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* PIAA RUNNERUP*

*WPIAL CHAMPIONS*

*SECTION CHAMPIONS*

KRASTEK NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR BY TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Senior pitcher Sara Krastek was selected as the Player of the Year by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.  Senior catcher Jill Dorsch and senior center fielder Kari Steigerwald were chosen as members of the Terrific Ten.

Dorsch led the Lady Tigers in batting with a .456 mark.  She was NA's hottest hitter during the playoff run after returning to the team after gall bladder surgery.  Dorsch was a dominant force behind the plate for the Lady Tigers, committing only one error on the year.  Jill will attend Robert Morris and play softball for the Colonials.

Steigerwald was the NA leadoff hitter over the past several seasons.  She batted .356 with eight doubles and three triples.  One of her greatest assets is her speed which led to five stolen bases, tops on the team.  Her speed allowed her to cover a lot of ground in center field where she was able to run down a number of fly balls.  Kari will attend Bowling Green University and play for the Falcons next year.

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL:  TERRIFIC 10

* - Player of the Year

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DASKIVICH NAMED ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

Assistant Coach Scott Daskivich was selected as the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year for 2003.  Daskivich assisted Head Coach Rick Meister as the Lady Tigers captured the WPIAL title and the PIAA runnerup spot during the past season. 

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PG NORTH PICKS DORSCH AS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Senior Jill Dorsch was chosen as the PG North Player of the Year for her performance during the past season.  The Lady Tiger catcher batted .436 to lead the team.  Defensively, Dorsch committed only 1 error in 148 chances.  During the playoffs, Dorsch led the Tigers in hitting and was an inspirational leader both on the field and on the bench. 

Senior pitcher Sara Krastek, third baseman Lily Matusiak, and center fielder Kari Steigerwald were selected as members of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PG North All-Stars.  Listed below is the all-star team:

* - Player of the Year

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KRASTEK, DORSCH, STEIGERWALD ON PG 2003 ALL-STAR TEAM

Senior pitcher Sara Krastek, catcher Jill Dorsch, and center fielder Kari Steigerwald were named as members of the 2003 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-Star teams.  Senior first baseman Stacey Zatezalo, along with Krastek, Dorsch, and Steigerwald, were all selected for the Section 5 All-Section team.  

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE 2003 ALL-STARS

* - Player of the Year

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
SECTION 5 ALL-STAR TEAM

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LADY TIGERS FALL TO NESHAMINY, 1-0, IN NINE INNINGS

Box Score

The Neshaminy Redskins scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth inning to deny the Lady Tigers a second straight PIAA championship on Friday afternoon at Shippensburg University’s Robb Field.  NA senior pitcher Sara Krastek dueled with Neshaminy’s Tracy Silvestre pitch for pitch throughout the afternoon before the Redskins were able to plate the winning run in a 1-0 victory.  Senior center fielder Kari Steigerwald led NA with a pair of hits.

Silvestre retired the Lady Tigers in order over the first three innings.  The Redskins threatened in the bottom of the third.  Right field Melissa Verillo singled to left field to lead off.  With one out, second baseman Jill Benningfield singled to left field with Verillo moving to second.  Krastek was able to get out of the inning as LF Shannon Mateer hit into a force play and catcher Jamie Janzer bounced back to the mound.

The Lady Tigers continued to have problems with Silvestre.  Senior third baseman Lily Matusiak lined a base hit to left center field for the first NA hit in the fourth inning, and Steigerwald singled and stole second in the sixth, but Silvestre was able to retire the side in both innings without allowing any runs.  The Redskins mounted a threat in the bottom of the sixth when they loaded the bases.  With one out, Janzer singled to left field and third baseman Ali Nemeth followed with an infield single.  After Dacey walked to load the bases, Krastek made a good stop on DP Danielle Curran’s ground ball and threw to senior catcher Jill Dorsch for the second out.  Center fielder Kristen Ludlow then grounded into a force play to end the inning.

Neither team was able to score in the seventh and eighth innings.  In the top of the ninth, the Lady Tigers rallied and threatened to take the lead.   With one out, Steigerwald singled to center field.  Dorsch dropped down a bunt along the third base line that was bobbled by Nemeth who then threw in the dirt at first base.  On the play, Steigerwald went to third and Dorsch to second.  After a conference on the mound, Silvestre issued an intentional walk to Matusiak to load the bases.  Silvestre got out of trouble by striking out senior 1B Stacey Zatezalo and getting senior RF Morgan Howard on a ground ball to second.

