bases.  After another strikeout, Titan pitcher Tony Acierno was called for a balk allowing Sell to score.  Acierno got out of further damage with his fourth strikeout of the inning!

Both teams failed to score in the second.  In the top of the third, Shaler tied the game at 1-1.  With one out, Mulig singled up the middle and stole second.  Magliocco followed with an RBI single to center field scoring Mulig.  Oglesbay allowed another base hit before striking out Matt Ciesinski to end the inning.  The Tigers answered quickly in the bottom of the inning.  With one out, Sell lined a shot to center field that got past a diving Greg Friend for a double.  After another balk moved Sell to third, Brozick was hit by a pitch.  Jackson then drilled a single to right field scoring Sell.  On the play, the throw from right field went over the head of Titan 3B Ryan Mincher whose throw to the plate was low as Brozick scored.  Acierno got ground outs to end the inning, but the Tigers took a 3-1 advantage into the fourth inning.

After Oglesby got the side in order, Acierno came back with his second four strikeout inning of the game.  With one out, senior 2B Eric Harbison fanned but reached first when Schramm's throw to first was in the dirt.  Acierno calmly struck out the next two batters to end the inning.  Two four-strikeout innings has to be some kind of record!!!!  In the top of the fifth, Oglesby hit Friend with a pitch to start the inning, but got the next three outs on a ground out and two more strikeouts.  In the bottom of the fifth after two outs, Jackson drove a ball into the left center field gap for a double.  Once again, Acierno used the Strikeout to end the frame.

In the top of the sixth, the Titans rallied to make it close.  Shaler 1B Bret Stark and Ciesinski singled to lead off the inning.  Pinch-hitter Craig Steedle laid down a successful sacrifice bunt that moved both runners up a base.  Mincher followed with a line drive that was misplayed with the throw to first in the dirt allowing Stark to score cutting the NA lead to 3-2.  After Oglesby struck out Mike Logan for the second out, NA Head Coach Andy Maddix went to the bullpen.  Senior RHP Patrick Bradley came in and got the final out of the inning on a ground ball to third base.  NA still led, 3-2, going into the bottom of the sixth.  Acierno got the Tigers in order setting the stage for the Titans in the seventh.

Orr hit Bradley's first pitch into right field to lead off in the top of the seventh.  On the second pitch, Orr tried to steal second but was cut down on a perfect throw from Tiger junior catcher Cody Gaertner to shortstop Sell.  Mulig grounded out to shortstop for the second out.  With two outs and two strikes, Magliocco kept the Titans' chances alive with a base hit down the left field line.  Bradley then was able to get Stark to fly to Nikithser in left field to end the game.

It was not perfect baseball but it was a typical NA-Shaler battle with the Tigers holding off the Titans for the important victory.  In the game, pitchers from both teams totaled 24 strikeouts!  For his efforts on the mound, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Ryan Oglesby as the Player of the Game.  With the win, NA improved to 1-0 in section, 5-0 overall on the season.  The Tigers will continue section play tomorrow afternoon at Pine-Richland with game time set for 4:00 pm.

Box Score
Photo Gallery

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3  SHALER - 2

WP - Ryan Oglesby (3-0)  LP - Tony Acierno

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JACKSON'S 7TH INNING BASE HIT BEATS HEMPFIELD,
 4-3, ON HISTORIC NIGHT

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Senior 1B Mark Jackson lined a base hit into left center field to score courtesy runner Lucas Hook with the winning run in the bottom of the 7th inning as NA downed Hempfield, 4-3, in the first night game played at the Senior High field on Tuesday night.  Jackson had a pair of hits and RBIs to pace NA while senior DH Zach Stein added a triple and single for the winning Tigers.  Sophomore RHP Chris Helkowski earned the victory in relief.

The Tigers took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning.  After the first two batters were retired on ground outs, senior 3B Justin Brozick dropped a double into right center field.  Jackson followed with a base hit to right field to score Brozick with the first run of the game.  After junior LF Brice Nikithser was hit by a pitch, senior 2B Eric Harbison grounded into the hole between first and second.  Hempfield first baseman Cory Terek made a diving stop but his throw to first was late and got past pitcher Brennan Rahl.  Jackson scored on the play with Harbison moving to second and Nikithser to third.  Rahl was able to get a strike out to end the inning, but NA took a 2-0 lead into the second.

