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GAME SUMMARIES

TIGERS BATTER BALDWIN, 11-1,
IN OPENING ROUND OF PLAYOFFS
 

(5/15/12)  The North Allegheny Tigers advanced to the round-of-eight with a convincing 11-1 victory over the Baldwin Highlanders at Fairhaven Park on Tuesday afternoon.  Sophomore pitchers Sami Beining and Mary Funderlich combined for the victory, allowing Baldwin just one run on seven hits.

The Highlanders scored their only run in the bottom of the first on a single, fielder’s choice and two more singles to give Baldwin its only lead at 1-0.  NA answered in the top of the second when senior second baseman Stephanie Hnat singled to drive in freshman courtesy runner Emily Hogan (running for junior catcher Bonnie Pierson, who had walked) and send senior third baseman Matti Huckestein, who had singled., to third. When junior left fielder Rachel Pecanis reached on a fielder’s choice, an error on the play allowed Huckestein to cross the plate.

The Tigers did their major damage in the top of the fourth, plating six runs to advance the score to 8-1.  Pierson opened with a single. With Hogan again running for Pierson, Huckestein sacrificed her to second.  Hnat the doubled to deep left center field to drive in Hogan. Following a walk to Pecanis, a bunt single by senior right fielder Miranda Micire loaded the bases. A single by senior center fielder Jordan Macey drove in both Hnat and Pecanis. A bunt single by senior first baseman Megan Lynskey again loaded the bases, and a sacrifice fly by sophomore shortstop Christine Scherer scored Micire. Sophomore designated player / pitcher Mary Funderlich then hit a two-RBU single to stretch the lead to 8-1.

NA added another run in the top of the sixth on a single by Macey, who advanced to second on an error. On a Lynskey ground out, Macey advanced to third, and following a walk to Scherer, Funderlich reached on an error as Macey scored.  The Tigers added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a Huckestein walk.  Hogan ran for Huckestein, and Hnat drew a walk as well.  Micire’s singled scored Hogan, and a sacrifice fly by Macey scored Hnat with run number eleven.

North Allegheny sent its record to 14-6 and will next see action in the quarterfinals against Hempfield on Thursday at a site and time to be determined as of this writing.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 11   BALDWIN - 1

WP - Sami Beining   LP - Bre Meyer

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TIGERS TO FACE BALDWIN IN WPIAL PLAYOFFS
 

(5/10/12) The WPIAL Brackets are out and the North Allegheny Softball Team will open the playoffs with a contest against the Baldwin Highlanders on Tuesday.  The game will be held at Fairhaven Park at 4:00 pm and will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network. 

The Lady Tigers, after a 13-6 regular season and 10-2 mark in Section 3-AAAA, were seeded seventh for the post-season tournament.  They face a tenth-ranked Highlanders squad that finished third in Section 4 with a 7-3 section mark and 12-6 record overall.  Notable wins for Baldwin include a season sweep of the third-seeded Peters Township Indians, a regular section foe for the Highlanders.  To check out the entire WPIAL Class AAAA softball bracket.

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TIGERS DROP FINALE TO PETERS TOWNSHIP
 

(5/9/12) The North Allegheny Tigers and the Peters Township Indians matched up in a game featuring two playoff-bound teams, and in the end it was the Indians who prevailed, 3-1.  Peters scored an unearned run in the fourth inning and added two more in the fifth on a two-run home run by shortstop Abby Cunningham.

The Tigers responded in the seventh when senior third baseman Matti Huckestein reached on a third strike that eluded catcher Morgan Matetic.  Freshman pinch runner Emily Hogan then ran for Huckestein, and was singled to second base by freshman left fielder Laura Cotter.  In a nine-pitch at bat, senior second baseman Stephanie Hnat then singled sharply to right field to drive in Hogan and send Cotter to third.  With two outs, senior center fielder Jordan Macey lined a shot that was destined for the left-center field gap, but an outstanding diving spear of the line drive by Cunningham ended the game.

For North Allegheny, sophomore pitcher Mary Funderlich pitched an outstanding game, limiting the Indians to just two earned runs,  The Tigers finish the regular season with a 13-6 (10-2 Section 3-AAAA) record and await the announcement of the playoff pairings on Thursday afternoon.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
PETERS TOWNSHIP - 3   NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1

WP - Tara Konopka   LP - Mary Funderlich (3-4)

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LADY TIGERS DROP ONE TO BULLDOGS, 11-5
 

(5/3/12) The North Allegheny Tigers hosted the Poland, Ohio Bulldogs at NASH Field on Thursday evening, and despite a solid offensive performance against Team USA Junior Nationals and University of Tennessee recruit, pitcher Erin Gabriel, NA fell by the score of 11-5.

North Allegheny struck first in the bottom of the second when junior designated player Bonnie Pierson rocketed a home run into the left field bleachers to give the Tigers an early 1-0 advantage.  Poland scored twice in the top of the third, but North Allegheny responded with a four-run bottom of the third when senior catcher Erin Funderlich led off with a single. Senior courtesy runner Miranda Micire, running for Funderlich, advanced to second on a single by senior center fielder Jordan Macey.  Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and a single by senior right fielder Megan Lynskey drove in Micire, with Macey taking third. Sophomore shortstop Christine Scherer’s single brought Macey home and sent Lynskey to third, a wild pitch allowed Lynskey to cross the plate, while Scherer moved to second.  Sophomore pitcher Mary Funderlich followed with a single, advancing Scherer, and a single by senior third baseman Matti Huckestein brought Scherer home with run number four of the inning and a 5-2 lead.

Poland added three runs in the top of the fourth and one more in the top of the fifth to regain the lead by a 6-5 margin.  It was the top of the sixth when Poland put the game away with five runs, highlighted by a grand slam home run by first baseman Taylor Miokovic.