The Redskins won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.  Dacey started the inning with a slicing drive down the right field line that Morgan Howard got a glove on but could not hold.  Curran dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Dacey to third.  On the first pitch, Ludlow bunted along the third base line.  Dacey was able to slide past the tag of Dorsch to score the winning run on a close play at the plate, and Neshaminy claimed the Class AAA crown with the 1-0 victory.

It was a great effort by the Lady Tigers against an outstanding Neshaminy team that returned seven starters from last year.  Krastek allowed only six hits and the unearned run as she finished the season with a record of 16-6 and an ERA of 0.43.  Silvestre held NA to just three hits while striking out thirteen.  For her efforts, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Kari Steigerwald as the Player of the Game.  The Lady Tigers finished the season with a record of 21-7, including the WPIAL and Section 5 titles.

GAME SUMMARY
NESHAMINY – 1    NORTH ALLEGHENY - 0

WP -  Tracy Silvestri (17-3)               LP – Sara Krastek (16-6)

CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH RICK MEISTER AND THE LADY TIGERS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON!!!!!

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ZATEZALO'S BLAST BEATS BELLEFONTE, 5-1

Box Score

With the score tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning, senior first baseman Stacey Zatezalo hit a long drive off the center field fence to drive in three runs and propel the Lady Tigers to a 5-1 victory over Bellefonte in the PIAA semifinals at Elderton on Monday afternoon.  Senior pitcher Sara Krastek allowed only four hits and an unearned run while striking out six and walking none on the way to her sixteenth win of the season.

After DP Jess Davis hit the first pitch of the game to right field for a double, Krastek settled down to retire the next three batters to keep the game scoreless in the top of the first inning.  The Lady Tigers were able to take the lead in the bottom of the inning.  With one out, senior catcher Jill Dorsch walked.  Senior 3B Lily Matusiak followed with an infield single off the glove of sophomore pitcher Laura Caldwell.  After two outs, senior right fielder Morgan Howard hit a line drive to right center field scoring Dorsch with the game's first run.

Neither team was able to score again until the fifth inning.  In the bottom of the third, Dorsch singled to left field and stole second base.  Caldwell was able to get the next three batters to keep NA from adding to the lead.  Krastek allowed only one hit in innings two through four, a harmless infield single by first baseman Kyli Krape.

Bellefonte was able to tie the game in the top of the fifth.  With one down, Caldwell singled up the middle.  After Krastek struck out CF Nicole Farrington on a 3-2 pitch, a ground ball by left fielder Kate Irwin was misplayed by the Tigers, allowing courtesy runner Carrie Grey to score the tying run.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Tigers came back to take control of the contest.  After junior second baseman Amanda Howard drew a walk to lead off, senior center fielder Kari Steigerwald beat out a bunt single.  Howard went to third when the throw to first base was dropped.  After Steigerwald stole second, Matusiak grounded back to the mound.  Caldwell threw wildly to the plate, but the runners were not running and Matusiak was safe on the fielder's choice.  Zatezalo then came through with the key hit, a long drive to the fence in center field, scoring all three runners and giving NA a 4-1 advantage after five innings.

The Lady Tigers added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Sophomore pinch hitter Nicole Lenart led off with a single to left field.  After Amanda Howard singled Lenart to second, Steigerwald drew a walk.  With two outs, Matusiak singled up the middle to score Lenart and make it a 5-1 NA lead after six innings.

Krastek allowed a two-out single to Caldwell but ended the game when she caught pinch-hitter Christina Kline's ground ball and threw to Zatezalo.  The win improved the NA record to 21-6 on the season and sent them to the PIAA championship game for the second straight year.  For her clutch hit, the North Allegheny Sports Network chose Stacey Zatezalo as the Player of the Game.  The Lady Tigers will play the Neshaminy Redskins in a rematch of last year's title contest.  Game time is set for 3:00 pm at Robb Field at Shippensburg University.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY – 5                  BELLEFONTE - 1

WP -  Sara Krastek (16-5)                LP – Laura Caldwell

2003 PIAA AAA SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

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LADY TIGERS BLANK MONTOUR, 3-0, TO MOVE ON TO SEMIFINALS

Box Score

Senior catcher Jill Dorsch had three hits and an RBI to lead the Lady Tigers to a 3-0 victory over Montour in the PIAA Quarterfinals at the Hampton Baseball and Softball Complex on Thursday afternoon.  Senior pitcher Sara Krastek tossed a five-hitter, while striking out three and walking none, to earn her fifteenth victory of the season.

