NA TOPS FRIENDSHIP COLLEGIATE ACADEMY IN SEASON OPENER, 21-0

The North Allegheny Tigers claimed an impressive 21-0 victory over Friendship Collegiate Academy (DC) in Week Zero to open the 2019 season on Friday night at Newman Stadium. It was NA’s first shutout since the Tigers blanked Morgantown, 45-0, in Week Zero in 2017.

Fittingly, it was the defense that made the first big play of the night. NA’s relentless pressure forced FCA quarterback Dyson Smith into an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone, resulting in a safety for a 2-0 Tigers lead with 4:13 remaining in the first quarter.

Following the safety, the Tigers offense marched the football 69 yards on eight plays, culminating the possession with a 4-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Ben Petschke for a 9-0 lead with 1:29 to play in the first quarter.

Late in the second quarter, the Tigers were faced with a 4th and 4 from the FCA 8-yard line. North Allegheny converted the fourth down into a touchdown thanks to an 8-yard passing score from Petschke to Nathan Hoke for a 16-0 lead at the half.

After a scoreless third quarter, North Allegheny put the finishing touches on the win in the fourth quarter with a 21-yard field by Brandon Persad and a safety by the NA special teams when a bad snap on an FCA punt attempt went through the back of the end zone for a 21-0 final.

Senior running back Percise Colon was the leading rusher for the Tigers with 68 yards on 17 carries. Petchke completed 8 of 13 passes for 104 yards with one passing and one rushing touchdown. Senior Luke Colella was the top receiver, hauling in four passes for 44 yards.

On defense, Hoke led the Tigers in tackles with 6.5 and one sack. Hayden Sheets posted two sacks and Khalil Dinkins thwarted an FCA drive with an interception.

Friendship Collegiate Academy had several big plays erased due to penalties. In all, FCA committed 13 penalties for 137 yards. The Knights had more penalty yardage than yards gained, posting only 124 yards of total offense on the night.

With the win, North Allegheny improves to 1-0 on the season and will host the Norwin Knights in the conference opener on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

NA HUMBLES PINE-RICHLAND IN PIAA QUARTERFINALS, 4-1

By Jonathan Spina

North Allegheny took advantage of four Pine-Richland errors to take the grudge match from the Rams, 4-1, to advance to the PIAA Semifinals. Ryan Partridge threw a complete game and Shane Murphy had two big two-out RBI hits to propel NA to victory.

Pine-Richland got the scoring started in the bottom of the first when Josh Scherer hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Troy LaNeve for a 1-0 lead. The Tigers wasted little time getting the run back in the top of the second inning when Ryan Dougherty led off with a double and scored on a Murphy two-out RBI double to even the score at 1-1.

Both pitchers settled in and had scoreless innings until the top of the fifth when C.J. Weller reached on an error, went first to third on a Cole Young single and then scored when Jared Orwell hit into a double play to make the score 2-1, North Allegheny. The Tigers tacked another run on in the sixth when Cam Medic reached on an error with two outs and scored on a Murphy RBI double for a 3-1 advantage. The Tigers got an insurance run in the seventh for a 4-1 lead. Weller singled, Young got hit by a pitch, both advanced on a wild pitch and Weller scored on an error.

Partridge picked up his second complete game victory against Pine-Richland this season by going seven innings, allowing four hits, one run, striking out six and walking one.

Tommy Beam was the tough-luck loser, going 5.2 innings and allowing six hits, three runs, one earned, striking out seven and walking one.

Dougherty was 2 for 3 and Murphy was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Pine-Richland’s season ends with a 19-5 record. North Allegheny improves to 19-6 and advances to the PIAA Semifinals where they will take on District 1 runner-up, Central Bucks South on Monday at Greene Township Park in Scotland, Pa. at 4 p.m.

NA ADVANCES TO PIAA PLAYOFFS BY BLANKING BETHEL PARK, 3-0

The North Allegheny baseball team punched its ticket to the PIAA tournament for the third straight year with a 3-0 shutout of the Bethel Park Black Hawks on Tuesday night in the WPIAL Class 6A consolation game at Ross Memorial Park in Washington, PA.

The Tigers put up three runs in the first inning and starting pitcher Ryan Partridge made it stand with five innings of one-hit baseball.  Reliever Anthony Hattrup tossed two scoreless innings for his first save of the season.

