Slow-Pitch Softball News

by: Brandon Rossi

The North Allegheny slow-pitch softball team celebrated its five seniors on Sunday, October 13 prior to its double header with Montour. However, the celebrating came to an end after the Tigers were swept by the Spartans by scores of 14-11 and 16-14.

Game one started strongly for NA. After limiting the Spartans to just one hit in the top of the first, the first four batters made quality appearances for the Tigers. Junior Claudia Kushon singled to lead off the frame and classmate Olivia Klaich reached following a Montour error. Those two were driven in on a triple laced by sophomore Lillian Daugherty, who was the Wright Automotive Player of the Game for the first half of the double header. She then came around to score after a sacrifice fly by junior Anna Kovacic to make the score 3-0 North Allegheny after one.

Despite the strong start, the lead would not last. Montour would respond by putting up eight runs in the second, highlighted by a three-run home run. By the time NA recorded the first out of the frame, the lead was overtaken by Montour for good. The Spartans would balloon the lead even further as they scored two runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings each.

The Tigers struggled to gather footing, going hitless in the second before getting three in a row in the third, including an RBI single by Lillian Daugherty. In the fourth, senior Madelyn Daugherty’s sacrifice fly cut the gap, and her younger sister sophomore Amara Daugherty drove in another RBI, which led to another run scoring after the fact due to a Spartan error. Finally in the fifth inning, Lily Daugherty hit a SAC Fly to drive in another score, and an RBI double by Kovacic made the score 14-8 after five.

Both teams went scoreless in the sixth, including a 1-2-3 inning by the Tiger defense. In the seventh, NA held strong once again and faced a steep uphill battle. It got halfway there after getting three of the six needed runs in the seventh. Leadoff singles by junior Asha Vaders and Kushon turned into runs scored on defensive putouts by Klaich and Kovacic. Senior Emily Marangoni would drive in an RBI single to cut the gap to 14-11, but the Tigers couldn’t get any closer as Montour closed out the frame and the game.

Game two saw both teams bring out the offensive artillery. The Tigers got the first three runners aboard without the luxury of a base hit, thanks to two Montour errors and a walk. Kovacic was able to drive a run in on a groundout, and senior Emily Sobehart drew a bases loaded walk to expand the lead. It grew to six after more defensive miscues by the Spartans. Montour answered by putting up a six-spot of their own in the bottom of the first.

In the second, Asha Vaders singled and was later driven in on a double by Kushon to put the Tigers ahead 7-6. The Spartans countered with a 2-RBI single with one out, and thus began the seesaw battle through the second and third innings where both teams traded leads.

In the third inning, Kovacic ripped an RBI triple and later scored on a Sobehart sacrifice fly, putting North Allegheny in front 9-8. Kovacic was named the Wright Automotive Athlete of the Game for game two. Montour countered yet again with a two-RBI double in the bottom half of the third, giving itself a 10-9 lead. The Tigers were working with a runner aboard in the fourth, but a 5-4-3 double play dashed North Allegheny’s hopes. Montour took a 13-9 lead in the bottom of the inning, another advantage the Spartans would not relinquish.

In the fifth inning, NA pieced together a three-run spurt thanks to RBIs by Lily Daugherty, Kovacic, and Marangoni. Despite having the tying run at first base, NA could not come through as a pop fly to center ended the inning at 13-12.

Montour, which scored runs in every inning, gave itself some cushion with a run in the fifth to make the score 14-12. The Tigers responded with an RBI single by Vaders, but again the NA bats couldn’t drive across the tying run, leaving the score at 14-13. Montour added two runs as insurance, pitting the score at 16-13 with North Allegheny down to its final three outs.

Klaich started the inning out with a leadoff single, and later advanced to third on another base hit by Kovacic, which led to the latter taking second due to a runner’s interference call. With the tying run at the plate, the second out was exchanged for the Tigers’ 14th run, and after a pair of fielder’s choice plays the game ended with a 16-14 Montour victory.

The Tigers finish the regular season at 8-6. They will turn their attention to the WPISL playoffs which begin at Mt. Lebanon on Saturday, October 19.