Softball Game Summaries

Despite a seventh-inning rally, the third-seeded North Allegheny softball team was upended on Wednesday afternoon by sixth-seeded Canon-McMillan, 3-1, in the WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinals at Boyce-Mayview Park.

Appearing in the WPIAL playoffs for a 24th consecutive season, the Tigers faced off against the Big Macs in the postseason for the first time since earning a 4-2 win over CM in the 2017 quarterfinals. However, this game would go differently. A three-base error allowed senior Oliva Ford to reach third base in the first at-bat of the game. An out later, junior Hailey Swope gave the Big Macs a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to score Ford.

Canon-McMillan added to its lead with a two-out RBI single by Emily Booher in the third inning and Aurora Shirdon raced home on a throwing error in the fourth inning for a 3-0 advantage.

Freshman right-hander Lyla Mowery limited the Tigers to just two hits through six innings and retired 10 consecutive batters before NA built an uprising in the seventh. Down to their final three outs, singles by junior Sammy Plotsko and senior Anne Melle started a rally. Later in the inning with runners at the corners and two outs, senior Julia Drazga delivered a clutch RBI single to score senior Carlyn Vaupel, and the Canon-McMillan lead was trimmed to 3-1. Unfortunately, the late-game rally wasn’t enough as Mowery induced the game’s final out and the Big Macs held on for the victory to advance to the WPIAL semifinals to face Seneca Valley next week.

In a complete game effort, Mowery did a fine job pitching to contact by inducing 14 ground ball outs. She allowed only one run on five hits with one strikeout and no walks.

Plotsko got the start for the Tigers and also went the distance, allowing only three runs (one earned) on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

The senior class of Drazga, Melle, Vaupel, Kaci Plotsko, Clara Stover, Olivia Carlson and Caitlyn Logan were named the Wright Automotive Players of the Game for an outstanding four years at North Allegheny.

North Allegheny’s season concludes with a 12-8 record, while Canon-McMillan improves to 8-11. Congratulations to head coach Morgan Vescovi and the entire North Allegheny softball team for another outstanding season in 2024.

Line Score - Softball vs. Canon-McMillan - 05/15/2024

The Tigers finished their regular season with a close game to Neshannock, the Class 2A 2022 and 2023 WPIAL Champions. The Tigers played Neshannock close, scoring three runs against a team that had only allowed five runs throughout their entire season; however, they fell to the Lancers with a final score of 5-3.

The Tigers scored first in the top of the first inning. Junior McKenna Rowlands led off with a double and later scored on a single by senior Carlyn Vaupel for a 1-0 lead. However, the Lancers answered back, scoring one run on a leadoff triple and a groundout to second. Entering the second inning, the game was tied 1-1.

The Lancers later scored three in the third, bringing the score to 4-1. However, in the top of the sixth, the Tigers’ offense sparked to life. Vaupel hit a solo home run over the left field fence, making the score 4-2. Then, sophomore Taylor Neese doubled. With two outs, freshman Zoe Rychel doubled on a line drive to center field, scoring freshman courtesy runner, Leah Carlson. Unfortunately, while the Tigers were able to decrease the deficit, they were unable to continue their offensive run, and the game ended with a final score of 5-3.

Senior Anne Melle started on the mound for the Tigers. She pitched four complete innings, allowing six hits and striking out one. Junior Sammy Plotsko entered the game in the fifth inning. She pitched two innings, allowing three hits and striking out three.

North Allegheny will take on Canon-McMillan next Wednesday in the first round of the Class 6A WPIAL playoffs. The game will be played at Boyce Mayview Park and is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. The contest will be broadcast live by the North Allegheny Sports Network.

Line Score - Softball vs. Neshannock - 05/10/2024

North Allegheny lost 2-1 to Penn-Trafford on Wednesday afternoon despite out-hitting the non-section opponent six to three.

Penn-Trafford scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, capitalizing on several errors in the field. While junior Sammy Plotsko homered in the fifth inning to cut the Warriors’ lead in half, the Tigers were held scoreless for the remainder of the game, losing 2-1.

Plotsko also led the Tigers’ offense with two hits on the day. Hits were also earned by seniors Carlyn Vaupel, Anne Melle, and Olivia Carlson, and junior McKenna Rowlands.

