Tigers sweep North Hills behind an explosive offense
by: Slow-Pitch Softball Contributor
North Allegheny’s offense showed up from the first pitch of the afternoon and never really left, powering the Tigers to a sweep over North Hills in a pair of games that unfolded with very different rhythms but the same result. In the opener, NA jumped out as the visiting team with a five‑run first inning built on senior Amara Daugherty in left‑center ripping a leadoff single, sophomore Zoey Bornt pushing the pressure with aggressive baserunning, senior Lily Daugherty at shortstop driving a run home on a line drive, and sophomore Ava Combs blasting a three‑run homer to center. The Tigers added five more in the second, with L. Daugherty driving home another run, senior Viola Laswell dropping a single into left, senior Megan Sweeney lifting a sac fly, and freshman Abby Steiner ripping a two‑run double. That early avalanche built a 10–1 lead before North Hills mounted a long rally of their own, scoring six in the second and chipping away in the fifth and sixth. NA answered each push, adding single runs in both the fifth and sixth, and Laswell finished the full seven innings behind an error‑free defense that turned two double plays. Laswell and A. Daugherty each collected four hits, Combs drove in three, and Bornt, junior Olivia Smith, and Steiner all added multiple hits as NA held on for a 12–11 win.
The second game began in the opposite direction, with NA falling behind 5–0 in the top of the first as North Hills stacked a pair of doubles and three singles. But the Tigers, now the home team, responded with one of their best innings of the season. Laswell, doubled home Bornt and L. Daugherty, Combs lined a run‑scoring single to right‑center, senior Jordan Phillips came home on a fielder’s choice, Steiner doubled in another, and Smith drove home two more. Seven runs on eight hits flipped the game instantly. North Hills cut the margin with a solo homer in the second and a groundout in the third, but NA kept control. Bornt’s single and an error scored one in the fourth, Laswell doubled home another, and Phillips added a two‑run single as NA posted a four‑run inning to stretch the lead. The Tigers kept pressing in the sixth, with Laswell singling home Bornt, Phillips bringing in L. Daugherty on a sac fly, Combs driving home Laswell, and Combs tagging and scoring on a flyout to short‑center. Laswell threw all seven innings again, striking out five and walking none, and finished with four hits and four RBI. L. Daugherty matched her with four hits, and Bornt and Combs added multiple hits as NA rolled to a 16–7 win.
Across both games, NA’s lineup depth carried the day. Seniors led the charge, underclassmen kept the pressure on, and the Tigers played clean, confident softball from start to finish. A one‑run battle in Game 1 and a comeback blowout in Game 2 produced the same outcome — North Allegheny sweeping North Hills behind relentless hitting and steady execution.
North Allegheny faces Hempfield next, bringing a lineup that’s locked in and producing from every spot. Hempfield typically plays tighter early innings and doesn’t give many free baserunners, but NA’s rhythm right now travels well — seniors setting the tone, juniors driving gaps, sophomores sparking rallies, and Steiner giving steady freshman impact. The Tigers arrive with momentum and a lineup that’s been answering every challenge.
