NA Dashes Vikings’ Playoff Hopes, Completes DH Sweep With Win Over Penn-Trafford
Facing a Central Catholic team that desperately needed a win to get into the WPIAL playoffs, the North Allegheny Tigers thwarted the Vikings’ postseason hopes with a 4-0 shutout in the Section 1-AAAAAA finale. The afternoon victory over the Vikings was only the first of the day for NA. The Tigers also hosted the Penn-Trafford Warriors on Monday night and claimed a 3-2 non-section win to complete a doubleheader sweep.
In the section contest against Central Catholic, the Tigers received a complete game five-hit shutout from pitcher Bobby Brown and capitalized on four errors by the Vikings. Facing Central Catholic knuckleballer Drew Cebulak, the Tigers scored the game’s first run in the top of the third inning on an RBI single by Alex Mesaros that scored Justin Hamm for a 1-0 lead. North Allegheny added on to the lead in the sixth inning when Jack Lehew drove home a run with an RBI fielder’s choice groundout and Luke Trueman stole home to bring the score to 3-0, Tigers. Lehew tacked on an RBI single that plated Blake Pillage in the seventh inning to cap off a 4-0 win. The MSA Sports Network spoke with Lehew for a postgame interview.
Against Penn-Trafford, the Tigers got RBI’s from Hamm, Colin Cain and Anthony Hattrup to provide the run support necessary for the non-section triumph. Danny Caropresi got the start and worked four shutout innings for the win, while striking out six batters. Hattrup picked up the save with two scoreless innings of relief.
Following the day’s action, the Tigers improved to 12-5 overall and finish the section schedule with a 6-4 mark. The playoff-bound Tigers will visit Hampton on Wednesday for a non-section tune-up game.