JACKSON TWP - For 12 straight seasons, the North Allegheny baseball team has won or tied for its section's title.

On Thursday afternoon, the Tigers stayed alive in their run for number 13.

The Tigers pounded out 15 hits in support of Eric Leuthold, who struck out five and scattered five hits in a 13-3, six-inning win at Raider Field.

"We pretty much need to win out to have a chance," said Tigers coach Tim Banner. "So we told the kids that the playoffs start right here."

Leuthold surrendered just four hits in a 4-1 win over Seneca April 17.

"We've hit the ball hard off of him," said Seneca Valley coach Eric Semega. "But we've not strung two hits in a row against him, not until the last inning here today.

"He mixes his pitches well," added Semega. "And he keeps our hitters off-balance."

The Tigers chased Seneca starter Scott Carney in the third inning and the right-hander shouldered the loss after giving up five runs on six hits.

After NA received RBI singles from Rory Miller and John Quimby in the top of the second, the Raiders cut the Tigers' lead in half in the bottom of the inning.

With Tyler Neff standing on second base with two outs, Seneca catcher Dan Reale drilled a double to center field, scoring Neff to make the score 2-1.

The Tigers answered with six runs in the third, capitalizing on three hits and four walks.

Carney left the game with the score still 2-1, but with the bases loaded. Seneca reliever Jason Davis allowed all three runners to score when he surrendered-bases-loaded walks to Miller and Quimby before Blake Jurena, the Tigers' leadoff hitter, added a two-run single in the inning.

NA's 9-1-2 hitters - Quimby, Jurena and Tim Merolillo - combined for seven hits, eight RBI and three runs scored.

"Those three guys have been murdering the ball lately," said Banner.

With the Tigers up 13-1, SV plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a run-scoring single by Kevan Smith and an RBI double from Greg Slack.

"I told the guys I was proud of the way they ended," said Semega. "They showed a lot of class finishing strong like that."

The Raiders (7-2 in Section 5-AAA) hold a one-game lead over North Allegheny and New Castle (both 6-3) for the section title. Only the top two teams qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

All three teams have three section matchups left.

"We've got to forget about today and take care of business," Semega said.

No. Allegheny 026 023 x -13 15 2

Seneca Valley 010 002 x - 3 5 2

WP:

Eric Leuthold (6 IP) 5 strikeouts, 1 walk.

LP:

Scott Carney (2

IP) 0 strikeouts, 2 walks

North Allegheny (11-3, 6-3):

Blake Jurena 3-1B 4RBI R, Matt Kuntz 2-1B 3R, John Quimby 2-1B 2RBI 2R, Rory Miller 2-1B 2RBI 2R

Seneca Valley (12-3, 7-2):

Dan Reale 2B RBI, Kevan Smith 1B RBI R, Greg Slack 2B RBI

Today:

Blackhawk @ North Allegheny

Saturday:

Baldwin @ Seneca Valley