Baseball News

The North Allegheny baseball team dropped a 13-4 decision to the Shaler Titans at Matulevic Field on Tuesday afternoon in the Section 1-6A opener. The Tigers led by two runs after two innings but the Titans used big innings in the third, fourth and sixth frames to assert control.

In the first inning, North Allegheny took advantage of two Shaler errors for a quick 2-0 lead. Seniors Turner White and Luke Trueman trotted home when a groundball was booted by Shaler second baseman Zach Hernan to grab the early lead.

A walk by Spencer Blackburn and another Shaler error set the table for the Tigers in the second inning. However, Shaler pitcher Patrick Gumto worked out of the jam thanks to a terrific running catch by outfielder Evan Donovan. With one out and runners at first and second, Trueman laced a line drive into the right-centerfield gap. Donovan denied Trueman a base hit with a hustling catch and doubled up Blackburn with a throw to second base to end the inning.

Gumto worked out of another sticky situation in the third inning and left two runners stranded. Pitching into and out of danger all afternoon, Gumto earned the win with four innings on the bump, allowing four runs (two earned) with six strikeouts and five walks.

North Allegheny still led 2-0 until Shaler’s bats awoke in the bottom of the third. Jake Bredl cut the NA lead to 2-1 with a sacrifice fly that scored Colton Schott. With the bases loaded later in the inning, Hunter Bryson stroked a three-run double to give the Titans a 4-2 lead. Shaler added on another run in the inning thanks to a sac fly by Hernan for a 5-2 advantage.

The Tigers seemingly regained momentum in the top of fourth when Trueman and Caiden Wood came through with RBI singles to cut the Shaler lead to 5-4. Finishing 2 for 4 with two singles and an RBI, Wood was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.

NA’s momentum was short-lived, however, as Shaler scored four times in the bottom of the fourth for a 9-4 lead. Donovan started the scoring in the home half of the fourth with a solo homer and the Titans tacked on three more runs courtesy of an RBI double by Bredl, and RBI single by Hernan and an NA error. Shaler closed out the scoring with four more runs in the sixth inning to finish off a 13-4 victory.

After two strong outings to begin the season, Tigers starter Anthony Hattrup suffered his first loss of the year and was chased after three innings.

Following the loss, North Allegheny dips to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in Section 1-6A. Shaler improves to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the section. The Tigers look to bounce back on Wednesday afternoon with a visit to section rival Seneca Valley at 4:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast live by the Trib Live Sports Network.

Baseball vs. Shaler, 4-10-18

Score by Innings	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
North Allegheny	2	0	0	2	0	0	0		4	6	2
Shaler	0	0	5	4	0	4	X		13	10	4

WP - Patrick Gumto LP - Anthony Hattrup (1-1)