Tigers top Norwin, and it’s music to their ears

North Allegheny rambles into title game against Class 6A powerhouse Hempfield

Members of the North Allegheny softball team serenaded each other with soft rock hits to get loose before the Tigers’ WPIAL Class 6A semifinal softball game Wednesday against Norwin.

Come the fourth inning, Rachel Martindale turned the dial to heavy metal.

Martindale pinged a three-run home run that gave the No. 1-seed Tigers a lead they would not relinquish en route to an 8-4 triumph in a game played at Fox Chapel.

It was the third time that the Tigers have defeated their Section 2 foe this season. Next up is a matchup against another section opponent — Hempfield — at Peterswood Park with the time and date to be determined.

For Martindale’s gamechanging at-bat, North Allegheny (15-6) had runners on second and third, but first base was open. After Sidney Lokay threw three consecutive balls to begin the at-bat, it appeared that Martindale was going to be pitched around and walked. But, after two called strikes, Martindale unloaded on a fullcount pitch and sent a towering shot over the left-center field fence.

“I did not think I was going to get three straight pitches [to hit],” said Martindale. “I thought they were trying to walk me, but you’ve got to be ready for anything.”

Norwin coach Brian Mesich said the Knights (138) wanted to keep the ball out of Martindale’s zone.

“We tried to stay off the plate,” he said. “She’s a good hitter and took advantage of a pitch and took it out of the yard. It was too close to the plate, and that’s what happens.”

After that three-run fourth put the Tigers up, 6-1, North Allegheny first-year head coach Morgan Vescovi entered the dugout, looked at her coaching staff and let out an exaggerated exhale. Her team finally had some breathing room.

“I think everyone let out a little,” said Vescovi. “We still had a long way to go, the game wasn’t over, but it took the pressure off of us and put it back on them.”

Vescovi won WPIAL titles as a North Allegheny player in in 2002 and 2003. Her Tigers also won the PIAA championship in 2002. Now, she’ll be back in the WPIAL title game as a coach when North Allegheny faces the Spartans, who have won four consecutive titles.

“It’s a fun ride,” said Vescovi. “It’s been awesome, and I’m really happy for these girls.”

The Tigers’ Chloe Szczepaniak went 3 for 3 with two RBIs. Martindale finished with three RBIs. Ashley Adams (9-4) picked up the win.

Norwin struck first in the top of the third when Hailee Culbertson scored on a throwing error by Martindale from short. North Allegheny answered with three runs in the bottom of the third with Regan Brodine and Szczepaniak each delivered an RBI single.

After Martindale’s homer, Norwin tacked on two runs in the the fifth on a tworun single by Bailee Bertani. The Knights added another run in the sixth. North Allegheny scored two more in the sixth to secure the win.