Offense sparks sweep over Shaler
by: Slow-Pitch Softball Contributor
Claudia Kushon (junior) drove in four runs on three hits to lead the North Allegheny Tigers past the Shaler Area Titans 19-0 on Sunday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader.
Kushon doubled in the fifth scoring two, hit a solo home run to center field in the first scoring one, and singled in the third scoring another. The Tigers got on the board in the top of the first inning after Kushon hit a solo home run to center field, an error scored a run, Emily Sobehart (senior) hit an RBI double, Viola Laswell (sophomore) singled, scoring one run, Amara Daugherty (sophomore) doubled, scoring two runs, and Hannah Anderson (senior) singled, to score two more.
The Tigers extended their early lead with two runs in the top of the second thanks to RBI doubles by Sobehart and Laswell. North Allegheny added two more runs in the top of the third thanks to RBI singles by Jordan Phillips (sophomore) and Kushon. The Tigers scored five runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning. Kushon doubled, scoring two runs, Phillips scored after tagging up, Lily Daugherty (sophomore) doubled, scoring one run, and an error scored one run. Sobehart earned the win for North Allegheny. The starting pitcher allowed six hits and zero runs over five innings, striking out two and walking none.
The Tigers collected 21 hits in the game. Kushon and Laswell each collected three hits for the NA. Phillips, Sobehart, A. Daugherty, Anna Kovacic (junior) , Ella Mitchell (senior) and L. Daugherty each collected multiple hits for the North Allegheny. The Tigers didn’t commit a single error in the field.
In game two, Kovacic drove in four runs on two hits to lead North Allegheny past Shaler 19-12. Kovacic tripled in the fifth inning, scoring one run, and doubled in the sixth inning, scoring one. Both offenses were strong at the plate as the Tigers collected 21 hits and the Titans, 20 in the high-scoring match up.
The Titans jumped out to the lead in the top of the second inning. NA flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs on four hits to take the lead, 5-3. The biggest blow in the inning was a single by Anderson that drove in two. A fielder’s choice by Kovacic extended the North Allegheny’s lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the third inning. The Tigers scored six runs on seven hits in the bottom of the fifth inning. An error scored one run, L. Daugherty tripled, scoring one run, Kovacic tripled, scoring one run, Sobehart singled, scoring a run, Laswell singled, scoring another run, and M.Daugherty (senior) had an RBI single as well.
The Tigers added four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on five hits. Kushon homered to left field, scoring two runs, Kovacic doubled, scoring one run, and Sobehart had an RBI single. Sobehart earned the win for North Allegheny. Laswell led the Tigers with four hits in four at bats. Sobehart, M.Daugherty, and L. Daugherty each collected multiple hits for NA.
North Allegheny improves to 5-3 on the season. The Tigers are back in action next Sunday when they host Seneca Valley at Marshall Middle School at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. This game will be senior day for the Tigers.