Hempfield came back to tie the game in the top of the second.  After senior RHP Eric Dorsch got the first two outs on a strike out and fly ball to right field, Anthony Fanelli singled up the middle.  After an errant pick off throw moved CR Nathan Mori to second, DH Vinny Pomaibo was hit by a pitch and SS Erik Waler walked.  Ryan Hayden followed with a looper in the infield that scored Mori.  Dorsch then walked Tim Norris to force in the second run of the inning.  A ground ball to third retired the Spartans but the score was tied at 2-2 going into the bottom of the second.  Junior LHP Anton Constantino came in to pitch for the Tigers in the top of the third.  Two walks and another base hit by Fanelli loaded the bases with one out.  Pomaibo grounded to Jackson at first who threw home to junior catcher Cody Gaertner for the second out of the inning.  Constantino got out of the jam forcing a pop fly by Waler that was caught by Jackson to end the inning.

The Tigers regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth.  With one out, Stein lined a ball down the right field line that rolled all the way to the fence with Stein ending up with a stand up triple.  Senior CF Zach Jergan followed with a perfect bunt down the first base line on the squeeze to score Stein and give NA a 3-2 advantage.  Constantino settled down to retire six consecutive batters as the Tigers continued to hold the one-run lead.  Sophomore Chris Helkowski came in to pitch in the top of the sixth.  After retiring the first two batters, Waler lined a single up the middle.  With two outs, Hayden lifted a long fly to right center field that fell between the Tiger outfielders allowing Waler to score and Hayden to end up at third with a triple.  Helkowski got Norris to ground out to first to end the inning, but the Spartans had tied the game at 3-3.

After Helkowski held Hempfield off the board in the top of the seventh, the Tigers came through in the bottom of the inning to win the game.  After junior RF Matt Steinbeck lined out to left field for the first out, Gaertner hit a sharp ground ball that took a bad hop off the face of Spartan shortstop Waler with Gaertner reaching on the base hit.  Waler had to leave the game with Nathan Mori coming in to play shortstop.  With CR Hook at first, Brozick drew a walk.  Jackson then lined the game winning base hit into the gap in left center field as the Tigers prevailed in the school's first home night game by a 4-3 count.

It was another well-played game by both teams in the early season.  Both teams gave pitchers a chance to pick up varsity experience in the last non-section game.  For his game winner and also two RBIs, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Mark Jackson as the Player of the Game.  With the win, NA completed the non-section portion of their schedule with a 4-0 record as they prepared for tonight's section opener against Shaler.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there tonight to broadcast the game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 pm.  Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

Box Score
Photo Gallery

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 4  HEMPFIELD - 3

WP - Chris Helkowski (1-0)  LP - Dillon Ventura

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TIGERS WIN THIRD STRAIGHT WITH 11-1 ROMP OVER AMBRIDGE

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The Tigers needed only five innings to down Ambridge, 11-1, in a non-section game at the Senior High field on Thursday afternoon.  Junior DH Brice Nikithser led the way with a home run, single, three RBIs and a stolen base with senior RF Mike Cammarata chipping in with a pair of hits and senior 3B Justin Brozick a double for the winning Tigers.  Senior RHP Ryan Oglesby won his second game as he pitched four innings allowing just one run on two hits.

Ambridge struck first with a run in the top of the first inning.  After Joey Bachor walked, he stole second with one out.  Zach Nichi followed with a base hit to center field to score Bachor and give the Bridgers a 1-0 lead.  The Tigers answered in the bottom of the second.  After Oglesby got the side in order in the top of the inning, Nikithser singled to center field with one out.  Cammarata followed with another single up the middle and senior 2B Eric Harbison followed with a walk to load the bases.  Junior shortstop Will Oestreich then grounded to second with the throw to second base off line with a run scoring and the bases remaining loaded.  With the score tied at 1-1, senior CF Zach Jergan looped a single down the right field line that scored a pair of runs.  When the ball got away from the right fielder, both runners moved up.  Junior LF Matt Steinbeck followed with a long fly ball that was caught in deep center field with Oestreich scoring and Jergen moving to third.  Junior catcher Cody Gaertner popped up to end the inning, but the Tigers had scored four to take a 4-1 lead into the third inning.

Ambridge threatened with a base hit and a hit batsman but Oglesby struck out clean up hitter Joey Savage to end the inning.  In the bottom of the third, left-hander Devon Locher came in to pitch for the Bridgers.  After Brozick walked to lead off, senior 1B Mark Jackson drilled a base hit down the left field line.  After a fielder's choice left runners at first and third, Cammarata singled again to center field to score Brozick and make it a 5-0 game.  Harbison followed with a fielder's choice with the out made at second base.  With runners again at first and third with two outs, the Tigers executed a double steal.  With Harbison stealing second and Ambridge trying for the third out at second, Nikithser raced home to score the sixth run of the game.  After three innings, NA held a 6-1 advantage.

