NA PITCHING SILENCES HEMPFIELD, 2-0

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Three North Allegheny pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout to lead the Tigers past Hempfield on Saturday afternoon, 2-0. Sophomore Kevin Schott got the start and earned the victory with five innings of scoreless baseball, permitting only two hits while striking out a pair. Junior Anthony Hattrup and senior Luke Trueman combined for two hitless innings of relief. Trueman pitched the seventh and picked up the save.

The only runs necessary from the North Allegheny batting order were attained in the first inning.Turner White led off the frame with a single, and one out later, Colin Cain and Caiden Woodfollowed with back-to-back walks to load the bases. Trying to wiggle out of the first inning jam, Hempfield hurler Lance Daley struck out the next hitter but surrendered a two-out, two-run single by Ben Petschke which gave North Allegheny a 2-0 lead.

That early single by Petschke proved to be the difference in the ballgame thanks to the outstanding pitching of Schott, Hattrup and Trueman. For Hempfield, Daley lasted only three innings in his start and was saddled with the loss.

North Allegheny leaps to 5-2 overall with the non-section win. Hempfield, who sits in first place in Section 2-6A, falls to 5-2 on the season. The Tigers are scheduled to host Pine-Richland on Monday at 7 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s WPIAL title game. The Spartans will travel to Penn Hills for a 4 p.m. section game.