May 31, 2002 By The 2 min read

North Allegheny and Center both won their first WPIAL softball championships Thursday in title games played at California University of Pa.’s Lilly Field. North Allegheny avenged its only WPIAL loss of the season, a 3-1 defeat in April, by defeating Montour, 3-1, in the Class AAA title game.

The Lady Tigers (21-3) scored a single run in the bottom of the fourth inning, then added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth.

Montour (19-4) scored its lone run in the top of the sixth inning.

North Allegheny had eight hits with catcher Jill Dorsch, designated hitter Jessica Givens, and winning pitcher Liz Vrabel all had two hits apiece. Vrabel struck out 10, walked one and allowed only two hits.

Burrell led 3-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning in the Class AA championship, but Center closed the gap in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs before taking the lead with three runs in the sixth for a 5-3 victory.

Winning pitcher Courtney Snyder had a double and single with an RBI while striking out eight and walking two.

Designated hitter Lisa George drove home two runs and scored twice.

Britney Evans drove in two runs for Burrell. Katie Rapp and Maria Adda both doubled for the Lady Bucs.

Burrell (16-2) and Center (19-3) will both enter next week’s PIAA playoffs.