AIMEE DASSNER

SCHOOL: North Allegheny.

WHO IS SHE? The starting pitcher for the WPIAL Class AAAA softball champions.

THE PAST WEEK: A left-hander, Dassner pitched a one-hitter Monday as the Tigers edged Carrick, 1-0, in the first round of the PIAA tournament. She allowed five hits in the WPIAL final a week ago, a 3-2 win against Shaler. In four playoff games, Dassner has given up only three runs and 11 hits. North Allegheny (19-5) will face Shaler (17-7), a Section 3 rival, in the PIAA quarterfinals at 3 p.m. today at Fairhaven Park in Kennedy Township.

CAREER: Dassner, a senior, is in her first season as North Allegheny's primary pitcher. She shared starting duties with Becca Rich last year, while also playing first base. Dassner played first base and pitched some as a sophomore.

FINESSE: At 5 feet 3, Dassner is not physically imposing. But she is a craftsman who effectively mixes four pitches: fastball, curve, changeup and sinker.

"My strength is setting batters up, keeping them off-balance," Dassner said. "I'm a ground-ball-out pitcher with a good defense behind me.

"I think my best pitch is the curveball."

FUTURE: Dassner, who has a 4.1 grade point average, signed a letter of intent in November with Lafayette College.

"They recruited me as a pitcher/first baseman. I think I'll get to pitch some next year," said Dassner, who plans to major in biology.

-- By Rick Shrum

JOHN KARR

SCHOOL: Pine-Richland.

WHO IS HE? A senior who has been close to unbeatable as a varsity pitcher the past three seasons. Karr also plays center field when he doesn't pitch.

THE PAST WEEK: Karr was the winning pitcher in Pine-Richland's 6-5 victory against Hampton in the WPIAL Class AAA final May 31. Five days later, he pitched a five-inning no-hitter against Langley in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs.

ALMOST PERFECT: Karr's career record is 24-1. His only loss was to Plum as a sophomore, and he has been the starting pitcher in the past three WPIAL Class AAA title games. This season, he is 11-0 with two no-hitters. Pine-Richland plays Hershey in the PIAA quarterfinals today.

DROPPING FOOTBALL: Karr played football for Pine-Richland until a shoulder injury in the first scrimmage of his junior year. He was a quarterback-defensive back.

"I figured it probably wasn't worth it to continue to play football, even though I did love it," Karr said. "I knew baseball was probably going to be my thing. Anyway, I always threw that ball a little better than I threw a football."

FORGET TENNIS: Karr signed with Penn State in the fall. His father, John Sr., also attended Penn State and played tennis for the Nittany Lions. Karr tried tennis, but let's just say he lacked accuracy. "Believe me, I have the most powerful forehand of anyone you know," Karr said. "The problem is I can't put it anywhere in the square. It usually goes over the fence."

BANGING HIS DRUM: Karr's hobby is playing the drums. He and three classmates put together a band and played a concert as a fund-raiser for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

-- By Mike White