Neither team was able to score in the first inning, although Dorsch had a base hit and was stranded at second base.  In the bottom of the second, the Montour defense contributed to the Tiger cause with a pair of errors.  With one out, senior DP Becky Wilker reached on a high throw to first base.  After senior right fielder Morgan Howard sacrificed her to second, shortstop Amy Philips grounded to third.  The throw was high again, and when the ball bounced away along the first base line, Wilker scored to give NA a 1-0 lead.

Montour threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning.  With two outs, pitcher Brenna Reed lined a double to deep left field.  Krastek was able to retire shortstop Ashley Shiwarski on a ground ball back to the mound to keep the one-run lead.  The Spartans got a one-out single by center fielder Kristin Zyskowski in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Left fielder Holly Kriger followed with a looping fly ball into short right field.  Morgan Howard came in, scooped up the ball, and threw to Phillips at second base for the force out to stop another Montour rally.  The Lady Tigers led, 1-0, after four innings.

In the top of the fifth, the NA bats came alive.  With one out, junior 2B Amanda Howard beat out a bunt single.  After senior center fielder Kari Steigerwald sacrificed her to second, Dorsch followed with her second hit of the game, a line drive to left center field.  Howard, who was almost hit by the ball, beat the throw to the plate with a gutsy head first slide, her hand touching home plate just before the tag by catcher Holly Smith.  Dorsch moved up to second on the throw to the plate and scored on another line drive to center field by senior third baseman Lily Matusiak.  Dorsch used some acrobatics to avoid the tag at the plate, and NA had a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.

Krastek, who controlled the Montour hitters throughout the game, was able to get the Spartans in the sixth and seventh innings without giving up a run.  The game ended on another sparkling defensive play by Morgan Howard in right field.  Third baseman Jamie Farrelly hit a one-hop line drive to Howard, who threw to senior 1B Stacey Zatezalo to retire Farrelly and give the Lady Tigers a well-earned 3-0 victory.

It was another dominating performance by Krastek, who forced sixteen ground balls from the Montour hitters.  The NA defense did not commit an error, and Krastek was outstanding in the field, picking up eight assists.  The win improved Krastek's record to 15-5 and the Lady Tigers to 20-6.  For her efforts at and behind the plate, the North Allegheny Sports Network awarded Jill Dorsch the Player of the Game.  The victory advanced the Lady Tigers to the semifinals of the PIAA tournament against  Bellefonte on Monday at Elderton at 4:00 pm.  

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY – 3                  MONTOUR - 0

WP -  Sara Krastek (15-5)                LP – Brenna Reed

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KRASTEK THROWS TWO-HITTER AS LADY TIGERS BLANK SHALER, 3-0

Box Score

Senior right hander Sara Krastek allowed only two hits while striking out four and walking none as she led the Lady Tigers to a 3-0 victory over Shaler in the first round of the PIAA playoffs at the Hampton Baseball and Softball Complex on Monday afternoon.  NA scored three unearned runs in the fifth inning thanks to two Shaler errors.  

For the first time in the playoffs, the Lady Tigers won the toss and were the home team.  After Maureen Bailey led off the game with an infield single, Krastek came back to strike out Kirstan Gides and Ashley Scanga before getting RF Nataly Valeriano on a fly ball to center field to end the inning. With one out in the bottom of the second, senior left fielder Ashley Nikithser singled up the middle but was stranded.  After two innings, there was no score.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth, but the Lady Tigers had a big opportunity in the bottom of the third.  After one out, junior 2B Amanda Howard singled sharply into center field.  After senior center fielder Kari Steigerwald sacrificed Howard to second, senior catcher Jill Dorsch singled off the glove of pitcher Jessi Prainitis.  Senior 3B Lily Matusiak walked to load the bases, but Prainitis was able to strike out senior NA cleanup hitter Stacey Zatezalo to end the threat.

