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RARAIGH MAKES PRO DEBUT
 

Rick Raraigh, a former North Allegheny pitcher and Seton Hill University standout, made his first professional start with the Traverse City Beach Bums in the Frontier League on Tuesday night.  However, the Washington Wild Things spoiled his outing as Raraigh took the loss in a 4-2 defeat for Traverse City.  Raraigh's outing was limited as he pitched two innings, allowing three runs but just two earned in the start.  Raraigh was signed by Traverse City in early July and assigned to a long relief role.  The southpaw made his pro debut in a start Tuesday night against the Wild Things from Washington, PA.  To listen to Randy Gore’s pre-game interview with Raraigh, listen here! 
 

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FORMER TIGER TO MAKE PRO DEBUT

Former Tigers pitcher and 2007 graduate from North Allegheny High School, Rick Raraigh, will make his professional debut on the mound tonight in the independent Frontier League.  Signed earlier this month by the Traverse City Beach Bums, Raraigh will get the start tonight against the Washington Wild Things at Weurfel Park in Traverse City, Michigan.  Raraigh recently finished up his collegiate career this spring at Seton Hill University, posting a 5-3 record in 10 starts with a low 2.32 ERA.  The southpaw was a four-year starter at Seton Hill and an All-WVIAC first-team selection his senior year. 

Pitching against the Wild Things from Washington, PA is an ironic twist for Raraigh, who was a member of North Allegheny’s WPIAL Championship team in 2005, claiming the WPIAL crown at CONSOL Energy Park, the home field of the Wild Things.  In that contest in 2005, the Tigers defeated Upper St. Clair 12-1. 

While the Tigers won the WPIAL title during Raraigh’s sophomore year, the lefthander’s banner season at NA came during his junior campaign when he posted a 5-1 record and a 1.01 ERA.  Raraigh will throw his first pitch as a professional at 7:05 pm tonight.  The game will be carried live on WJPA (95.3 FM) and online on the MSA Sports Network.  To check out the broadcast, click here.  To listen to Randy Gore’s pre-game interview with Raraigh, listen here! 

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GAERTNER NAMED TO NORTH BASEBALL ALL-STARS

North Allegheny catcher Cody Gaertner was named to the North Baseball All-Stars by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  Gaertner, a senior, was one of ten players selected across all WPIAL classifications.  For the year, he hit .340, swatting two home runs, driving in 18 runs, and providing the Tigers with solid defense behind the plate. 

2011 NORTH XTRA ALL STARS

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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THREE TIGERS RECEIVE ALL SECTION HONORS
 

Three North Allegheny baseball players were named to the Section 1-AAAA All-Section Team.  Seniors Nick Sell, Brice Nikithser, and Cody Gaertner were among the eleven selected.  The complete All-Section team is listed below.

2011 WPIAL BASEBALL ALL SECTION TEAM

Section 3-AAAA

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NA COMPLETES SUSPENDED GAME WITH VICTORY OVER MT. LEBO
 

After over a month since the game began at Mt. Lebanon, the North Allegheny Tigers completed a 6-5 victory over the Blue Devils.  The Tigers and Blue Devils started the game on March 30th in a snow storm and finished the game in near 80 degree temperatures on Thursday.  For North Allegheny, it advanced their overall mark to 14-5 and dropped Mt. Lebanon to 8-9-1.  The Tigers finish off the season against McDowell on Saturday afternoon.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 6  MT. LEBANON - 5
 

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NINE-RUN 7th INNING LEADS NA TO WILD COMEBACK WIN OVER NORTH HILLS

The North Allegheny Tigers capped a wild comeback on Wednesday afternoon with a nine-run seventh inning to claim a 13-8 win over the North Hills Indians.  The final section game of the season didn’t start out quite so well for the Tigers.  North Hills touched up NA starter Anton Constantino in the second inning for five runs, including a two-run double by Mark DeVita and RBI’s by Thomas Brennan and Taylor Schmidt.  Leading 5-0 nothing heading into the bottom of the third, the Indians were unwelcoming hosts to reliever Kevin Monper as North Hills struck for three more runs.  A chopper by Andrew Wiff took a nasty high hop on the infield to plate two runs and Brennan followed with an RBI single to make it 8-0, Indians. 

