Slow-Pitch Softball News

by Slow-Pitch Softball Contributor

In Week 6 of the Slow-Pitch Softball season, the North Allegheny Varsity Slow-Pitch Softball team dominated its longtime rival North Hills. Both games ended after five innings, and the Tigers are now 8-2 on the season. 

The game kicked off with North Allegheny on offense in the top of the 1st inning. Claudia Kushon (sophomore) started things off for the Tigers with a line drive double, followed by Reilly Spitz (senior) and Keala Glaser (senior) each notching singles, with Glaser driving in a run. Mady Daugherty‘s (junior) pop-up added another run to the board. Amara Daugherty‘s (freshman) single kept the rally alive, and the Tigers ended the top of the inning 2-0. NA’s defense held strong as Glaser and Kushon caught two pop-ups, and Spitz threw an out to Kushon on second, but North Hills managed to tie the game at 2-2. 

In the top of the 2nd inning, North Allegheny’s offense came alive. Jayna Cole (senior) and Emily Marangoni (junior) both singled, and Ella Mitchell (junior) walked to load the bases. Olivia Klaich (sophomore) walked, driving in a run, and Kushon followed suit, adding another run. With two outs, Spitz hit a single for an RBI. Then, in a spectacular play, Glaser’s inside-the-park home run cleared the bases, tallying three more runs. Mady Daugherty’s base hit kept the rally going, and Amara Daugherty and Emily Sobehart (junior) both singled, bringing the total to 9-2 in favor of North Allegheny.

North Allegheny’s defense continued to hold strong in the bottom of the 2nd, with Spitz executing a double play to maintain their lead. 

The top of the 3rd inning had North Allegheny adding to their lead. Addie Lee (senior) walked, and Mitchell hit a single to left field. Klaich followed with another single, driving in a run, and Kushon’s single to center field added another. Spitz walked, loading the bases.  Mady Daugherty walked, driving in a run, and the Tigers led 12-2. Once again the Tiger defense was strong, with Spitz making an out to Marangoni at first, and Glaser and Spitz catching pop ups, leading North Hills by 12-3.

The top of the 4th was explosive for North Allegheny, with Sobehart and Cole both hitting singles. Marangoni hit a single, and errors by the North Hills defense allowed both Cole and Sobehart to score. A double by Lee added one more. Kushon’s line drive single brought in another run, and Spitz’s inside-the-park home run added two more. North Allegheny’s lead surged to 18-3. The bottom of the 4th inning saw North Hills unable to score. 

In the top of the 5th, Emily Clark (sophomore) walked, Sobehart and Cole had base hits, but no runs were added.  In the bottom of the 5th, Mitchell caught a fly ball in left field, Klaich struck out a batter, and Mady Daugherty made a catch to seal the victory in Game 1. North Hills managed to score one more run, but North Allegheny emerged victorious with a final score of 18-4 after just 5 innings.

In Game 2, North Allegheny’s defense started off rock-solid as Kushon, Glaser, and Amara Daugherty caught all three pop-ups, holding North Hills to zero runs. In the bottom of the 1st, North Allegheny’s offense roared to life. Kushon hit a single, followed by a walk to Spitz and another single by Glaser. Mady Daugherty hit a single, bringing in a run. Sobehart hit a single, adding another score. Cole walked, and Marangoni had a base hit, scoring two more runs. Lee hit a single, bringing in one more run, and Mitchell walked. Klaich hit a single, driving in three more runs, and Kushon’s triple, brought in one more run. Spitz followed with a single, bringing in another run, and Glaser hit another single, with two more runs scored. The inning ended with North Allegheny in a dominant position, leading 11-0.

In the top of the 2nd, North Allegheny’s defense remained strong, with Marangoni making a fielder’s choice to second, Kushon making an out a 2nd, and Glaser throwing an out to Spitz at 2nd, continuing to hold North Hills scoreless. In the bottom of the 2nd, North Allegheny continued their offensive onslaught. Amara Daugherty had a base hit to first, Sobehart walked, and Cole hit a single, adding an RBI. Marangoni followed with another single, driving in another run, and Lee hit a single, bringing in one more. Klaich hit a double, adding another RBI, and Kushon hit a double as well, with one more run scored. North Allegheny extended their lead to 16-0.

In the 3rd inning, the Tiger defense continued to shine, with Spitz making an out at shortstop, left-handed pitcher Marangoni striking out a batter, and Mady Daugherty making a catch for the final out. In the bottom of the 3rd, Mady and Amara Daugherty hit singles, Cole hit a single, adding another RBI. After 3, the score stood at 17-0.

In the top of the 4th, North Allegheny’s defense continued to dominate, with Spitz making a catch at shortstop, Marangoni striking out another batter, and Kushon making a catch at second base. In the bottom of the 4th, North Allegheny’s Lee hit a double, but the inning ended without any further runs scored.

In the top of the 5th, North Allegheny’s defense closed out the game in style. Kushon executed a double play, and Mady Daugherty made a catch for the final out, shutting out North Hills with a final score of 17-0. 

North Allegheny’s dominant offensive performance and solid defense secured a resounding victory against North Hills. North Allegheny is scheduled to play a make-up game that was canceled due to weather next Saturday, October 14 at Baldwin at 1 & 3 pm. Their final home game of the season will be against Shaler at Marshall Middle School next Sunday, October 15 at 2 & 4 pm. Senior Recognition Ceremonies will be held at 1:00 pm prior to the game vs. Shaler.