Softball Game Summaries

by Randy Gore

The North Allegheny softball team extended its winning streak to six on Friday with a 12-2 triumph over Mt. Lebanon in five innings. The Senior Day victory was keyed by a 13-hit attack that saw the Tigers earn their third run-rule victory of the season. Seniors McKenna Rowlands and Sammy Plotsko were recognized before the game as part of the Senior Day festivities.

The Tigers jumped on the Blue Devils in the first inning when Zoe Rychel clubbed a two-run double and Twila Goulding added an RBI double for an immediate 3-0 lead. The NA advantage grew to 4-0 in the second inning when McKenna Rowlands reached on a two-out double and scored moments later on a lined single by Erin Fadgen.

Mt. Lebanon scored its first run of the game when Dani McClinchie delivered a solo home run in the third inning, cutting the score to 4-1, North Allegheny.

A lightning delay in the third inning didn’t take the thunder out of the NA bats as a two-run single by Avelyn Kropf increased the NA lead to 6-1 once play resumed. Another lightning and rain delay in the fourth inning only postponed the inevitable as the Tigers surged ahead with a five-run inning, highlighted by a two-run single by Taylor Condiotte, a two-run double by Kropf and a sacrifice fly RBI by Alison Friend. The big inning ballooned the NA lead to 11-1.

An unearned run by Mt. Lebanon in the top of the fifth extended the game for one more half inning, but the Tigers invoked the 10-run rule in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Rychel to cap a 12-2 victory. Rychel finished with a 4-for-4 day with three RBIs and three runs scored, giving her Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors.

Kropf contributed the big offensive output with a 2-for-3 performance with four RBIs, and Rowlands tallied a two-hit day, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Plotsko was the winning pitcher and yielded only two hits and two runs, one earned, with five strikeouts.

The win improves North Allegheny’s record to 12-7 overall and caps the section slate with an 11-5 mark. Mt. Lebanon drops to 6-13 overall and 4-12 in Section 1-6A. The Tigers are locked into the No. 3 seed in the upcoming WPIAL playoffs, while the Blue Devils will miss the playoffs for the third straight season. NA will host Penn-Trafford for a non-section matchup on Tuesday. The game will be broadcast live by the North Allegheny Sports Network.

Softball Summary vs. Mt. Lebanon, 5-2-25

North Allegheny traveled to Butler High School on Tuesday afternoon to take on the Golden Tornado in a Section 1-6A matchup. Storms came through and the game was called in the top of the sixth inning but five is enough for an official game and the Tigers came away with the 5-0 victory over Butler for their fifth straight win.

Sammy Plotsko got the win in the circle for NA striking out four batters. She also had a hit and drove in a run. Allison Friend was 3 for 3 with a double, a home run and three RBIs for the Tigers.

North Allegheny improves to 11-7 overall and 10-5 in the section. Butler falls to 2-15 overall and 2-11 in section play. The Tigers return to action on Friday when they host Mt. Lebanon at 4 p.m. This game will be broadcast on the North Allegheny Sports Network.

North Allegheny traveled to Norwin to take on the Knights in another Section 1-6A matchup. The Tigers picked up their fourth straight win and fifth in six games as they downed Norwin, 3-2, on Monday afternoon.

Sammy Plotsko got the win in the circle striking out eight batters. Erin Fadgen doubled and drove in a run while McKenna Rowlands hit a triple and had an RBI. Zoe Rychel was 2 for 3, driving in a run.

North Allegheny improves to 10-7 overall and 9-5 in the section. Norwin falls to 5-10 and 5-7 in section play. The Tigers return to action today when they travel to Butler at 4 p.m.

North Allegheny traveled to Pine-Richland on Friday afternoon to take on the Rams in an important Section 1-6A matchup. The bats were on fire for both teams and it was the Tigers that were able to scratch across a couple more runs defeating Pine-Richland by a score of 12-10.

Sammy Plotsko was 3 for 5 with a  home run along with a double. Plotsko drove in two runs. Alison Friend went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. McKenna Rowlands added a pair of doubles.

North Allegheny improves to 9-7 overall and 8-5 in the section. Pine-Richland falls to 11-5 overall and 8-5 in section play. The Tigers return to action on Monday when they travel to Norwin to take on the Knights at 4:15 p.m.

By: Jared Barton

North Allegheny Softball faced Seneca Valley Wednesday night at home for the final regular season meeting between the two squads. The Raiders rode excellent pitching to a 3-0 win.

The Tiger offense found it hard to get anything going against the Gatorade PA State Player of the Year and Clemson commit Lexi Hames, who tossed a complete game with 18 total strikeouts. She also accounted for four walks at the plate.

Seneca Valley took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. After a Hames walk, Emry Rice replaced her at first as a courtesy runner. Later in the inning, sophomore Liv Herrem hit an RBI double, scoring Rice.

The Raiders added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Herrem reached on a single to start the frame and was driven in on a two-run homer from senior Bella Gross.

Senior pitcher Sammy Plotsko was the lone thrower for the Tigers, accumulating two strikeouts. She kept the Raider lineup in check for most of the game, working out of a couple of jams.

NA was only able to produce two hits offensively on single by sophomore Taylor Condiotte in the third inning and a double by sophomore Zoe Rychel in the fourth inning. Rychel took home Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors for her hit and multiple plays made at second base.

The Tigers fall to 6-7 overall on the season and 4-5 in section play. NA has a quick turnaround with a double header against Woodland Hills at 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Line Score - Softball vs. Seneca Valley - 04/23/2024