Successful season ends too soon for North Allegheny softball

By: John Grupp
Saturday, May 24, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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North Allegheny softball started this season at an amusement park in Florida, and like the rest of the spring, it was a lot of fun but ended too soon.

Despite fielding a young lineup under first-year coach Bill Aguglia, the Tigers went 11-5 in section play and earned a No. 3 seed in the WPIAL Class 6A playoffs.

Their 2025 season ended with a 2-1 nine-inning loss to No. 6 Norwin on May 14 in the WPIAL opening round. The Tigers, who finished 13-8, had beaten Norwin twice during the regular season.

“As disappointed as I am that we’re still not playing, I would definitely say it was a successful season,” Aguglia said. “We were a very young team … and you saw the progression as we went through the season.”

North Allegheny, which started four sophomores and a freshman, extended its WPIAL playoff streak to 25 consecutive seasons, but the bats went quiet at the worst time. The Tigers managed only four hits off Norwin left-hander Abbie Telli.

“I was kind of in shock (after the game) and looking forward to next year,” said NA sophomore second baseman Zoe Rychel, who hit a team-best .438. “I’m hoping that everyone will take the loss and take things from it to work on throughout the offseason and come back with a determination to win and make it farther.”

North Allegheny pitcher Sammy Plotsko, one of only two seniors on the roster, threw all nine innings in her final high school start.

Shortstop McKenna Rowland, a Drexel recruit, also played her final game at North Allegheny.

“They are going to be very hard to replace,” Aguglia said. “That is going to be the big focus of my offseason.”

The Tigers had many question marks this season, which began with a pair of games in Orlando and a trip to Universal Studios theme park. They had a new coach and a lot of new faces.

“I really didn’t know what to expect,” said Aguglia, who spent the past seven years at Upper St. Clair.

The Tigers had a hard time against the WPIAL Class 6A heavyweights. They went 0-4 vs. No. 1 Hempfield and No. 2 Seneca Valley. But NA ended the regular season on a two-week winning streak, capped with a 3-0 victory over WPIAL Class 5A No. 1 Penn-Trafford.

Their accomplishments were noticed. Only three sophomores were named to the Big 56 all-section first-team, and NA had two of them: Rychel and center fielder Leah Carlson (.421).

Plotsko, who went 11-8 with a 3.54 ERA and hit .313 with a team-high 16 RBIs, was named first team for the second straight year. Rowlands, who hit .309, earned second-team honors.

Another youngster with a strong future is freshman catcher Alison Friend, who hit .311 and improved defensively.

“The sky is the limit for that kid,” Aguglia said. “If she’s not all-section the next three years in some capacity, I will be absolutely shocked.”

While the Tigers will return seven starters, they need to fill big voids at pitcher and shortstop. Rychel, who committed one error all season, will likely slide over to shortstop.

Other returnees are juniors Erin Fadgen (3B) and Avelyn Kropf (LF) and sophomores Taylor Condiotte (1B) and Twila Goulding (RF).

Aguglia believes the Tigers can contend for the section title next season “if we can get the pitching figured out.”

One thing is certain. The early WPIAL playoff exit motivated the underclassmen heading into the offseason.

“They were upset with themselves after the game,” Aguglia said. “A lot of those returning girls, I could just see it in their faces. They are not done.”

Tags: North Allegheny