Melle pitched six innings for North Allegheny, holding Penn-Trafford to three hits while striking out six.

The Tigers will travel to Neshannock this Friday.

Line Score - Softball vs. Penn-Trafford - 05/08/2024

North Allegheny won big over Mt. Lebanon on Monday, 13-3, in the Section 1-6A finale.

The Tigers opened the scoring in the top of the first with bases loaded when juniors Sammy Plotsko and McKenna Rowlands hit back-to-back singles and senior Carlyn Vaupel walked. A timely single by sophomore Taylor Neese scored the first run of the game, followed by a single by sophomore Erin Fadgen that scored two more. After the first inning, the score was 3-0 in favor of the Tigers.

In the second inning for the Tigers, Rowlands led off with a double, worked her way around the bases, and scored on a sacrifice fly hit by senior Anne Melle. In the third inning, senior Olivia Carlson hit a sacrifice fly that scored senior Julia Drazga. In the fourth, a single by Melle scored one, followed by another run scored when Neese singled for the second time. At the end of the fourth inning, the Tigers continued to lead with a score of 7-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, Mt. Lebanon fought back with a leadoff home run hit by Olivia Park. Both teams were left scoreless into the sixth, and the game entered the seventh inning 7-1.

North Allegheny added six more runs in the top of the seventh on five hits. Vaupel homered to center field, scoring two runs, Drazga and Fadgen each singled, scoring one run apiece, and junior Allison Yanchak doubled, scoring two runs. The Blue Devils scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on three consecutive singles but were unable to keep their offense alive. The Tigers’ defense ended the game with a final score of 13-3.

The Tigers’ offense tallied sixteen hits on the day; Fadgen, Rowlands, Neese, and Melle went 2-for-3 while sophomore Avelyn Kropf and Vaupel each went 2-for-2. Fadgen led the team with 3 RBIs, while Vaupel, Melle, Neese, and Yanchak each earned two RBIs throughout the contest. North Allegheny also showed patience at the plate, drawing seven walks. Rowlands and Vaupel led the team with two apiece.

Plotsko pitched all seven innings for the Tigers. She gave up seven hits and three runs, striking out five and walking one.

The Tigers will travel next to Penn-Trafford on Wednesday for a non-section contest; it is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.

Line Score - Softball vs. Mt. Lebanon - 05/06/2024

North Allegheny hosted Knoch for its first non-section game of the season on Friday afternoon, earning the win with a final score of 8-2.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when Knoch scored on a double, single, and stolen base. However, the Tigers answered back, scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning. Senior Carlyn Vaupel led off with a triple, and later scored when senior Anne Melle grounded out to third. With two outs, three consecutive pinch runners did offensive damage. First, sophomore Erin Fadgen doubled to right field. Next, freshman Zoe Rychel tripled, scoring the runner from second. Last, freshman Taylor Condiotte singled to the shortstop, scoring Rychel. After the inning, the Tigers took a 3-1 lead.

Knoch scored again in the top of the fifth, narrowing North Allegheny’s lead to 3-2. However, the Tigers earned a single run in the bottom of the inning when junior Sammy Plotsko led off with a double, advanced to third on a deep fly ball by junior McKenna Rowlands, and scored on a single by Melle.

After maintaining their 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth, the Tigers scored four more runs on three singles and a triple. Senior Kaci Plotsko and sophomore Avelyn Kropf each singled to start the inning. Senior Olivia Carlson also singled, scoring Kaci Plotsko. With one out, Rowlands tripled, scoring both Kropf and Carlson. Rowlands then scored on a ground ball hit by freshman Twila Goulding. North Allegheny’s defense held Knoch scoreless in the top of the seventh, and the final score of the game was 8-2 in favor of the Tigers.

North Allegheny accumulated 12 hits throughout the contest; Rowlands went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Melle went 1-for-4 with two RBIs, and Kaci Plotsko went 2-for-2. Melle pitched all seven innings for the Tigers, surrendering five hits and striking out five.

The Tigers’ record improves to 11-5. They will travel to Mt. Lebanon on Monday for their final section contest; it is scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm.

Line Score - Softball vs. Knoch - 05/03/2024