The Tigers were facing Bethel Park ace Eric Chalus, who was sporting a 6-1 record and a 1.12 ERA entering the contest. However, North Allegheny was able to strike quickly against the southpaw before he could settle into the game. With one out in the top of the first, freshman Cole Young reached on an infield single and advanced to second base on a single by senior Jared Orwell. On an 0-2 count, Logan Andreyko fought off a pitch to left field for a bloop RBI single, scoring Young for a 1-0 lead. An out later, Orwell and Andreyko successfully executed a double steal and scored moments later on a two-out, two-run single by Hattrup to give NA a 3-0 advantage.

Given a three-run lead by his teammates, Partridge responded by shutting down Bethel Park over the next five innings, yielding only one hit and three walks. The Penn State commit struck out six and earned his fifth victory of the season.

Hattrup picked up where Partridge left off in relief by blanking the Black Hawks over the final two innings to close out a 3-0 victory. Hattrup punched out a pair and yielded only one hit.

Chalus was the hard-luck loser for Bethel Park, not allowing another hit after the three-run first inning by North Allegheny. Chalus went the distance with a complete game, striking out 14 batters along the way.

With the victory, North Allegheny improves to 17-6 on the season and advances to the first round of the PIAA tournament on Monday with a site, time and an opponent to be determined. Bethel Park’s season comes to an end with a 15-5 record.

KRISTEN CHOMOS’ 3-RUN HR LIFTS NA PAST UPPER ST. CLAIR IN WPIAL QUARTERFINALS

Senior Kristen Chomos crushed a three-homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to propel the North Allegheny Tigers to a 3-2 victory over the Upper St. Clair Panthers in the WPIAL quarterfinals on Wednesday at South Fayette High School.

Appearing in the playoffs for the 20th consecutive year, the top-seeded Tigers were taking on an upstart Upper St. Clair team that was making its first playoff appearance in 20 years.

Looking to make the most of their opportunity, the eighth-seeded Panthers broke a scoreless tie with a string of two-out baserunners in the fourth inning. Grace Swigart, a first-team all-section pick, started the uprising with a two-out single, followed by a walk from Haley Beardsley. Bethany College commit Maddie Andrejcik delivered a base hit up the middle to score Swigart from second base for a 1-0 lead.

After back-to-back walks to start the top of the fifth inning, USC threatened to expand upon its lead. With starting pitcher Ashley Adams, a second team all-section pick, beginning to scuffle, the Tigers turned to reliever Audra Sappwho retired the next three batters to thwart the Panthers in the fifth.

However, Upper St. Clair did tack on an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning thanks to another RBI single by Andrejcik for a 2-0 lead.

Through five innings, USC starter Danielle Orendi, who was named to the all-section first-team, had allowed only two hits to the Tigers and three base runners total. After inducing a flyout of Rachel Martindale, another first-team all-section selection, to start the sixth inning, Orendi ran into trouble. Freshman Alaina Whipkey started the NA rally with a double to left-centerfield. Sapp followed with a liner to left-center that was dropped by USC’s outfielder Kelly Dawson, putting runners at the corners with one out. Chomos stepped in next and clubbed a 1-0 pitch for a three-run homer, her third of the season, to leapfrog the Tigers ahead, 3-2.

In the top of the seventh, Sapp retired the Panthers in order to close out the ballgame and improve to 2-1 on the season.

With the thrilling comeback win, North Allegheny jumps to 14-6 on the season and advances to the WPIAL semifinals to face the Norwin Knights next Wednesday at a site and time to be determined. Upper St. Clair ends the year with a 13-7 record.