Despite having runners on base in the late innings, North Allegheny could not come up with the key hit to add any additional runs, and Poland left with an 11-5 victory.  It was a solid performance by North Allegheny against a top-ranked team as they prepare for the upcoming W.P.I.A.L. Playoffs.  The loss takes North Allegheny’s overall record to 13-5, having finished in second place in Section 3-AAAA with a 10-2 section mark.

The Tigers will next see action when they travel to Ambridge on Tuesday afternoon to take on a strong Bridger squad.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
POLAND, OHIO - 11   NORTH ALLEGHENY - 5

WP - Erin Gabriel   LP - Mary Funderlich (3-3)

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LADY TIGERS TOP INDIANS FOR 3-2 WIN IN SECTION FINALE

To listen to an archived broadcast of the Lady Tigers win, click here!
 

(5/2/12) Sophomore Mary Funderlich both pitched and powered North Allegheny to a 3-2 victory over the rival North Hills Indians on Wednesday night in the Lady Tigers section finale.  Funderlich smacked a two-run homer in the third inning and pitched a complete game for her third win of the season.   With a strong performance, Funderlich was chosen as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game. 

North Allegheny’s bats were swinging hard in the early innings but were denied base hits on fine plays by the North Hills defense.  In the third inning, Jordan Macey and Christine Scherer both had line drives snared by North Hills’ leather thanks to hustling catches by Indians outfielders Heather Tschannen and Carlee Byrne.  Sandwiched in between those two NH grabs was a sharp single by Megan Lynskey.  With two outs in the inning and Lynskey at first base, Funderlich hammered a 3-2 pitch where no Indian could catch it, over the right field fence for a two-run homer and a 2-0 Tigers lead. 

The Indians drew even in the top of the fifth with a string of four consecutive base hits to start the inning.  Crista Ledergerber opened the frame with a triple and was singled home by Sara Warsing to cut the score to 2-1, Tigers.  After a double by Lindsay Wittig moved Warsing to third base, Amanda Smith singled Warsing home to tie the game at 2-2.  With the Indians threatening for more with runners at second and third and nobody out, Funderlich buckled down and retired the next three batters without allowing any more damage and the game remained deadlocked.

The Tigers quickly broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth inning when Scherer singled with one out and Bonnie Pierson drew a walk with two outs to set the table for Matti Huckestein.  The Tigers senior third baseman hit a pop fly on a 3-2 pitch to shallow center field that the Indians watched drop in for an RBI single to drive home Scherer and give NA the lead back, 3-2. Funderlich made sure the one-run lead would be enough by pitching a 1-2-3 sixth inning and leaving two runners stranded to end the seventh and the ballgame. 

Offensively, all but one Tiger reached base in the game and catcher Bonnie Pierson reached base three times with two walks and a single.  In the pitcher’s circle, Mary Funderlich tossed all seven innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, while striking out a pair.  North Hills’ Lindsay Wittig suffered the loss, allowing three runs on nine hits. 

North Allegheny improves to 13-4 overall and 10-2 in Section 3-AAAA.  North Hills falls to 8-9 overall and 3-9 in the section.  With the victory, the Tigers have locked up second place in the section which should give them solid positioning heading into the WPIAL playoffs.  Before the playoffs brackets are released, the Lady Tigers still have three more non-section games on the docket.  The first of which will be played today at 6:30 pm as a very talented team from Poland, Ohio will visit North Allegheny.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3   NORTH HILLS - 2

WP - Mary Funderlich (3-2)   LP - Lindsay Wittig

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LADY TIGERS EDGE RAIDERS, 3-2
 

(4/30/12) The North Allegheny Tigers traveled north to Harmony, PA, on Monday afternoon and returned home with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over a strong Seneca Valley team who battled until the final out was recorded. For North Allegheny, sophomore pitcher Sami Beining notched her tenth win of the season in a complete game performance in which she allowed five hits and one walk while striking out five Raider batters.

North Allegheny scored single runs in the first and second innings to take an early 2-0 lead.  In the first, senior center fielder Jordan Macey opened the game with a solid single and was sacrificed to second by senior first baseman Megan Lynskey.  Sophomore shortstop Christine Scherer then followed with an RBI single to score Macey, who slid adroitly around the catcher to get to the plate prior to the tag.  In the top of the second, the Tiger run was built by a single from the bat of senior third baseman Matti Huckestein, another successful Tiger sacrifice by senior right fielder Miranda Micire, a walk to senior second baseman Stephanie Hnat, and an RBI single by Macey scoring Huckestein.

Seneca Valley tightened things in the bottom of the second on a walk to second baseman Alexa Sisko, a wild pitch, and a run-scoring single by first baseman Megan Buletko.

The score remained 2-1 until North Allegheny added what proved to be a critical insurance run in the top of the seventh on doubles by Lynskey and sophomore designated player Mary Funderlich, who got what proved to be the game-winning RBI.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Raiders made it interesting when pitcher Emily Watson doubled, Buletko singled, and third baseman Paige Foley reached on an error, bringing Seneca Valley to within one run and having runners on second and third with no outs. Pinch hitter Sammi Crilley was out at first following a dropped third strike, with the runners holding.  Center fielder Alyssa Panza then lofted a popup to Lynskey, who doubled Foley off base at second to end the game.

With the win, North Allegheny raises its Section 3-AAAA record to 9-2 and its overall record to 12-4.  The Tigers will complete section play when they host the North Hills Indians on Wednesday evening at NASH Field with the first pitch scheduled for 7:00 PM.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3   SENECA VALLEY - 2

WP - Sami Beining (10-2)   LP - Emily Watson

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LADY TIGERS CAPTURE EAGLES ON SENIOR DAY, 16-1
 

(4/28/12) On Senior Day at NASH Field, the North Allegheny Tigers defeated the Oakland Catholic Eagles 16-1 in a four-inning game shortened by the fifteen-run rule.  Oakland scored its only run in the fourth inning on two doubles, which were two of only three hits allowed by winning pitcher sophomore Mary Funderlich, who also struck out five Oakland Catholic batters.