Krastek continued to dominate the Shaler hitters, allowing only one more hit, a second single to Bailey, over the first five innings.  In the bottom of the fifth, NA broke through with two outs.  With one out, Steigerwald reached on a fielder's choice.  After Steigerwald stole second, Dorsch walked.  With two down, Matusiak grounded to third, but the throw to first was high and off the glove of 1B Rachael Gazica.  With the ball rolling behind first base, Steigerwald scored and Dorsch went to third.  Matusiak then took off for second.  When the throw was made to second, Dorsch came home with Matusiak reaching third when the ball got away at second base.  Zatezalo followed with a line drive single to center field, scoring Matusiak and making it a 3-0 NA lead after five innings.

Krastek finished things off in style retiring the side in order in the sixth and seventh as she set down the final thirteen batters to pick up her fourteenth win of the season.  For her efforts, the North Allegheny Sports Network selected Sara Krastek as the Player of the Game.  The win advanced the Lady Tigers into the second round of the PIAA playoffs.  NA will meet Montour on Thursday at Hampton Park Field #2 at 3:00 pm.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there to broadcast the game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 2:45 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY – 3    SHALER AREA - 0

WP -  Sara Krastek (14-5)                LP – Jessi Prainitis

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LADY TIGERS EDGE BALDWIN, 1-0, TO WIN SECOND CONSECUTIVE TITLE

Box Score

The Lady Tigers squeezed out a run in the top of the seventh inning to defeat the Baldwin Highlanders, 1-0, at California University of Pennsylvania in the WPIAL Class AAA championship game on Thursday night.  Senior catcher Jill Dorsch, who had two hits in the game, reached on an error with one out.  Sophomore Maddie Nestor ran for Dorsch and moved up to second and third on wild pitches.  Senior 3B Lily Matusiak's ground ball to short scored the game's only run as Nestor beat the throw to the plate.

The Lady Tigers had several chances earlier in the game.  With one out in the top of the third inning, senior center fielder Kari Steigerwald reached on an error.  Dorsch and Matusiak beat out infield singles to load the bases.  Senior 1B Stacey Zatezalo followed with a line drive to left field, but right at left fielder Amanda Dengler.  Steigerwald was unable to score and designated player Nicole Lenart grounded out to second base to end the inning.

NA had a great chance in the top of the fifth inning when they had four hits but did not score.  Junior seocnd baseman Amanda Howard led off with a base hit and went to second as the throw to the infield got away.  Steigerwald then lined the ball back to pitcher Samantha Hovanec who was able to double Howard off second base.  With two outs, Dorsch singled, and Matusiak followed with her second hit of the game.  Zatezalo singled to left center field but Dorsch was unable to score.  Hovanec got Lenart on strikes to end the inning, and the game remained scoreless.

In the top of the seventh, Dorsch led off with a hard ground ball to third.   Baldwin 3B Tricia Kasper could not come up with the ball and Dorsch was safe at first.  With Nestor in to run, Hovanec unleashed a pair of wild pitches to put Nestor at third.  Matusiak followed with the ground ball to short allowing Nestor an opportunity to score.  The run gave NA senior pitcher Sara Krastek all she needed to record the victory.

Krastek was tough on the mound again for NA, as she has been throughout the playoffs.  The Tiger right hander allowed only four hits while striking out four and walking only one.  Krastek earned her thirteenth victory of the season against five losses.  The win gave the Lady Tigers their second consecutive WPIAL title.  NA will move on to PIAA play where they will face Shaler yet again in the first round on Monday.  We will post the time and place as soon as we find out.

CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH RICK MEISTER AND THE LADY TIGERS!!!!!!!

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY – 1    BALDWIN - 0

WP -  Sara Krastek (13-5)                LP – Samantha Hovanec

*WPIAL SOFTBALL*
CLASS AAA

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LADY TIGERS OUTLAST MT. LEBANON, 2-1, IN 12 INNINGS

Box Score

It took twelve innings, but Coach Rick Meister's Lady Tigers were able to defeat the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils, 2-1, in the semifinals of the WPIAL Tournament at Fairhaven Park on Tuesday evening.  In the top of the twelfth, senior first baseman Stacey Zatezalo hit a line drive triple down the right field line to lead off the inning.  With two outs, a Mt. Lebanon error allowed Zatezalo to score the winning run.  Senior pitcher Sara Krastek allowed only one unearned run and four hits while striking out 13 to earn the victory.

