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Thursday, June 13, 2002

By Mike White and Paul Zeise, Post-Gazette Sports Writers

SCHOOL: Greensburg Central Catholic

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-1, 175-pound junior shortstop who has helped the Centurions reach the PIAA Class A championship game.

THE PAST WEEK: In a PIAA quarterfinal game Friday against Carmichaels, Schaeffer had two home runs, a single and six RBIs in a 13-3 win. In a 7-2 victory against Meyersdale Monday, he was 1 for 2 with an RBI.

PLAYOFF PERFORMER: Many players don't hit as well in the postseason because they're facing better pitching. But in seven WPIAL and PIAA games, Schaeffer has a .545 average (12 for 22). What's most impressive is his slugging percentage of 1.090. Of his 12 hits, three are home runs and three are doubles.

"He's just hitting everything thrown at him," said Greensburg Central Catholic Coach Jack Korpar.

Schaeffer said, "I'm just seeing the ball a lot better. Plus, I've changed my stance a little bit. I'm standing up taller, and that's helped my balance."

MR. CLUTCH: Schaeffer has been tremendous with runners in scoring position. He has 46 RBIs. He has a .529 average (37 for 70) with five home runs, 10 doubles and 29 runs scored.

RECOVERING FROM WOUNDED KNEE: Schaeffer hit above .500 as a freshman and was an all-section pick. But he missed his sophomore season because of a serious injury to his left knee.

"When I came back this year, my knee was 100 percent, but my baseball skills weren't 100 percent by any means," Schaeffer said. "You go a whole year without playing baseball, you have to work yourself back into it."

KISKI AREA'S LOSS: Schaeffer lives in Vandergrift, which is part of Kiski Area's district. Schaeffer attended Kiski Area schools through eighth grade, but decided to attend Greensburg Central Catholic in ninth grade.

"I just thought it would be better for me here," Schaeffer said, "and it's been the right decision."

Schaeffer drives 40 minutes to school. "It's not that bad of a drive once you get used to it."

THE OTHER SPORT: Schaeffer has started for Greensburg Central Catholic's basketball team since his freshman year, and he averaged 14.8 points a game this past season.

THE FUTURE: Korpar believes Schaeffer is a definite Division I college baseball prospect for next season.

"We scrimmaged Franklin Regional before the WPIAL playoffs, and their shortstop, Matt Maropis, was drafted [in the 40th round]," Korpar said. "I think Warren outplayed him."

-- By Mike White

SCHOOL: North Allegheny

WHO IS SHE? A junior center fielder who helped the softball team win the WPIAL Class AAA championship and reach the PIAA final.

The Tigers (24-3) will play District 1 runner-up Neshaminy (21-7) for the PIAA title at Shippensburg University tomorrow.

THE PAST WEEK: Steigerwald, who bats leadoff, has had five hits and 4 RBIs in the past two games. In a 1-0 PIAA Class AAA semifinal win over State College, she was 2 for 4 and drove in the winning run with a seventh-inning single. And Friday, in a 5-0 quarterfinal win over Latrobe, she was 3 for 4 and broke the game open with a 2-run double in the sixth. She also reached base on an error, stole a base and scored a run.

SEASON/CAREER: Steigerwald is second on the team with a .441 batting average (41 for 93) and in RBIs. She leads in runs scored, stolen bases, hits, and triples. Last year, she was named first-team all section and also made the PG North All-Star team after batting .483. She is a three-year starter.

IT'S ALL RELATIVE: The short answer is "no" to the question of whether or not she is related to the Steigerwald brothers who are well-known local broadcasters. "I must get asked that at least once a day," she said. She is, however, the daughter of Rick Steigerwald, a former boxer and a well-known professional boxing referee.

FAST RUNNER: One of Steigerwald's specialties is bunting for base hits. That's because she is one of the fastest runners (among softball players) in the WPIAL and an excellent bunter. She is also a tremendous base-stealer. "I think I get my speed from my dad because he has always been very fast," said Steigerwald. "I've always wanted to run track because I think I could be a good sprinter, but it is during the same season as softball so I have never had the chance to."

CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE: In 2000, Steigerwald was a member of the Pittsburgh Spirit Gold 14-and under team that won the national championship at the Pony World Series in Sterling, Va., as well as the Amateur Softball Association/Junior Olympic Pennsylvania state championship in State College. Steigerwald led that team in batting average (.430, 74 for 172), runs (58), stolen bases (46) and triples (3).

Two of Steigerwald's teammates on the team, which finished 48-4, were North Allegheny catcher Jill Dorsch and third baseman Lily Matusiak.

"I think that experience has been huge because we learned how to deal with pressure and stay focused," said Steigerwald. "And, in general, I'd say the fact that so many of those summer teams exist now has really helped the level of play in Western Pennsylvania improve over the past few years. We have a lot of players on our team who play on travel teams, and it shows in the way we approach each playoff game.

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Steigerwald said college is in her future, but she is not sure where. She carries a 3.5 GPA, has won several scholar-athlete awards and is being recruited by a number of Division I colleges

-- By Paul Zeise