Class 6A Softball All-Section Teams Announced

First-Team Photo Gallery

2019 Class 6A Softball All-Section Teams

SECTION 1
FIRST TEAM
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Salena JaquayBaldwinInfieldJunior
Reagan MilikenBethel ParkInfieldSophomore
Lindsay SchmidtCanon-McMillanInfieldJunior
Olivia UlamCanon-McMillanInfieldSophomore
Gianna SciulloBethel ParkOutfieldSophomore
Grace SwigartUpper St. ClairOutfieldJunior
Ellionna KotarCanon-McMillanOutfieldSophomore
Madeline RitenourMt. LebanonOutfieldJunior
Danielle OrendiUpper St. ClairPitcherJunior
Addie TaggBaldwinPitcherSenior
Shayna PostlerBethel ParkCatcherJunior
Kayla MiehlBethel ParkDesignated PlayerJunior
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bill AgugliaUpper St. Clair
SECOND TEAM
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Alex BondiPeters TownshipInfieldSenior
Zoe MaloneUpper St. ClairInfieldJunior
Maleah PacellaBaldwinInfieldFreshman
Paige SneddonMt. LebanonInfieldSenior
Amber WilkesPeters TownshipOutfieldFreshman
Ali SniegockiBethel ParkOutfieldFreshman
Kelly DawsonUpper St. ClairOutfieldSenior
Lauren CayeBethel ParkOutfieldJunior
Brooke PerriCanon-McMillanPitcherFreshman
Delaney NagyBethel ParkPitcherJunior
Cassie CarlsonBaldwinCatcherJunior
Haley BeardsleyUpper St. ClairDesignated PlayerJunior
HONORABLE MENTION
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Emily AmatoMt. LebanonInfieldSenior
Maddie AndrejcikUpper St. ClairInfieldSenior
Sandra SoltesBethel ParkInfieldFreshman
Alex WunderlichUpper St. ClairInfieldJunior
Julia DiPetroAllderdiceOutfieldSenior
Cheyenne ShandorBaldwinOutfieldSenior
Lyndsey ThompsonBrashearOutfieldSenior
Sydney SenayCanon-McMillanCatcherJunior
Jessica HancockBrashearDesignated PlayerFreshman
SECTION 2
FIRST TEAM
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Rachel MartindaleNorth AlleghenyInfieldSenior
Jessica PersinHempfieldInfieldSenior
Hailee CulbertsonNorwinInfieldSenior
Maura PasqualeSeneca ValleyInfieldJunior
Kearson WagnerSeneca ValleyOutfieldJunior
Laura Fox HempfieldOutfieldSenior
Neena PietropaoloFox ChapelOutfieldSophomore
Claire ZimmermanSeneca ValleyPitcherSenior
Sydney LokayNorwinPitcherSophomore
Makenna NegleyButlerCatcherSophomore
Regan BrodineNorth AlleghenyDesignated PlayerSenior
COACH OF THE YEAR
Brian MesichNorwin
SECOND TEAM
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Kallie KretzlerNorth HillsInfieldSenior
Victoria ShimkoNorwinInfieldJunior
Mel TaylorNorth HillsInfieldSophomore
Kristen ChomosNorth AlleghenyInfieldSenior
Bailee BertaniNorwinOutfieldSophomore
Kate HorrellPine-RichlandOutfieldSenior
Alexandra BrentzelNorwinOutfieldSenior
Callie SowersHempfieldPitcherSophomore
Ashley AdamsNorth AlleghenyPitcherSenior
Karli HackerSeneca ValleyCatcherSenior
Leslie RozanskiNorth HillsDesignated PlayerSenior
HONORABLE MENTION
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Mackenzie BakerSeneca ValleyInfieldSophomore
Bailey DevinneyPine-RichlandInfieldSenior
Carly CookNorwinInfieldJunior
Olivia MadeySeneca ValleyInfieldSenior
Olivia PersinHempfieldInfieldJunior
Brooke SerbinNorth AlleghenyOutfieldSenior
Alexandra DillnerNorwinOutfieldJunior
Jessica KleinFox ChapelOutfieldJunior
Maddie TraubNorth HillsOutfieldSenior
Shay HagermanNorth HillsOutfieldJunior
Julia EhrmanSeneca ValleyOutfieldJunior
Ashley OrischakHempfieldOutfieldJunior
Gabbi AughtonPine-RIchlandPitcherFreshman
Shelby BarnettButlerPitcherJunior
Mackenzie BorkovichFox ChapelPitcherFreshman
Angelina PepeNorwinPitcherFreshman
Lauren BarnesNorth HillsPitcherSenior
Emma HoffnerHempfieldCatcherSophomore
Sara RussellNorwinCatcherSenior
Alexia BrownPine-RichlandDesignated PlayerFreshman
Madelyn GrossSeneca ValleyDesignated PlayerFreshman