The Lady Tigers unleashed a twelve-hit attack against Lebo ace left hander Megan Rigos, but Rigos was tough in the clutch as she struck out 18 NA batters.  Senior catcher Jill Dorsch led the way with five hits with senior center fielder Kari Steigerwald, senior 3B Lily Matusiak, and Zatezalo adding two hits each for the winning Tigers.  NA stranded 15 runners before they finally got the winning tally home.

In the top of the first, it looked like the Lady Tigers were ready to take an early lead against Rigos.  After Steigerwald was hit by a pitch, Dorsch beat out a bunt single.  Matusiak walked to load the bases with no outs.  Rigos, however, came back to strike out the side to keep the game scoreless.  In the bottom of the first, singles by Samantha Truesdell and Molly Puskar with one out gave Mt. Lebanon an opportunity.  Gina Holzworth's soft line drive was turned into a double play as Zatezalo made a nice catch as both runs took off on the hit.  A throw to second retired the side to keep the game scoreless.

In the bottom of the second, Mt. Lebanon did score a run to take a 1-0 lead, thanks to some NA mistakes.  After 1B Gerri Ruef reached on an error, third baseman Abby Merz bounced to the mound.  The throw to second was off line and Lebo had two on and no outs.   After center fielder Jessie Eppelsheimer sacrificed both runners up a base, left fielder Katie Bowler singled to left center field to score Ruef.  Krastek was able to strike out the next two batters to retire the side.  Lebo would get only one more hit over the next ten innings.

Neither team threatened until the Lady Tigers tied the game in the top of the fifth.  After Steigerwald led off with a hard single up the middle, Dorsch followed with a base hit to left field.  Matusiak continued her clutch hitting with a bouncing ball into center field to score Steigerwald and knot the game at 1-1.  Rigos came back with a pair of K's to end the rally.

NA threatened in the top of the seventh inning.  With two outs, Dorsch singled to left and Matusiak to right.  Rigas got Zatezalo on a ground ball to short to end the inning.  Krastek continued to control Lebo as she retired 16 of 17 batters at one stretch from the third through the eighth inning.  

The Tigers again threatened to take the lead in the top of the ninth inning.  With one out, junior shortstop Amanda Howard reached on an error.  Steigerwald followed with a single, but Rigos got Dorsch and Zatezalo to keep the game tied.  In the bottom of the ninth, Holzworth singled to center to lead off the inning, the first Lebo hit since the second inning.  A sacrifice and ground ball moved Holzworth to third, but Krastek struck out Eppelsheimer to end the threat.

In the top of the tenth, NA came close again.  Zatezalo opened the frame with a hard single to center field.  Senior LF Ashley Nikithser successfully sacrificed Zatezalo to second, and senior right fielder Morgan Howard was hit by a pitch.  Rigos again was able to stop the Tigers as she got two ground ball outs to end the inning.  Krastek continued to hold the Blue Devils in check as she got the side in order in the tenth and eleventh innings.

Finally, in the top of the twelfth, the Lady Tigers were able to score the go ahead run.  Zatezalo led off with a line drive down the right field line that rolled all the way to the fence.  The Tiger senior raced all the way to third without a play being made.  Rigos then looked like she would escape again.  A ground ball to second base and a strike out made it two down, with Zatezalo still at third base.  Sophomore Nicole Lenart, who had entered the lineup after sophomore shortstop Amy Phillips was injured, hit a ground ball to Rigos on the right side of the mound.  Rigos hurried her throw and the throw was low and in the dirt.  When Ruef could not come up with the ball, Zatezalo scored what was to be the winning run.

Krastek finished off Lebo in order as she retired the last twelve batters.  For her efforts, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Sara Krastek as the Player of the Game.  The Lady Tigers will meet Baldwin, a 3-1 winner over Montour, in the championship game tomorrow at California University of Pennsylvania.  