All seven North Allegheny seniors played the entire game for the Tigers, and all played a role in the victory.  North Allegheny scored multiple runs in each inning.  In the first, senior center fielder Jordan Macey led off the game with a single. Following a fielder’s choice by senior left fielder Megan Lynskey, and another force out by sophomore shortstop Christine Scherer, a walk to sophomore pitcher Mary Funderlich, a double by senior third baseman Matti Huckestein, and a run-producing reach base on an error by senior catcher Erin Funderlich plated the first three Tiger runs.

In the second inning, senior first baseman Sam Comport reached on an error, senior second baseman Stephanie Hnat reached on an error, and Macey hit her second consecutive single. Following a ground out, Scherer then hit a sacrifice fly and Mary Funderlich followed with a triple.  Junior courtesy runner Amanda Adams, running for Funderlich, scored when Huckestein was safe on an error.  This gave the Tigers a 7-0 advantage after two innings.

North Allegheny added three more in the third when with two outs, consecutive singles by senior second baseman Stephanie Hnat, Macey, Lynskey, and Scherer sent three more Tiger runners across the plate.

Following Oakland’s lone run, the Tigers ended it in the bottom of the fourth by scoring six times. Huckestein started things with a double.  Senior right fielder Miranda Micire followed with a one-out single to drive in Huckestein.  Comport reached base on a fielder’s choice and Hnat followed with another single.  Macey walked and was run for by pinch runner freshman Laura Cotter.  Lynskey then got on base via an error and consecutive RBI singles by Scherer and Mary Funderlich drove in the runs to end the game.

The Tigers’ players and staff would like to sincerely thank the Booster Group for an excellent reception following the game.  It added greatly to the Senior Day festivities.  Special thanks go to team photographer Selena Slack for an outstanding video presentation honoring our seniors.

With the win, North Allegheny clinches one of three playoff spots in Section 3-AAAA and raise their section record to 8-2, with an overall record of 10-4.  The Tigers’ next game will be at Seneca Valley on Monday afternoon with a 4:00 start time.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 16   OAKLAND CATHOLIC - 1

WP - Mary Funderlich (2-2)   LP - A. Bauer

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LADY TIGERS TOP TORNADO, 6-0
 

(4/25/12) The North Allegheny Tigers traveled to Butler to take on the Butler Golden Tornado on Wednesday and returned home with a 6-0 victory behind the four-hit shutout pitching of sophomore Sami Beining, who finished the game with eleven strikeouts.

Following scoreless first and second innings, NA put three runs on the board in the top of the third.  Senior designated player Miranda Micire opened the inning with a double, the Tigers first hit of the afternoon. Following a ground out, senior second baseman Stephanie Hnat singled Micire to third.  Senior center fielder Jordan Macey then followed with a double that scored both Micire and Hnat.  Another ground out moved Macey to third, and sophomore shortstop Christine Scherer’s single drove in Macey with run number three.

In the top of the fourth, the Tigers duplicated the three-run third by adding runs four, five, and six.  Junior catcher Bonnie Pierson opened the inning with a single.  Senior courtesy runner Sam Comport ran for Pierson but was erased at second base on a fielder’s choice by senior third baseman Matti Huckestein. Micire came through with her second single of the game to move Huckestein to second.  A single by junior left fielder Rachel Pecanis drove in Huckestein, with Micire taking third and Pecanis second on the throw to the plate.  Macey once again came through, this time with an RBI single that scored both Micire and Pecanis to increase the Tiger lead to the final margin, 6-0.

With the win, North Allegheny raises its record to 7-2 in Section 3AAAA play and 10-4 overall.  The Tigers will next see action on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 when the host the Oakland Catholic Eagles on Senior Day.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 10   PINE-RICHLAND - 8

WP - Sami Beining (9-4)   LP - Emily McDonald

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LADY TIGERS OVERCOME EARLY DEFICIT
 FOR 10-8 WIN OVER RAMS

To hear an archived broadcast of the game, click here!
 

(4/20/12) The Lady Tigers rallied from an early four-run deficit for a wild 10-8 victory over the Pine-Richland Rams on Friday night.  North Allegheny was bolstered by a line-up that saw every starter either score a run or collect an RBI.  The game marked the seventh time this season that the Lady Tigers reached double-digits in runs scored. 

The Rams have scored a multitude of runs of their own this season and doing it with the long ball. Pine-Richland displayed their power stroke in the first inning with a two-out, three-run homer by Megan Okuda.  Pine-Richland followed Okuda’s sixth homer of the year with a double by Jess Marfisi and an RBI triple by Tressa Carozzi to give PR a lighting quick 4-0 lead.

The Tigers began their comeback bid in the third inning with a three-run frame.  With the bases loaded and one out, senior Jordan Macey raced home from third base on a wild pitch from Rams hurler Hayley Morgan to cut the deficit to 4-1.  Sophomore Mary Funderlich followed with an RBI groundout and Bonnie Pierson smacked an RBI single to trim the score to 4-3, Rams.

Pine-Richland tacked onto their lead in the fifth inning when Okuda once again came through with two-outs.  This time with Maura Kelly at second base, Okuda singled home the Rams’ centerfielder on an 0-2 pitch to give PR a 5-3 advantage.

