JACKSON TWP — Good teams make opponents pay for their mistakes.

North Allegheny's baseball team capitalized on Seneca Valley's miscues and ran away with a 7-0 win Wednesday at Raider Field.

The Raiders committed six errors behind starting pitcher Matt Smith, as the sophomore right-hander gave up seven runs on six hits in 5X\c innings. He struck out two and walked six.

Six of the Tigers' runs were unearned.

"Matt's been a starter for us all year and he's got good stuff," said Seneca Valley coach Eric Semega. "We have high hopes that he'll be very effective for us, but we have to start making plays behind him."

SV's troubles began in the top of the first inning.

After one out, a walk was followed by a pair of errors to load the bases.

NA's Mike Cammarata also drew a walk, bringing home Rob Sittig.

Brice Nikithser's fly ball scored NA's second run and Cody Gaertner followed with a two-run single for a 4-0 lead.

"When you give away runs like that, it just drains you," said Semega."

Meanwhile, NA's four-run first inning was more than enough for starting pitcher Tanner Wilt, who was perfect through three innings.

He did face a jam in the fourth when Pete Vicente reached on an error, Jake Double singled and Mike Hughes walked to load the bases with two outs.

But Wilt struck out Kyle Gorniak swinging to end the inning.

Wilt pitched six innings, giving up three hits while striking out nine and walking one.

"You know Tanner is going to compete," said NA coach Andy Maddix. "He loves to pitch and comes with a lot of emotion."

The Tigers (15-3, 10-1) added a run in the third inning as Cammarata led off with a double and scored on Justin Brozick's single.

Two more runs followed in the sixth before Tigers reliever Pat Bradley secured the shutout by pitching a scoreless seventh inning.

The Raiders (5-10, 3-8) have scored a total of five runs in their last four games, all section defeats.

"Wilt was just better than us today," said Semega of his team's offensive struggles. "But it's been a combination of things, and I think it's as much mental as it is physical."

The win clinches the Section 1-AAAA title outright for the Tigers. The program has qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for 25 consecutive years.

"It's our second straight section title and we're very proud of that," said Maddix.

North Allegheny 401 002 0 — 7 6 1Seneca Valley 000 000 0 — 0 4 6W: Tanner Wilt 6 IP (9 K, 1 BB).

L: Matt Smith 5X\c IP (2 K, 6 BB).

North Allegheny (15-3, 10-1): Rob Sittig R SB, Nick Sell R, Mark Jackson R, Mike Cammarata 2B 2R RBI, Brice Nikithser 1B R RBI SB, Cody Gaertner 2-1B 2 RBI, Justin Brozick 2-1B 3 RBI, Matt Steinbeck R

Seneca Valley (5-10, 3-8): Brad Collier 1B, Jake Double 1B SB, Brad Johnson 1B, Jake Kiefer 1B, Sam Fragale SB

Friday: Seneca Valley vs. Butler at Pullman Park, 7 p.m.