NA CLINCHES SECTION CROWN WITH 6-1 WIN AT SENECA VALLEY

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The North Allegheny softball team clinched an outright Section 3-6A title on Tuesday afternoon with a 6-1 win at Seneca Valley. Junior Ashley Adams tossed a complete game and drove in three runs to help propel the Tigers toward victory. In the pitcher’s circle, Adams scattered 11 hits and allowed only one unearned run with five strikeouts.

The Tigers stormed out of the gates in the top of the first inning. With the bases loaded, Adams delivered a three-run double that scored Shannon HammDana Manz and Kristen Chomos for an immediate 3-0 lead. Freshman Chloe Szczepaniak followed with an RBI triple to plate courtesy runner Bella Janowiak for a 4-0 advantage.

Seneca Valley built a run-scoring threat in every inning but only cashed in once when a North Allegheny error allowed Mandy Magill to trot home in the bottom of the third inning and trim the Tigers lead to 4-1. The Raiders left 12 runners on base on the day.

While the Raiders were flummoxed by Adams, the NA lineup added insurance runs in the fifth and seventh innings. In the fifth, Szczepaniak stroked an RBI double that drove in Brynn Serbin for a 5-1 lead. Chomos added an RBI double in the seventh inning that brought home Ashley Solenday to swell the NA advantage to 6-1.

Szczepaniak finished the afternoon with a 3-for-4 performance and two RBI’s, falling just a home run shy of the cycle. Chomos was 2-for-3 with a single, double, walk, RBI and a run scored.

Seneca Valley starting pitcher Claire Zimmerman took the loss in a complete-game effort, surrendering six runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

With the win, North Allegheny not only locks up a section title but improves to 11-6 on the season and 8-1 in section play. Second-place Seneca Valley slides 9-5 overall and 6-3 in the section. The Tigers will visit Upper St. Clair on Wednesday in a non-section affair at 4:15 p.m. The Raiders will travel to Butler on Thursday for their section finale at 4 p.m.