North Allegheny quickly erased the Rams lead in the bottom of the fifth with a four-run inning.  Christine Scherer started the inning with a double, and an out later, moved to third on a Pierson ground ball that was booted by Rams shortstop Hannah McNaulty.  Pierson was substituted on the bases for courtesy runner Emily Hogan who promptly stole second base.  Matt Huckestein then singled home Scherer to cut the Pine-Richland lead to 5-4.  After a walk to Miranda Micire loaded the bases, Rachel Pecanis drilled a deep double to right field that scored Hogan and Huckestein to give the Tigers a 6-5 lead.  North Allegheny added on with an RBI single by Stephanie Hnat to bring the score to 7-5, Tigers.

In the sixth inning, the Tigers picked up three important insurance runs on RBI’s by Pierson, Huckestein and Micire to increase the NA advantage to 10-5.  The runs proved pivotal as the Rams constructed a would-be rally of their own in the top of the seventh.  Maura Kelly drove in a pair with a two-run triple and Alyssa Clark followed with an RBI double to cut the Tigers lead to 10-8 with nobody out in the inning.  Right-hander Sami Beining buckled down for a huge strikeout of Megan Okuda for the first out of the frame.  Then Beining induced a fly out of Marfisi to Jordan Macey in right-center field, who threw out Clark’s courtesy runner Bri Okuda attempting to tag and advance to third.  The double-play by Macey and the Tigers defense ended the Rams threat, and the ballgame, to give NA a 10-8 victory.

On the mound, Beining earned her eighth win of the season.  Despite allowing a four-spot in the first inning, Beining retired 9-of the next-10 batters she faced to limit the Rams in the middle innings and allow the Tigers’ bats a chance to rally.  The sophomore’s battery mate, Bonnie Pierson, performed well behind the plate and came through with a two-hit night and a pair of RBI singles.  Among many terrific offensive performances, Pierson was selected as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game. 

North Allegheny improves to 9-4 overall and 6-2 in Section 3-AAAA with the victory.  The win also keeps the Tigers in the mix near the top-three in the section and gives NA some breathing room between themselves and the fourth place Rams.  Pine-Richland drops to 9-4 overall and 3-4 within the section.  North Allegheny will return to action on Monday for a non-section game at Gateway.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 10   PINE-RICHLAND - 8

WP - Sami Beining (8-2)   LP - Hayley Morgan

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LADY TIGERS FALL IN EXTRA INNINGS TO SHALER, 3-2
 

(4/18/12) In a first place battle in Section-3 AAAA, the North Allegheny Softball Team lost a heartbreaker to the Shaler Titans on Wednesday afternoon, 3-2 in 10 Innings at Hilltop Field.   With two outstanding hurlers on the mound, the contest was a pitcher’s duel between NA’s Sami Beining and Shaler’s Sydney Smyers.  The game was locked in a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth before Nicole Daley smacked a 2-0 pitch over the left-centerfielder fence for a solo homer and a 1-0 Shaler lead.

The Lady Tigers would fight back with a fantastic rally to tie the game in the top of the seventh.  Down to their final out, Matti Huckestein kept the game going with a two-out single and checked out of the game for pinch-runner Amanda Adams.  Miranda Micire moved Adams to second base with a walk to set the stage for the game tying hit.  Junior Rachel Pecanis drilled a fly ball to deep right field that scored Adams and the game was tied, 1-1.  The Tigers nearly took the lead on the Pecanis double but Micire was thrown out at home on a relay throw to Shaler catcher Lauren Hackett.  The throw took Hackett up the third base line which caused a collision on the play, but Hackett held onto the ball for the inning’s final out.  Despite the out at home plate, the double by Pecanis was a clutch hit on a 1-2 pitch for the Tigers that extended the game into extra innings.  For her heroics, Pecanis was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.   

After North Allegheny knotted the score in the seventh, the Lady Tigers grabbed the lead in the tenth.  With International Tie-Breaker Rules in effect in the tenth inning, courtesy runner Sam Comport, who was running for Bonnie Pierson, began the inning at second base and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Emily Hogan.  Comport scored moments later on a lined single to right-field by Micire to give NA a 2-1 advantage.  The Tigers’ lead was short-lived however as Shaler tied the game in the bottom of the tenth on an RBI groundout by Morgan Russo, and scored the game winner shortly after when Jess Vanucci trotted home from third on a wild pitch.

The loss drops North Allegheny’s overall record to 8-4 overall and 5-2 in Section-3.  Top-ranked Shaler improves to 9-2 overall and 6-1 in section play.  The Lady Tigers will look to bounce back on Friday night with a home meeting against the Pine-Richland Rams.  The contest will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network. 

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
SHALER - 3   NORTH ALLEGHENY - 2 (10 Innings)

WP - Sydney Smyers   LP - Sami Beining (7-2)

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LADY TIGERS TOP TRIBE, 7-4
 

(4/16/12) The North Allegheny Tigers completed the first half of section play by traveling to North Hills’ McIntyre Field and returning with a hard-fought 7-4 victory.  Sophomore pitcher Sami Beining picked up her seventh win of the season by going the distance, allowing six hits while striking out four and walking two.

After a scoreless first and second inning, the Tigers scored four times in the top of the third. Senior center fielder Jordan Macey led off with a single, and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior first baseman Megan Lynskey. An RBI single by sophomore shortstop Christine Scherer drove in Macey with run number one.  Sophomore designated player Mary Funderlich then singled Scherer to third.  Junior catcher Bonnie Pierson’s RBI single scored Scherer.  Freshman courtesy runner Emily Hogan ran for Pierson and stole second base.  Senior third baseman Matti Huckestein then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Scherer, with Hogan taking third on the play.  Senior right fielder Miranda Micire then looped a single into right field to score Hogan with run number four.

North Allegheny added a run in the fifth on a leadoff Scherer single Junior pinch runner Amanda Adams ran for Scherer, but was erased at second when Mary Funderlich reached on a fielder’s choice. Pierson then singled Mary Funderlich to second, and she advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Huckestein’s sacrifice fly again provided a run for the Tigers, with Mary Funderlich scoring.