Oglesby again got the side in order in the top of the fourth.  In the bottom of the inning, Jergan drew a walk to lead off.  Junior Lucas Hook pinch-hit for Steinbeck and hit into a force play.  After Gaertner flew out to center field for the second out, Brozick lined a double that got through to the fence in left field as Hook scored to make it a 7-1 game.  After Jackson walked, Nikithser lifted a high drive that cleared the fence in left center field for a three-run homer that gave the Tigers a commanding 10-1 lead.  The home run also brought in another Ambridge pitcher as second baseman Joey Savage came in to get to pitch.  After hitting both Cammarata and junior PH Ben Mathews, Savage finally got the final out on a fly ball to left field.

Senior righthander Patrick Bradley came in to pitch for the Tigers in the top of the fifth.  With one out, pinch hitter Mark Meder reached on an NA throwing error.  After Bachor struck out, Tyler Krokonko drew a walk.  With two outs and two on, Bradley got Nichi to ground to shortstop to end the inning.  In the bottom of the inning, Jergan walked to lead off.  Hook followed with a base hit to right field.  After Jergan stole third, Savage threw a wild pitch that allowed Jergan to score the run that ended the game.  The ten-rule rule was implemented as the Tigers completed the 11-1 victory.

It was another good win for the Tigers featuring good fielding and good pitching.  For his efforts at the plate, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Brice Nikithser as the Player of the Game.

With the win, the Tigers improved their non-section record to 3-0 on the season.  The Tigers will be in action again on Tuesday night when they host Hempfield in the first night home game in NA history.  Come on out and join us on "The Night the Lights Come On in Wexford!"  A pre-game ceremony is planned before the game.  If you cannot attend, the North Allegheny Sports Network will broadcast the game and ceremony LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 6:30 pm.  Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

Box Score
Photo Gallery

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 11  AMBRIDGE - 1

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TIGERS TOP LEBO, 5-1, FOR SECOND STRAIGHT WIN

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Tiger pitching held Mt. Lebanon to just four hits as NA downed the Blue Devils, 5-1, in a non-section game at the Senior High field on Wednesday afternoon.  Senior OF Matt Steinbeck led the way with a double and single, a pair of RBIs and two stolen bases with junior SS Nick Sell, senior 1B Mark Jackson and senior DH Zach Stein all driving in NA runs.  Senior RHP Tanner Wilt pitched four innings allowing no runs and two hits while striking out seven.

Mt. Lebanon threatened in the top of the first when Ian Happ walked and Jack Faett slapped a one-out single to right field.  Wilt was able to get strikeouts of Cory Wuenschell and Anthony Paladino to end the inning.  In the bottom of the first, Stein drew a one-out walk and Jackson walked with two outs but Lebo pitcher Jordan Packy ended the threat getting junior LF Brice Nikithser on a fly ball to center field.  In the top of the second, Pete Slavonic walked and was sacrificed to second.  Steve Phy followed with a line drive to center field that was caught by senior CF Zach Jergen on a sliding grab.  Jergan then threw to Sell at second to double off Phy and end the inning. 

In the top of the third, Wilt struck out the side to keep the game scoreless.  The Tigers broke the scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.  After Jergan walked and stole second to lead off, Steinbeck singled to right field scoring Jergan with the game's first run.  Steinbeck then stole second and third.  Jackson followed with a slow ground ball to short that scored Steinbeck with the second run.  NA led, 2-0, after three innings of play.  Lebo threatened again in the top of the fourth.  Wuenschell led off with a long triple to deep left field.  After a ground out to senior 3B Justin Brozick held the runner on third, Paladino walked.  Lebo then tried a squeeze play that failed as it looked like the batter missed the sign with NA junior catcher Cody Gaertner making a strong tag on the runner.    Wilt got a ground out and strike out to end the inning with the Tigers holding the 2-0 advantage.

In the top of the fifth, junior Kevin Monper came in to pitch.  After Luke Hagy led off with a single to center field, he moved up to second on a wild pitch.   Phy followed with a ground ball over second base that was stopped by Sell on a diving play with the throw to first in time for the out with Hagy moving to third.  Lebo then executed the squeeze play successfully with Happ dropping down a perfect bunt for a base hit with Hagy scoring.  Monper got a ground out and strike out to end the inning but Mt. Lebanon had cut the lead to 2-1.  Senior righthander Eric Dorsch came in to pitch the sixth for NA.  After a walk to Wuenschell to lead off the inning, Dorsch struck out Pat Goff and got Paladino on a fly ball to right field.  After a walk to Pete Slavonik, Dorsch struck out Hagy to end the threat.  NA continued to lead, 2-1, going into the bottom of the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers scored three insurance runs to take a 5-1 lead.   After Gaertner led off with a line drive single to right field, senior 2B Eric Harbison dropped down a bunt that 3B Jack Faeitt threw high to second base with both runners safe on the play.  Sell followed with a hard ground ball single to right field scoring Gaertner on an interference call at home plate.  With one out, Steinbeck doubled to deep right field with Harbison scoring and Sell going to third.  Stein then dropped down another squeeze bunt to score Sell and give NA a 5-1 lead after six innings of play.

