MICHELLE SPISAK

SCHOOL: Sto-Rox

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-5 junior who, in her first year as a starting pitcher, has turned into one of the most dominating players in WPIAL softball.

THE PAST WEEK: Spisak pitched no-hitters in two three-inning games. She had a two-hitter in a five-inning game and another no-hitter in a six-inning game. Also, Monday against Quaker Valley, she had a grand slam and seven RBIs.

SEASON: Spisak has a 5-0 record with three no-hitters. She has allowed only two runs in 31 innings and has struck out 15 or more in a game three times. She also is batting well above .300.

FOLLOWING BIG SISTER: Chrissy Spisak, Michelle's sister, was a standout pitcher for Sto-Rox in the 1990s. Michelle, the youngest of five Spisak children, said Chrissy had a big effect on her.

"She made me work harder, just because I want to be better than her," Michelle Spisak said with a laugh. "I guess it's that sister competitiveness."

BASEBALL UPBRINGING: Spisak, who has a 3.6 grade point average, never played softball until eighth grade. She always spent her spring and summers playing baseball. She played baseball with boys through Pony League (13- and 14-year-olds) as a shortstop and pitcher.

"It wasn't a big thing for me to play with the boys," Spisak said. "Just because that's what I grew up doing."

SCHOOL: Quaker Valley

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior on the Quakers' hockey team that won the state Class A championship.

LAST WEEK: South scored four goals as Quaker Valley defeated Penncrest, 9-2, in the state championship Saturday.

NET FINDER: South finished his career with a school-record 137 goals. In four postseason games, South had 10 goals and nine assists.

FAMILY WITH GOALS: South's brother, Colin, a Quaker Valley freshman, scored three goals in the state title game.

"We've seen each other play so much, but we never really got a chance to be on the same team because of our age difference," Furman said. "It was fun to play with him for a change."

SWINGING THE OTHER STICK: South played on Quaker Valley's golf team the past three seasons. His best score for 18 holes is a 74 at Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley. South's family belongs to Allegheny. South also is an excellent student, carrying a 4.0 grade point average.

THE FUTURE: South hopes to play Division I college hockey someday, but not until after he plays Junior A next season. "The draft for the league I want to play in is in May. I'll probably end up in the Midwest somewhere," South said.