In the top of the sixth, the Tigers scored when senior pinch hitter Sam Comport drew a walk.  Following a fielder’s choice which moved comport to second, senior pinch hitter Erin Funderlich hit a single to drive in Comport, taking second on an outfield error on the play.  In the bottom of the sixth, North Hills tallied twice on a single by April Klein and a two-out, two-run home run by Kallie Harper to narrow the score to 6-2.

In the top of the seventh, NA got its seventh run on a Pierson single, Huckestein reaching on an error, Micire reaching on a fielder’s choice erasing Huckestein, and an RBI fielder’s choice by junior left fielder Rachel Pecanis.  North Hills made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh by tallying twice on a hit batsman, a two-out infield error, two walks and a single before Lynskey corralled a bases-loaded grounder to end the game.

With the win, the Tigers increased their overall record to 8-3, including a 5-1 Section 3-AAAA mark, good enough to share first place with Shaler Area, with Seneca Valley having a game to play against Butler on Tuesday and remaining only ½ game behind.  North Allegheny will travel to Shaler Area on Wednesday for a 4:00 PM contest against the Titans.  The game will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network. 

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 7   NORTH HILLS - 4

WP - Sami Beining (7-1)  LP - Lindsay Wittig

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SENECA VALLEY TOPS LADY TIGERS, 4-0
 

(4/13/12) In a battle of Section 3-AAAA leaders, the Seneca Valley Raiders came to NASH Field on Friday evening and handed the Tigers their first section loss behind the strong pitching of Emily Watson, who limited the Tigers to just one hit, a double laced to the left field corner by senior center fielder Jordan Macey to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning.  Macey was advanced to second on a grounder to second by senior first baseman Megan Lynskey, but was left stranded when Watson retired the next two batters.  

North Allegheny hit several solid line drives during the course of the game, but an outstanding Raider defense prevented any damage.  The Tigers had two sensational defensive plays of their own in the contest: a strike from Macey from center field to junior catcher Bonnie Pierson to cut down a Seneca Valley run at the plate; and a stellar play by senior second baseman Stephanie Hnat, who ranged to her left into short right field to field a ground ball, do a full pivot, and nip the runner at first base.

In the end, however, it was the Raiders who prevailed with timely hitting, including an RBI single by Sarah Blagg to plate the first two Raider runs, and a two-RBI triple to the right field corner by Alexa Sisko.  For North Allegheny, sophomore pitcher Sami Beining took her first defeat of the season following a 6-0 start.

The game leaves North Allegheny tied atop Section 3-AAAA with Seneca Valley and Shaler Area, all with identical 4-1 section marks.  The Tigers will next see action on Monday afternoon when they travel to McIntyre Field to take on the North Hills Indians in a 4:00 start.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
SENECA VALLEY - 4   NORTH ALLEGHENY - 0

WP - Emily Watson  LP - Sami Beining (6-1)

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TIGERS DOWN EAGLES, 14-1
 

(4/11/12) The North Allegheny Tigers Varsity Softball Team traveled to Millvale Field to take on the Oakland Catholic Eagles on Wednesday afternoon and returned home with a 14-1 victory in five innings.  The Tigers struck quickly for six first-inning runs when senior center fielder Jordan Macey led off the game with a single and stole second base. Senior first baseman Megan Lynskey followed with an RBI double and sophomore shortstop Christine Scherer then reached on an error. Senior third baseman Matti Huckestein singled to drive in Lynskey.  Senior designated player / catcher Erin Funderlich singled to drive in Scherer. That was followed by a single by junior left fielder Rachel Pecanis which drove in Huckestein and Funderlich, and a single by senior second baseman Stephanie Hnat plated Pecanis with run number six.

The Tigers added two more runs in the second on Lynskey’s second double of the game, an RBI single by junior catcher Bonnie Pierson scoring Lynskey, Huckestein reaching on an error, and a sacrifice fly by senior right fielder Miranda Micire to drive in junior courtesy runner Amanda Adams.

In the third NA scored twice when Pecanis reached on an error, Hnat singled, and Scherer singled to drive in both Pecanis and Hnat to bring the score to 8-0.  In the fourth inning the Tigers scored four times when Adams drew a walk, freshman pinch hitter Laura Cotter singled, with Adams coming all the way around to score on an outfield error. Hnat then laced a double to left-center field to drive in Scherer. Macey reached on an error with Hnat scoring, and senior pinch hitter / first baseman Sam Comport singled to bring Macey home.

In the bottom of the fifth, freshman pitcher Mackenzie Gostomski made her Varsity debut on the mound and effectively closed out the win, allowing only one unearned run on an Oakland walk, a wild pitch, and a two-out infield error.  Sophomore pitcher Sami Beining and Gostomski did not allow an Oakland hit throughout the shortened game.

The win raises the Tigers’ overall record to 7-2, and their Section 3AAAA mark to 4-0.  The team will host Seneca Valley on Friday evening at 7:00 in a key section matchup.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 14   OAKLAND CATHOLIC - 1

WP - Sami Beining (6-0)   LP - Bauer

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TIGERS TROUNCE TORNADO, 13-1
 

(4/9/12) North Allegheny won their fifth game in-a-row on Monday night with a 13-1 trouncing of the Butler Golden Tornado in five innings.  The contest also marked the third straight game in which the Lady Tigers scored 13 runs.  The home victory, coupled with a Seneca Valley loss to Shaler on Monday night, gives the Tigers sole possession of first place in Section 3.