Class 6A Baseball All-Section Teams Announced

First-Team Photo Gallery

2019 Class 6A Baseball All-Section Teams

SECTION 1
FIRST TEAM
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Cole YoungNorth AlleghenyInfieldFreshman
JD ArmstrongPine-RichlandInfieldSenior
Troy LaNevePine-RichlandInfieldSenior
Mark TrottaSeneca ValleyInfieldSenior
Logan AndreykoNorth AlleghenyOutfieldSophomore
Josh JohnsonPine-RichlandOutfieldSenior
Josh McLeanSeneca ValleyOutfieldSenior
Tommy BeamPine-RichlandPitcherSophomore
Cory GreinerSeneca ValleyPitcherSenior
Matt WoodPine-RichlandCatcherSenior
CJ WellerNorth AlleghenyDesignated HitterSenior
COACH OF THE YEAR
Kurt WolfePine-Richland
SECOND TEAM
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Tyler CasciatoCentral CatholicInfieldSophomore
Jared OrwellNorth AlleghenyInfieldSenior
Josh SchererPine-RichlandInfieldSenior
Jake MaleyPine-RichlandInfieldSenior
Kyle WeitzelButlerOutfieldSenior
Wesley ByrdPine-RichlandOutfieldJunior
Austin ShirleySeneca ValleyOutfieldSenior
Ryan PartridgeNorth AlleghenyPitcherSenior
Anthony HattrupNorth AlleghenyPitcherSenior
Cam VozelSeneca ValleyCatcherSenior
Chase VrabelPine-RichlandDesignated HitterSophomore
HONORABLE MENTION
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Joe OlsavskyCentral CatholicInfieldJunior
Sean GravesAllderdiceInfieldJunior
Ryan DoughertyNorth AlleghenyOutfieldJunior
Grant VoytovichPine-RichlandOutfieldJunior
Colby AndersonButlerPitcherSenior
Conor DeasyCentral CatholicPictherSenior
Kevin SchottNorth AlleghenyPitcherJunior
Matt SchietromaPine-RichlandPitcherSenior
Jon McCulloughSeneca ValleyPitcherJunior
Nathan StutzButlerCatcherSenior
SECTION 2
FIRST TEAM
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Owen SabolNorwinInfieldSenior
Jayden WalkerNorwinInfieldSophomore
Michael HosniHempfieldInfieldSophomore
Mario DissoPenn-TraffordInfieldSenior
Luke HudsonHempfieldOutfieldSenior
Connor MondockLatrobeOutfieldSenior
Evan SantePlumOutfieldSenior
Maclean MaundPenn-TraffordPitcherSenior
Gino MarraPlumPitcherSenior
Cade PattersonPenn-TraffordCatcherSenior
Luke FabacPenn-TraffordDesignated HitterSenior
COACH OF THE YEAR
Rob OrndorffConnellsville
SECOND TEAM
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Austin PetragliaConnellsvilleInfieldSenior
Connor BanniasPenn-TraffordInfieldSenior
Anthony SherwinPenn-TraffordInfieldJunior
Chandler YoccaPlumInfieldSenior
Jordan SabolPenn-TraffordOutfieldSenior
Reed HippsHempfieldOutfieldSenior
Kade MusgroveConnellsvilleOutfieldJunior
Tyler HorvatPenn-TraffordPitcherSenior
Billy KerstonNorwinPitcherSenior
Cade WarrickConnellsvilleCatcherSenior
Nick FlemingNorwinDesignated HitterSophomore
HONORABLE MENTION
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Alex GabauerNorwinInfieldSophomore
Tanner OrndorffConnellsvilleInfieldSenior
Anthony FrazettaPlumInfieldSenior
Logan LiebdzinskiNorwinInfieldSenior
Bobby LanePenn-TraffordOutfieldJunior
Brandon LanePlumOutfieldJunior
Shane StuchellHempfieldPitcherSenior
Gage GillottConnellsvillePictherSophomore
Hunter EperesiHempfieldDesignated HitterSenior
SECTION 3
FIRST TEAM
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Dante BorrisMt. LebanonInfieldJunior
Ryan GhiseUpper St. ClairInfieldSenior
Kevin KoglerBethel ParkInfieldJunior
Cam WalkerCanon-McMillanInfieldSenior
Jackson McCloskeyPeters TownshipOutfieldSenior
Sean McGowanBethel ParkOutfieldJunior
Joe PulitUpper St. ClairOutfieldSenior
Andy SopataBaldwinOutfieldSenior
Eric ChalusBethel ParkPitcherSophomore
Tom ColcombePeters TownshipPitcherSenior
Dom CampagnaPeters TownshipCatcherSenior
Cam WestonCanon-McMillanDesignated HitterSenior
COACH OF THE YEAR
Joe MaizePeters Township
SECOND TEAM
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Jeffrey DenglerMt. LebanonInfieldSophomore
Dax PloskinaPeters TownshipInfieldSenior
Sam QuinnPeters TownshipInfieldSenior
Mick WalshUpper St. ClairInfieldSenior
Mark LehmanPeters TownshipOutfieldJunior
Anthony StrangisBethel ParkOutfieldSenior
Grant WalnohaUpper St. ClairOutfieldSenior
Brycen VirgiliCanon-McMillanOutfieldSenior
Evan BromleyBethel ParkPitcherJunior
Nate HamelUpper St. ClairPitcherJunior
Brandan ReaCanon-McMillanCatcherSenior
HONORABLE MENTION
NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONGRADE
Cooper ShoemakerBethel ParkInfieldJunior
Moises TerreroBrashearOutfieldJunior
Brandon ColeBethel ParkCatcherJunior