Despite letting up three runs in the third, Monper would allow no more over his next two innings. Cory Fultz, who earned the victory, tossed two scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh.  With the NA bullpen holding down the Indians for the rest of the game, the Tigers bats got to work in the fifth inning.  Brice Nikithser started the frame with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch.  After a Max Lewandowski walk, Nikithser scored on a sacrifice fly by Jimmy Divosevic and the Tigers were on the board, trailing 8-1.  An out later, Will Oestreich reached on an error and Nick Sell walked to load the bases.  Anthony Wolosik drew a walk to plate Sean Fitzgerald and the Tigers were down 8-2.  With North Hills’ starter Jon Costa, who had cruised through the first four innings, suddenly struggling to find the strike zone, reliever Christian Lejeune entered the game.  Lejeune promptly let up a two-run single to Cody Gaertner and the Tigers had cut the North Hills’ lead in half at 8-4. 

Lejeune was still pitching for North Hills in the seventh inning as the Indians were trying to close out a victory.  Lejeune induced a quick ground out from pinch hitter Justin Datillo for the inning’s first out, but the right-hander and the rest of the Indians bullpen would implode by walking six batters and uncorking four wild pitches to set the table for a Tigers comeback.  With the bases loaded and one out, Sell scored on a wild pitch to bring the score to 8-5.  Tanner Wilt followed with an RBI single to trim the score to 8-6.  After a wild pitch moved Wilt and Gartner to second and third, Nikithser laced a double into the left-center field gap to tie the score at 8-8.  Nikithser finished the game with two doubles, two RBI’s and two runs scored.  The Tigers centerfielder was selected as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game by the North Allegheny Sports Network. 

The game didn’t stay tied for long following the Nikithser double.  Lewandowski brought home the go-ahead run with a line shot past third to drive in Nikithser and the Tigers were ahead for the first time in the game, 9-8.  A bases loaded walk by Datillo, a two-run double by Sell and a fielder’s choice RBI by Wolosik capped the scoring in the inning to increase the NA lead to 13-8.  Fultz tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh and the Tigers had pulled off the come-from-behind win. 

North Allegheny improves to 13-5 overall and wraps up their section schedule with a 7-5 record.  North Hills falls to 6-10 on the year and 2-10 in section play.  The Tigers host Montour on Thursday night at NASH.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm.   

To listen to Randy Gore's interview with Tigers head coach Andy Maddix prior to the game with North Hills click here!  You can find other player and coach interviews from NA athletics at the "audio vault" link at the top right of the web page.        

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 13  NORTH HILLS - 8
 

WP - Cory Fultz (2-1)  LP - Christian Lejeune

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WPIAL BASEBALL - 2011

The Tigers will compete again in the WPIAL in Class AAAA along with 27 other teams.  The top three teams in each sectin will enter the WPIAL Tournament.  All playoff entries will be determined by section record only and will be determined by 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 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 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-BREAKER SYSTEM

1.  Section won-lost records of the tied teams will be compiled.
2.  The team(s) with the best numerical head-to-head section record among the tied teams will enter post-season play.
3.  If the tie cannot clearly be broken, all tied teams will enter post-season play.

In Class AAAA, only two teams will enter the PIAA tournament - the two finalists in the tournament.

Postponed games must be played in order of ppostponement and scheduled on the first common open date.  Make up section games must have preference over exhibition games, JV games and Junior High games EVEN IN A CANCELLATION OF A NON-SECTION GAME IS REQUIRED TO MEET THIS DIRECTIVE.

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 Rule, ending a game after 4 1/2 or 5 innings, as listed in Rule 4, Section 2, Article 2 of the National Federation Rule Book will be in effect for all regular and post season play.  Additionally, the fifteen run rule, ending a game after 3 innings, as listed in the PIAA Rules and Regulations will be in effect as well.

WPIAL Championship play is scheduled to begin the week of May 16, 2011.  The finals will be divided between two dates, Tuesday, May 31 and Wednesday, June 1, 2011.  The site will be Consol Energy Field in Washington, PA.  The WPIAL reserves the right to make adjustments to play dates during the tournament as it deems necessary.

CLASS AAAA - 28 TEAMS

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