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TWO LADY TIGERS NAMED TO NORTH SOFTBALL ALL-STARS

North Allegheny senior third baseman Kelsey Birsic and senior outfielder Hannah Jones received more accolades this week, when they were both named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette North Softball All-Stars.  They were among ten players selected across all WPIAL classifications, including seven from North Allegheny's section, Section 3-AAAA.

2011 NORTH XTRA ALL STARS

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

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KELSEY BIRSIC AND HANNAH JONES SELECTED TO ALL-SECTION TEAM

Seniors Kelsey Birsic and Hannah Jones were named to the Section 3-AAAA All-Section team.  Birsic, the Tigers starting third baseman, led the team with a .603 average, collecting 35 hits in 58 at-bats, while striking out just four times.  Meanwhile, left fielder Jones hit a solid .483, and drove in 20 runs, both good for second on the team.  It was the second year in a row she was lauded with All-Section accolades.

2011 WPIAL SOFTBALL ALL SECTION TEAM

Section 3-AAAA

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LADY TIGERS FALL TO PETERS TOWNSHIP IN WPIAL FIRST ROUND

Behind the pitching of junior Tara Konopka and the timely hitting of Katie Makowski, the Peters Township Indians held off the North Allegheny Lady Tigers for a 3-1 first round victory in the WPIAL playoffs on Monday.  Makowski sparked the Indians offense by going 3-for-3 and accounting for all three runs that Peters Township scored on the day.  Konopka and North Allegheny freshman pitcher Mary Funderlich matched each other with a pair of scoreless innings to start the game.  However, Makowski began making her mark in the top of the third.   Makowski doubled to start the frame and later scored the first run of the game on a Tigers throwing error to make it 1-0, Peters Township. 

North Allegheny quickly struck back in the bottom of the third when Haley Wisniewski singled and Jordan Macey was hit by a pitch to start the inning.  A fielder’s choice by Funderlich erased Wisniewski and kept runners at second and third with one out.  Megan Lynskey then rolled a ground ball to the right side of the infield that was misplayed by Peters Township and the error allowed Macey to race home from second base to tie the score at 1-1. 

In the top of the fourth, Makowski gave Peters Township the lead right back.  With the bases loaded and two outs, Makowski came through with a clutch two-run single to give the Indians a 3-1 lead.  In the bottom of the fourth, it looked like the Lady Tigers would answer again.  Hannah Jones and Christine Scherer began the inning with a single and a walk.  Nikki Olsen then checked in as a pinch runner for Scherer.  Matti Huckestein advanced the runners to second and third with a well placed sacrifice bunt and it appeared NA was in business.  However, Konopka pitched out of the jam by inducing a pop out by Wisniewski and striking out Macey to end the Tigers threat. 

That’s the closest the Tigers would come to scoring again as it turned out as Konopka zoned in, allowing only one more hit the rest of the game.  The right-hander struck out eight to earn the win.  Despite suffering the loss, Funderlich also pitched well, throwing a complete game and letting up only two earned runs.  The loss drops NA’s overall record to 14-5 to end the season, but the defeat should not put a damper on what was a great season for the Lady Tigers.  With Funderlich, Christine Scherer and Sami Beining all playing significant roles as freshman, the Lady Tigers will be a team to be reckoned with in the future.  Jordan Macey, Megan Lynskey, Matti Huckestein and Miranda Micire are among other contributing players who will be returning next season.  Congratulations to the Lady Tigers for a fantastic season in 2011.

Also of note from Monday's game was the outstanding defensive effort by left-fielder Hannah Jones.  Jones caught two line drives in the second inning and made a nice running catch toward the line at a critical time in the seventh.  For her defensive effort, Jones was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.       

To listen to Randy Gore's interview with Lady Tigers head coach Rick Meister prior to the game with Peters Township, 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 (Unofficial)
PETERS TOWNSHIP - 3   NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1

WP - Tara Konopka   LP - Mary Funderlich (11-5)

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WPIAL SOFTBALL - 2011

The Lady Tigers will compete again in the WPIAL against 26 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 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

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

All WPIAL games must be played according to the National Federation Rule Book.  Be aware that beginning in the 2010-11 school year the pitching distance will move from 40 to 43 feet.  This is a mandated rule change.

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 IF POSSIBLE.

During all WPIAL 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 at 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 15, 2011.  The finals will be played Thursday, June 2, 2011 with a rain date of Friday, June 3, 2011.  The site will be determined at a later date.  The WPIAL reserves the right to make adjustments to play dates during the tournament, as it deems necessary.

CLASS AAAA - 27 TEAMS

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