North Allegheny blew away the Golden Tornado with an eight-run first inning that produced a positive plate appearance from every batter in the line-up.   Christine Scherer drove in the first run of the inning with an RBI single and capped the frame with another RBI single.  Sandwiched in between the Scherer RBI’s, the Lady Tigers picked up a two-run single by Mary Funderlich, an RBI single by Bonnie Pierson and a three-run double by Rachel Pecanis.  On a rainy night at North Allegheny, the Pecanis double with the bases-loaded opened the flood gates for the Tigers and marked the first RBI’s of the season for the junior outfielder.  For her efforts, Pecanis was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.

North Allegheny followed up the huge first inning with a five-run second inning.  Matti Huckestein scored on a Butler error, Jordan Macey drove in Erin Funderlich and Miranda Micire with a two-run single, and Megan Linskey trotted home on a wild pitch to increase the Tigers lead to 13-0. 

Butler scored their only run of the game on a Tigers error in the fourth inning, allowing senior Tes Koebler to score from third and break the NA shutout.  The unearned run was the only blemish in what was another outstanding outing by pitcher Sami Beining.  The sophomore kept the Butler hitters honest with a blistering fastball and well-timed breaking ball for her fifth win of the season.  Butler pitcher Hope Wonderling, who was chased from the game in the first inning, took the loss and falls to 1-5 on the year. 

North Allegheny remains perfect in section play with a 3-0 mark and upped their overall record to 6-2.  Butler drops to 1-6 on the season and 1-3 in Section 3.  The Lady Tigers look to continue their roll with a visit to Oakland Catholic on Wednesday.  First pitch is slated for 4:00 pm. 

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 13   BUTLER - 1

WP - Sami Beining (5-0)   LP - Hope Wonderling (1-5)

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TIGERS STORM PAST RED HURRICANE, 13-1
 

(4/4/12) The North Allegheny Tigers hosted the New Castle Hurricane on Wednesday evening and came away with a 13-1 victory in a six -inning contest shortened by the ten-run rule.  North Allegheny sophomore pitcher Sami Beining picked up her fourth win of the season without a loss, with solid relief help from sophomore pitcher Mary Funderlich, who shared the mound and finished the game in the sixth.  It was also Mary Funderlich who ended the contest with a three-run walk-off home run to deep center field in the bottom of the sixth.

The Tigers started quickly when senior first baseman Megan Lynskey, doubled, and sophomore shortstop Christine Scherer walked, sophonmore DP Mary Funderlich singled to drive in Lynskey, and junior catcher Bonnie Pierson singled to drive in Scherer, with Funderlich scoring on an outfield error.  Senior Sam Comport ran for Pierson, and senior third baseman Matti Huckestein worked a walk.  Senior right fielder Miranda Micire then doubled to drive in  both Comport and Huckestein to complete the Tigers’ five-run first.

New castle got its only run in the top of the second on a walk, stolen base, and an RBI single by shortstop Lauren Pavia.

The Tigers added two in the third when Pierson singled, and Comport once again ran. A double by Huckestein sent Comport to third, and Micire walked.  Following a fielder’s choice, freshman pinch hitter Laura Cotter singled to drive in Huckestein, and senior center fielder Jordan Macey hit a sacrifice fly to score Micire.

In the fourth, NA added three more on a double by Scherer, a walk to Mary Funderlich, and a three-run home run to deep right-center field by Pierson.  In the bottom of the sixth, Compoert, now playing first base, walked.  Freshman pinch hitter Emily Hogan singled, and Funderlich ended the game with the three-run walk off.

The win gives NA an overall mark of 5-2 and a Section 3-AAAA record of 2-0.  The Tigers are off until Monday evening, when they will get back into Section 3-AAAA play with a 7:00 home game vs. Butler.  The game will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 13   NEW CASTLE - 1

WP - Sami Beining (4-0)   LP - Alyea Cioffi

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TIGERS BEDEVIL MT. LEBANON, 13-3
 

(4/3/12) The North Allegheny Tigers continued their travels on Tuesday, taking the bus to Mt. Lebanon’s Jefferson Middle School to take on the Blue Devils.  The Tigers came back with a 13-3 victory behind sophomore pitcher Mary Funderlich’s complete game performance.

The Tigers struck quickly, when following singles by senior first baseman Megan Lynskey and sophomore shortstop Christine Scherer, junior catcher Bonnie Pierson hit a long home run to right-center field to give NA an early 3-0 advantage. The Tigers built another run in the third inning when senior center fielder Jordan Macey singled, advanced on a Lynskey sacrifice bunt and a fielder’s choice, and scored on a wild pitch.

Mt Lebanon pulled to within one run on a three run home run by Kaitlyn Klimchock in the bottom of the third, but from that point forward, it was all NA.  The top of the fourth began with a solo home run by senior third baseman Matti Huckestein. Senior DP / catcher Erin Funderlich followed with a double and senior right fielder Miranda Micire lined a single.  Freshman left fielder Laura Cotter, in her first Varsity start, then hit a three-run home run to deep left field to increase the Tiger lead to 8-3. Macey followed with a single, Lynskey reached on an error, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice, and scored on an RBI single by Pierson.

In the top of the sixth, the Tigers added a run on a Scherer single, a walk to Mary Funderlich, and a wild pitch which advanced both Scherer and freshman courtesy runner Emily Hogan, running for Mary Funderlich.  Scherer then scored on a sacrifice fly by Huckestein, with Hogan taking third on the play.  Hogan scored on a wild pitch to complete the damage in the sixth.  In the seventh, the Tigers added run number thirteen on a walk to Lynskey, who advanced on a wild pitch and scored when Mary Funderlich reached on an infield error.

