North Allegheny softball team adjusts to early adversity

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 30, 2018 | 11:00 PM

Returning to the PIAA playoffs is going to require a number of adjustments for the North Allegheny softball team.

Luckily for the Tigers, they have pieces in place to adjust on the fly. North Allegheny, which opened the season with a 1-2 mark during the Disney Spring Training program March 21-25 in Kissimmee, Fla., have already been forced to start the process.

Rachel Martindale, who led the team with a .442 batting average last season, suffered a season-ending knee injury during basketball season.

North Allegheny senior outfielder Shannon Hamm is excited to see how this group adjusts. With the Tigers only losing one player from last year, Hamm believes North Allegheny is in a good position to reach its goals.

“I think our strength is we have a lot of people that can play a lot of different positions,” said Hamm, who hit .304 with 10 RBIs last season. “I think a lot of people have stepped up and jumped to a new position and done really well. Hitting has improved a lot from last year. Last year we had all the pieces; this year we can put it all together.”

Mother Nature has forced the Tigers to wait to show off what they can do. North Allegheny had three games — against Penn-Trafford, South Park and Indiana — rained out recently. The Tigers were scheduled to open Section 3-6A play against Shaler Wednesday in a game too late for this edition.

North Allegheny first baseman Dana Manz, who drove in 11 runs last season, said she didn't think the games being rained out was too big of a drag.

“It's a lot of time to practice on what we need to improve on,” Manz said.

What North Allegheny plans to display is a strong defensive acumen.

“I think that our defense is stepping it up a lot,” senior first baseman Madison Petschke said. “Our pitching, all the same people have come back. We are ready for that. We're working hard on defense.”

Tigers coach Rick Meister said North Allegheny plans to rely on a stable of pitchers. He doesn't plan on working one player to the bone.

Last year, Brooke Serbin led the team with 65 ¹⁄₃ innings thrown, putting together a 7-7 record with a 4.61 ERA. Ashley Adams also threw 60 ²⁄₃ innings, collecting a 5-2 record with a 3.35 ERA. Sophia Dollard also chewed up innings for the Tigers.

“I really think it's going to be a community of pitchers,” Meister said. “As with any sport someone is going to get hot during the season and you are going to ride that person for awhile. When they cool, you are going to have someone else to go to. They aren't similar in style, so you can throw a couple of different styles in one game if you wanted to.”

North Allegheny wants to play whatever way it takes to win.

The Tigers feels they have the personnel in place to do so.

“I think this group can accomplish a lot. We have a lot of returning players with a lot of abilities and skills,” said senior outfielder Anna Pilotta, who hit .371 and drove in nine runs last season. “I honestly think we have a lot potential.”

Josh Rizzo is a freelance writer.

Tags: North Allegheny