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY – 2    MT. LEBANON - 1

WP -  Sara Krastek (12-5)                LP – Megan Rigos

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SEVEN-RUN EIGHTH INNING SINKS SHALER AS LADY TIGERS WIN, 10-3

Box Score

The Lady Tigers exploded for seven runs in the top of the eighth inning on their way to a 10-3 victory over section foe Shaler at the Hampton Baseball and Softball Complex on Thursday afternoon.  Seniors Kari Steigerwald and Jill Dorsch had four hits each to lead the Tigers.  Senior right fielder Morgan Howard drove in two runs with a key hit during the 8th inning rally to give NA a 6-3 lead.  Senior pitcher Sara Krastek allowed six hits and only two earned runs over eight innings to earn her eleventh win of the season.

After two scoreless innings, the Lady Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third, thanks to some help from Shaler.  With two outs, Steigerwald singled to center field and stole second.  Dorsch followed with a ground ball to short but the throw to first was high.  When Shaler 1B Rachael Gazica threw home, Steigerwald had already scored.  Shaler catcher Brit Morgan threw to third to try to get Dorsch but the throw got away allowing Dorsch to score the second NA run.  In the bottom of the inning, Shaler cut the lead to 2-1 after a bizarre play.  Leading off the inning, right fielder Kaitlin Kline lined a one-hopper to Morgan Howard in right field.  Howard threw to senior first baseman Stacey Zatezalo trying to get the out at first.  The first base umpire called out, but the home plate umpire, who had come down the line, called safe.  After a meeting of the men in blue, it was decided that the home plate umpire had the call.  Two ground balls moved Kline to third where she scored on a base hit by LF Kirstan Gides.  NA led, 2-1, after three innings.

The Lady Tigers took the lead with a run in the top of the sixth.  Dorsch led off with a triple just inside the right field line.  Senior third baseman Lily Matusiak plated Dorsch with a line drive single to left field and NA had a 3-1.  Krastek had retired the Titans in order in both the fourth and fifth innings but ran into trouble in the bottom of the sixth.  Center fielder Maureen Bailey beat out an infield single to lead off the inning.  Both runners were safe when the Lady Tigers tried to get a force play at second base and the ball was dropped.  Second baseman Ashley Scanga's ground out moved both runners up a base.  Coach Meister decided to walk cleanup hitter Nataly Valeriano to load the bases.  The strategy seemed to backfire when Krastek walked the next hitter, pitcher Jessi Prainitis, to force in a run and cut the lead to 3-2.  Krastek, however, was able to get the next two batters on ground balls and NA took a 3-2 lead into the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, Shaler staged a two -out rally.  Bailey singled to left field and stole second on the next pitch.  Gides followed with a line drive to right field.  Howard made an attempt to get Gides at first but the throw was high allowing Bailey to score and tie the game at 3-3.

The Tigers responded in the top of the eighth with the big seven-run outburst.  Steigerwald beat out an infield single to lead off, and Dorsch singled to left field.  With two on and no outs, Matusiak laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners up a base.  After an intentional walk to Zatezalo loaded the bases, senior left fielder Ashley Nikithser lined out to Scanga at second. Scanga then attempted to get Steigerwald for an inning ending double play, but the throw was wide and Steigerwald raced home with the lead run.  Morgan Howard lined a base hit to center to score a pair of runs and extend the NA lead to 6-3.  Sophomore pinch-hitter Nicole Lenart beat out an infield hit, moving Howard to third.  The Tiger rallied seemed to rattle the Titans as catcher Sara Piranian's ground ball to short went through to the outfield allowing Howard to score.  Junior pinch-hitter Katie Crawford came through with a hard drive to right-center field for a double that scored Howard to make it 8-3.  Steigerwald, batting for the second time in the inning, finished off the scoring with a line drive to right center field that scored both runners and gave NA a commanding 10-3 after 7 and one-half innings.

Krastek got Shaler on three straight ground balls to finish off the victory and send the Lady Tigers to the semifinals.  NA will play Mt. Lebanon, a 2-0 winner over Ambridge, on Tuesday at 5:00 pm at Fairhaven Park.  For her hitting and inspirational efforts, the North Allegheny Sports Network selected Jill Dorsch as the Player of the Game. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY – 10    SHALER AREA - 3