The win moves the Tigers’ record to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in Section 3-AAAA play.  NA will host New Castle on Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM at NASH Field.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 13   MT. LEBANON - 3

WP - Mary Funderlich (1-2)   LP - Maura Stoehr

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TIGERS TOP RAMS, 4-2
 

(4/2/12) The North Allegheny Tiger Softball Team earned a road section win with a 4-2 decision over the Pine-Richland Rams at Pine-Richland High School behind timely hitting and a strong five-hit pitching performance from sophomore pitcher Sami Beining, who allowed only two seventh-inning runs in a complete game performance as NA raised their Section 3-AAAA record to 2-0 and their overall record to 3-2.

After a scoreless first inning, North Allegheny took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when junior catcher Bonnie Pierson doubled. Courtesy runner Stephanie Hnat was singled to third by senior pinch hitter Sammi Comport, and following a fielder’s choice and a walk to junior left fielder Rachel Pecanis, senior center fielder Jordan Macey singled to drive in Hnat.

In the fifth, the Tigers tallied two more on consecutive doubles by Macey, senior first baseman Megan Lynskey, and sophomore shortstop Christine Scherer.

The Tigers added one in the sixth on a single by senior third baseman Matti Huckestein, a well-executed sacrifice bunt by Hnat, and an RBI single to right field by senior right fielder Miranda Micire.

The Rams made it interesting in the seventh with a one-out triple by Maura Kelly, who scored on a fielder’s choice, and a two-out home run by Megan Okuda.  The Rams got no closer, and the Tigers took the victory.

NA will travel to Mt. Lebanon on Tuesday to take on the Blue Devils in a non-section contest with a 4:15 start at Jefferson Middle School.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 4   PINE-RICHLAND - 2

WP - Sami Beining (3-0)   LP - Haley Morgan

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TIGERS OUTLAST REIGNING WPIAL CHAMPS,
 BEAT LATROBE 2-1

To listen to an archived broadcast of the game, click here!
 

(3/31/12) Part of a rugged opening week schedule for the North Allegheny Softball Team, the Lady Tigers defeated the reigning WPIAL Quad-A Champion Latrobe Wildcats, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon.  North Allegheny used a strong pitching performance from sophomore Sami Beining and some clutch hitting from senior centerfielder Jordan Macey to outlast the Wildcats.  Beining tossed a complete game, three-hitter, allowing just one unearned run while striking out three.  Macey delivered the game tying RBI and scored the game winning run to earn Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors.

The game was a pitcher’s duel between Beining and Latrobe junior starting pitcher Olivia Gumbita.  Both teams had scoring opportunities in the early innings but both pitchers shut the door on their opponent, along with some help from their defenses.  North Allegheny’s Matti Huckestein and Rachel Picanis each smacked doubles in the second and third innings, but potential scoring opportunities were lost in those frames when runners were thrown out on the bases.  Latrobe base runners weren’t thrown out but instead were left stranded as Beining pitched out of jams and forced the Wildcats to waste four base runners in the first two innings.

The scoreless tie was broken in the fifth inning when Latrobe took advantage of a Tigers error.  Shelby Noel reached on an error to start the inning and was substituted by pinch runner Alexus Fearer.  Fearer was advanced to second on a bunt by Taylor Adams and scored an out later on an RBI single by Emily Banner.   Rachel Conrad followed with a single to put runners at the corners and give Latrobe in an opportunity to take command of a tight ballgame.  Beining again pitched her way out of trouble by inducing a ground ball from clean-up hitter Carm Moffa to end the inning and limit the damage to a 1-0 Wildcats lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, it appeared that Gumbita would retire the Tigers in order but North Allegheny caught a break on a pop up by Pecanis.  With two outs, Pecanis popped up along the first base line, but Latrobe catcher Kelsie Zopetti could not find the ball in the overcast sky and the ball dropped in harmlessly in foul territory.  Granted a second chance, Pecanis drew a walk that sparked an NA rally.  Macey stepped to the plate next and laced a double to the left-centerfield gap to drive home Pecanis and the game was tied, 1-1.  Megan Lynskey kept things going for the Lady Tigers with a well-placed bloop single to shallow centerfield to score Macey and North Allegheny was in front, 2-1. 

Beining retired Latrobe in order in the sixth inning, which featured a highlight reel sliding catch by Macey in centerfield.  However, the Wildcats would threaten in the seventh inning, placing runners at second and third with two outs.  Rachel Conrad grounded out to Matti Huckestein at third-base to end the ball game and the Lady Tigers captured an exciting 2-1 victory over Latrobe.

North Allegheny improves to 2-2 on the season with the non-section win, while Latrobe falls to 3-2 on the campaign.  NA plays their second section game of the season when the Lady Tigers visit Pine-Richland on Monday afternoon.  First pitch is slated for 4 pm.    

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 2   LATROBE - 1

WP - Sami Beining (2-0)   LP - Olivia Gumbita

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MONTOUR TAMES TIGERS, 11-1
 

(3/30/12) The Montour Spartans came to NASH Field on Friday afternoon and left with an impressive 11-1, six-inning victory over the North Allegheny Tigers behind a thirteen hit attack and a six-hit pitching performance from senior pitcher Kaitlyn Kutchman.

The Spartans exploded for five runs in the first inning and never looked back, adding a run in the second, four in the fifth, and one in the sixth.  North Allegheny got its only run in the sixth inning as senior center fielder Jordan Macey singled, advanced to second on a single by sophomore shortstop Christine Scherer, and scored on a long double to right center field by sophomore pitcher Mary Funderlich.

The loss drops the Tigers overall record to 1-2 (1-0 in Section 3AAAA play). North Allegheny will host defending W.P.I.A.L. Champion Latrobe at NASH field on Saturday.  The game time has been moved to 2:00 PM due to weather conditions.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
MONTOUR - 11   NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1

WP - Kaitlyn Kutchman   LP - Mary Funderlich (0-2)

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LADY TIGERS SMACK TOP-RANKED SHALER, 10-2

To listen to an archived broadcast of the game, click here!
 

