Post-Gazette Lacey Cochran Click photo for larger image.

SCHOOL: Freeport

WHO IS SHE? A senior and a decorated track athlete at Freeport.

THIS WEEK: Cochran won the 200- and 400-meter dashes at the WPIAL Class AA championship meet Tuesday at South Side Beaver. She won the 200 in 26.30 seconds and the 400 in 58.30. She also ran a leg on the 1,600 relay team that finished third.

GOLD AND MORE GOLD: Cochran needs two hands to count her WPIAL gold medals. She won the 400 for the fourth year in a row and the 200 for the second year in a row. She also won a seventh gold medal as part of the winning 1,600 relay team as a freshman.

GOING FOR MORE: Cochran is the defending PIAA Class AA 400-meter champion. This year's PIAA meet is May 27-28 at Shippensburg University.

"My 400 time [at the WPIAL championships] was the best I've had this year," she said. "So, I guess I'm peaking at a good time."

But she doesn't consider herself a favorite to win a second consecutive PIAA title. "You never know who's coming up younger than you. I know when I was a freshman, no one expected me to be there."

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Cochran was one of four athletes who won the WPIAL scholar-athlete award, which includes a $5,000 scholarship. She has a 4.7 grade-point average and will attend Bowling Green to run track. She plans to be an education major and wants to be a kindergarten teacher.

-- By Mike White

SCHOOL: North Allegheny.

WHO IS HE? An outfielder/pitcher and one of the top hitters in WPIAL baseball.

PAST WEEK: Merolillo, a left-hander, helped the Tigers win three games in the past 10 days. He had a double and was the winning pitcher in an 8-5 decision May 9 against Kiski Area, hit a three-run home run in an 11-1 triumph May 11 at North Hills, and went 1 for 3 in a 10-0 win Thursday at Plum.

SEASON: A 5-foot-9, 170-pound senior, Merolillo is batting .568 (29 for 51) with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers, 22 RBIs, 11 walks and a team-best .672 on-base percentage. He has struck out once.

"He's just killing the ball," said North Allegheny coach Tim Banner. "The way he's hitting, I wouldn't even pitch to him."

Merolillo also has a 3-1 record and two saves for the Tigers (18-2), No. 1 in the Post-Gazette's WPIAL Class AAAA rankings.

CAREER: This is Merolillo's third season with the varsity and second as a starter in left field. He pitched just three innings as a junior, but is now the Tigers' No. 2 starter behind Josh Hungerman (8-0).

FUTURE: Merolillo has been selected to play in the WPIAL Coaches Association All-Star Game June 11 at Falconi Field in Washington, Pa.

-- By Rick Shrum