When the Pine-Richland Rams and North Allegheny Tigers do battle, it's never an easy-going type of game. With the Tigers needing a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt, and the Rams fighting for respectability, their final meeting of the season proved to be a nip and tuck affair. The Tigers prevailed 4-2, as they capitalized on a couple of Rams' miscues.

"It's tough," said Kurt Wolfe, Pine-Richland head coach. "North Allegheny made plays. We didn't. We left the bases loaded twice, and they found a way to get the ball through the infield."

The Rams took a 1-0 lead when Matt Berezo got home on a Brendan Scioscia sacrifice fly.

North Allegheny answered with a three-run fourth inning, thanks to Justin Brozick's RBI triple that knocked home David Duffett. Brozick got home on a wild pitch, and Brad Comport also got home, to give the Tigers a 3-1 lead.

Pine-Richland came back with a Vinny Nittoli double and a pair of walks to load the bases for Mitch Elliot. Elliot knocked in Nittoli to cut into the lead, but the Rams would get no closer.

Duffett knocked in Jeff Dasner in the top of the fifth to finish out the scoring.

"I feel like we are playing our best baseball now," said Andy Maddix, North Allegheny head coach. "Our backs are against the wall and we have to play each inning, each out, as if it were our last."

Maddix is hoping that the good fortune continues for his squad.

Meanwhile, Wolfe said he still has goals for his team despite being eliminated from the playoff race.

"Vinny pitched well for us today, well enough to give us the opportunity to win," Wolfe said. "We battled a good team today, and we are hoping to win our final games and end the season on a positive note."

The Tigers are keeping their playoff chase alive, as they vanquished Butler 7-3. Pitcher Mike O'Neill tripled and left fielder Jackson Boyd doubled home a pair of runs for the Tigers. O'Neill went the distance, allowing only three hits, to earn the win.