In the top of the seventh, Dorsch struck out Phy but walked Happ.  The Tigers senior then struck out Bruni but walked Faett with two outs.  A high pop fly in the infield was caught by Jackson to end the game as Dorsch completed the save with two scoreless innings and four strikeouts. 

It was another good defensive performance by the Tigers to put away a quality opponent in Mt. Lebanon.  NA pitchers struck out a total of twelve while allowing only the four hits.  For his efforts at the plate, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Matt Steinbeck as the Player of the Game for the second consecutive game.  With the win, the Tigers improved to 2-0 in non-section play.  NA will host Ambridge this afternoon at the Senior High field as non-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.

Photo Gallery
Box Score

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 5  MT. LEBANON - 1

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SEVEN-RUN THIRD INNING GIVES TIGERS 7-2
VICTORY OVER LATROBE IN OPENER

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The Tigers posted seven runs in the bottom of the third inning on their way to a 7-2 victory over Latrobe in the non-section opener at the Senior High field on Saturday afternoon.  Junior LF Matt Steinbeck had two hits, two RBIs, and two stolen bases to pace NA with senior RF Mike Cammarata adding an RBI double and junior catcher Cody Gaertner a two-run single for the winning Tigers.  Senior RHP Ryan Oglesby pitched 4.1 innings allowing just two runs on three hits to earn the victory.

Latrobe got on the board first with a run in the top of the opening inning.  After Nate Campbell beat out an infield single, SS Chris Trumbetta sacrificed him to second.  A pair of infield outs scored Campbell with pitcher Ryan Matsko picking up the RBI.  The Tigers threatened in the bottom of the first.  After two outs, senior 3B Justin Brozick drew a walk and senior 1B Mark Jackson drilled a base hit down the left field line with Brozick moving to third and Jackson to second on the throw to third.  Matsko was able to get out of trouble when junior DH Brice Nikithser flew out to deep center field to end the threat.

Neither team threatened until the Tigers outburst in the bottom of the third inning.  Steinbeck led off with an infield single up the middle, but after Steinbeck stole second, Matsko got the next two outs on fly balls.  Jackson then reached on an error and Nikithser walked to load the bases.  Gaertner came through with a two-out single up the middle to score a pair of runs to give NA a 2-1 lead.  Cammarata followed with a long double into the gap in left center field scoring Nikithser to make it 3-1.  A wild pitch allowed courtesy runner Zach Stein to score and make it a 4-1 game.  Junior shortstop Will Oestreich lined a single to left field to score Cammarata as the lead increased to 5-1.  After senior CF Zach Jergan reached on an error, Steinbeck followed with a two-run single up the middle to complete the scoring as the Tigers took a 7-1 lead into the fourth inning.

Oglesby had given up just two hits over the first three innings, but Matsko led oft the fourth with a long triple to deep left center field.  First baseman Zach Kenly followed with an RBI ground out, but Oglesby got out of the inning without further trouble.   Right hander Zach Bowman came in to pitch for the Wildcats in the bottom of the fourth and got the side with just one base runner reaching on an error.  NA took a commanding 7-2 lead into the fifth inning.

With one out, 2B Jordan Gianninni reached on an error.  NA Coach Andy Maddix then went to the bullpen bringing in senior RHP Patrick Bradley.  Bradle retired eight of the ten batters he faced, allowing just a single and a walk as he closed out the Wildcats for the remainder of the game.  NA had just one scoring chance in the last several innings.  With one out in the bottom of the fifth, shortstop Nick Sell drove a double over the head of Wildcat RF Seth Stinson but was stranded at second base.

It was a good opening day win by the Tigers as they featured good pitching and defense along with timely hitting in the fifth inning to post enough runs for the victory.  For his efforts, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Matt Steinbeck as the Player of the Game.

The win in the opener got the Tigers off to a good start with the 1-0 record.  NA will host Baldwin tomorrow afternoon in a 4:00 pm non-section contest at the Senior High field.

Box Score
Photo Gallery

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 7  LATROBE - 2

WP - Ryan Oglesby (1-0)  LP - Ryan Matsko (0-1)

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