(3/28/12) The Lady Tigers battered one of the top pitchers in Class AAAA for 13 hits on their way to a 10-2 victory over Shaler on Wednesday night.  North Allegheny built a six run lead in the early innings against Shaler’s ace, Sydney Smyers, and toppled the top-ranked Titans for a huge early season section win.  Senior Matti Huckestein and sophomore Christine Scherer led the way offensively, combining for five hits and seven RBI’s.  Starting pitcher Sami Beining earned the win by tossing a complete game five-hitter.

In the first inning, it was Shaler who struck first however as Robert Morris recruit, Lauren Hackett, drove in Jess Vanucci with a one-out single to give the Titans a 1-0 lead.  The inning could’ve been a lot bigger for the Titans, but Beining pitched her way out of danger by getting Smyers to bounce into a fielder’s choice and grounding out Jamie Roth to leave runners stranded at first and second.

North Allegheny used some small ball to tie the game and a big two-out base hit to take the lead in the bottom of the first inning.  Jordan Macey led off with a line-drive single to right, who was bunted to second on a sacrifice by Megan Linskey.  Smyers uncorked a pair of wild pitches that allowed Macey to move to third and then home to tie the score at 1-1.  With Smyers struggling to settle in, Scherer singled and Mary Funderlich followed with a base hit to move Scherer to second base.  Bonnie Pierson bounced into a 6-5 fielder’s choice that erased Scherer from the bases but moved Funderlich to second.  Funderlich and Pierson’s courtesy runner Alexis Provenzano advanced to second and third on a double steal and scored moments later when Huckestein smacked a double to clear the bases and give NA a 3-1 lead. 

After Beining quickly retired the Titans 1-2-3 in the top of the second, the Tigers bats got back to business in the bottom of the inning. Junior Rachel Pecanis led off the frame with a double.  An out later, Lynskey walked to put runners at first and second.  Scherer drove in Pecanis with an RBI single and the NA lead swelled to 4-1.  With two outs in the inning and Lynskey and Scherer still aboard, Pierson doubled along the third base line to bring home Lynskey for a 5-1 Tigers lead.  That set the stage for another timely two-out, two-run double by Huckestein to balloon the NA advantage to 7-1.

Smyers finally found her rhythm in the middle innings and Shaler chipped into NA’s lead in the fourth inning when Sara Giebel scored from third on a Tigers error.  The Titans’ attempted rally would go no further as Beining continued to keep Shaler hitters off-balance and pitched through the heart of the order in the fifth without damage. 

With Beining dealing, the Lady Tigers bats put the game away in the bottom of sixth.  Macey reached on a one-out walk and Lysnkey followed with a single.  Scherer drove in both base-runners with a double to deep left-center field to make it 9-2, Tigers.  Funderlich capped the scoring with an RBI single that brought home Scherer for a 10-2 advantage.  Beining set down the Titans in order in the top of the seventh for the victory.  

On a night where many of the Lady Tigers shined, it was the birthday girl, Matti Huckestein, who was selected as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game with a 2-for-4 night, two doubles, and four RBI’s.  Huckestein’s timely two-out base hits in the early innings were paramount in building an insurmountable lead.  Scherer finished with a 3-for-4, three RBI performance and Funderlich posted a two-hit night.  In all, every Lady Tiger in the line-up reached base for an impressive hitting display.

With the win, North Allegheny improves to 1-1 overall and 1-0 in section play.  Shaler falls to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the section.  After an off day on Thursday, North Allegheny faces the top-ranked team in Class AAA, the Montour Spartans, on Friday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 4:00 pm from NASH.     

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 10   SHALER - 2

WP - Sami Beining (1-0)   LP - Sydney Smyers

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LADY TIGERS FALL TO SPARTANS, 7-3
 

(3/27/12) The North Allegheny Softball Team traveled to Hempfield to open their season against the highly-ranked Spartans.  Despite an overall good showing, NA took a loss in the opener, 7-3.

After a scoreless first and second inning, the Spartans tallied four times in the bottom of the third by stringing together a single, sacrifice, double, single, double, and single to push four runs across the plate.

The score remained 4-0, despite Tiger scoring opportunities, until the top of the sixth, when North Allegheny tallied three times to make it a one-run game.  Senior pinch hitter Sam Comport opened the inning with a single to right field. Senior first baseman Megan Lynskey then singled to right-center, and when the ball was misplayed, Comport came all the way around to score, with Lynskey moving to second base.  Sophomore shortstop Christine Scherer then hit a shot through second base to score Lynskey, with Scherer advancing to second. A single by sophomore pitcher Mary Funderlich drove Scherer home with the third run of the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hempfield responded with three runs on an infield single, sacrifice, another single, a walk, and a fielder’s choice.  The Tigers nearly escaped without a run being scored, but an extremely close call at the plate allowed the inning to continue.

It was a solid performance in many ways for the Tigers, who coupled eight hits with errorless defense to be competitive throughout the contest.  North Allegheny will next see action tonight when they entertain the Shaler Area Titans at 7:00 PM.

GAME SUMMARY (Unofficial)
HEMPFIELD - 7   NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3

WP - Hope Pehrson   LP - Mary Funderlich (0-1)

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MACEY SIGNS WITH YOUNGSTOWN STATE
 

(11/9/11) This week, North Allegheny senior softball player Jordan Macey signed a letter of intent to play softball at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio.  At this point, her major is undeclared.  Macey has played center field for the North Allegheny Varsity since her freshman year.  An excellent defensive player and strong leadoff hitter, she has helped North Allegheny to the WPIAL Playoffs in each of her first three seasons. As a senior, she will be counted upon to provide her skill and leadership for the Tigers before embarking on her career as a Penguin in the Fall of 2012.

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