Alumni Update – North Allegheny’s Madi Beining

Madi Beining has dominated in the circle as of late, winning nine straight decisions, including five wins and one save last week for Gannon University.

She tossed a career-high 11 strikeouts in the 1-0 shutout of Slippery Rock University, her sixth shutout of the season.

Beining posted an 0.66 ERA last week, allowing just three runs in 31.2 innings.

She had shutout victories in the 4-0 win over Cal U and the 7-0 win over Seton Hill.

The North Allegheny graduate was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division Pitcher of the Week.

(photo courtesy of Gannon University)

NORTH ALLEGHENY CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH WITH WIN OVER NORWIN

In a Section 2-6A showdown, the North Allegheny softball team locked up a playoff berth with a 7-4 win over the Norwin Knights on Wednesday night. The Tigers overcame an early 3-0 deficit with a 13-hit attack that saw all nine batters reach base and six different players score runs.

The visiting Knights wasted little time in taking the early advantage with a three-run top of the first inning. With the help of an NA error, Norwin loaded the bases for Bailee Bertani, who delivered an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Alexandra Brentzel followed with a two-run single to increase the lead to 3-0, Norwin.

North Allegheny responded immediately in the bottom of the first inning and loaded the bases for freshman Alaina Whipkey, who promptly came through with an RBI single to trim the Norwin lead to 3-1. Senior Regan Brodine knotted the score at 3-3 with a two-run single. Sophomores Chloe Szczepaniak and Lauren Haywood followed with back-to-back RBI singles to put NA on top, 5-3.

The Tigers continued the hit parade in the third inning and chased Norwin starter Angelina Pepe after Haywood belted a two-run double to balloon the NA lead to 7-3.

After Norwin’s initial three-run surge in the first inning, North Allegheny starting pitcher Ashley Adams shut down the Knights the rest of the way and did not allow a run until the final inning when Carly Cook plated a run with a two-out RBI single. By then, it was too little, too late for Norwin as Adams induced a groundout of Victoria Shimko to close out a 7-4 victory.  

Adams went the distance to her eighth win in the pitcher’s circle with two strikeouts and no walks.

Helping pace the NA offense was senior Rachel Martindale with a 3 for 4 performance. Two-hit efforts were added by Szczepaniak and Whipkey.

Playoff-bound North Allegheny improves to 11-3 overall and 9-2 in Section 2-6A. Norwin slips to 8-4 overall and 7-3 in the section.

Alumni Update – North Allegheny’s Madi Beining

Madi Beining was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA last week against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams, striking out 16 while not walking any and allowing just one run.

The junior gave up just five hits in a 6-1 win over Slippery Rock University and five hits in a 4-0 shutout of Mercyhurst University, her third complete game shutout of the season.

Beining recorded a career-high nine strikeouts in the win over the Lakers.

The North Allegheny graduate was named PSAC Western Division Pitcher of the Week.

(photo courtesy of Gannon University) 

Alumni Update – North Allegheny’s Ben Marsico

Ben Marsico went 2-0 with a 1.64 earned-run average (ERA) last week in a pair of appearances (1 start) for Washington & Jefferson College.

The junior tossed 6.0 strong innings in Wednesday’s 20-2 win over Waynesburg University, yielding two earned on five hits, before allowing just one hit over 5.0 shutout innings in Sunday’s 8-3 win over Westminster College.

Marsico limited opposing hitters to a .125 batting average last week. He is 5-1 with a 4.93 ERA this season. 

The North Allegheny graduate was named Presidents’ Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week for his performance.

(photo courtesy of Washington & Jefferson College)