South Fayette

Recently: Haviland pitched a two-hitter and struck out 15 in a 4-0 victory Monday against Mount Union in the PIAA Class AA semifinals. He pitched a no-hitter and struck out 12 in a first-round victory June 1 against Bald Eagle Area.

Check this out: Haviland is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior left-hander who has a 7-4 record and has allowed only 37 hits. His most impressive statistic might be strikeouts, with 136 in 70 innings. He made a verbal commitment to Duke a few weeks ago. South Fayette coach James Barton believes Haviland will be taken in the Major League Baseball draft next year. Haviland has a 4.3 grade-point average and scored 1,410 on the SAT.

Are you peaking as a pitcher? This is the best I've felt all season. I feel I've gotten stronger as the season goes along. I just hope it continues, if I end up pitching in the championship game [tomorrow].

Why Duke? Contact was made with them and I got invited down to a junior day there. I really liked what I saw. We met with the coaches and really like the direction the program is going. Plus, a big part of it with me is education. One day, baseball is going to end. Hopefully, it won't be until later, but I want to have something to fall back on.

Your mom is South Fayette's scorekeeper. Is she fair? If anything, she's too hard on me pitching, and even hitting. I'll get a hit, everyone says it's a hit, but she'll give me an error.

Your first name is spelled a little differently. You see a lot of times "Dylan." Any significance to it? I don't know, but my mom said she named me after some character in an old TV show.

Are you serious? The old "Gunsmoke" TV show with Marshal Matt Dillon? Yes, that's it.

Can you tie a tie? I can come close, but not all the way. I still need a little help with that from my dad. He wears one to work every day.

People might be surprised to know that you ... ? I don't intentionally have my shirt untucked when I'm pitching. I always get harassed by people about that, but I don't do it on purpose.

-- By Mike White

---

Shaler

The past week: Nichter pitched a two-hitter and struck out eight as Shaler defeated Central Bucks South, 2-1, Monday in a PIAA Class AAAA semifinal. Shaler won despite having only one hit. Last Thursday, she pitched a three-hitter in a 1-0 victory against WPIAL champion Hempfield.

Check this out: Nichter, a junior, has a 16-5 record. She is one of nine non-seniors in the Titans' starting lineup. Three freshmen are starters.

Have you ever been in a game where your team had one hit -- and won? No. I guess it was kind of lucky we won.

Considering how young this team is, are you surprised at all to be in the state championship game? We're pretty surprised because certain people we know told us we weren't going to make it this far, for how young of a team we have. I guess we kind of proved them wrong.

Does the team have any rituals? We all sit in the same exact seat on the bus to games. We all have to sit with the same exact person.

Why is Shaler always good in softball? I guess we're prepared pretty well in middle school and junior high, with good coaches.

Will you have a summer job? I'm a cashier at Giant Eagle.

Are you watching the Penguins games? Not really. I'm more of a Steelers fan.

Something that bothers you about high school boys? How annoying they are. It's just an immaturity thing.

Last concert you attended? Rascal Flats.

People might be surprised to know that you ...? For how quiet I am, I want to be a teacher.

-- By Mike White

Dillon Haviland

South Fayette

Recently: Haviland pitched a two-hitter and struck out 15 in a 4-0 victory Monday against Mount Union in the PIAA Class AA semifinals. He pitched a no-hitter and struck out 12 in a first-round victory June 1 against Bald Eagle Area.

Check this out: Haviland is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior left-hander who has a 7-4 record and has allowed only 37 hits. His most impressive statistic might be strikeouts, with 136 in 70 innings. He made a verbal commitment to Duke a few weeks ago. South Fayette coach James Barton believes Haviland will be taken in the Major League Baseball draft next year. Haviland has a 4.3 grade-point average and scored 1,410 on the SAT.

• Are you peaking as a pitcher? This is the best I've felt all season. I feel I've gotten stronger as the season goes along. I just hope it continues, if I end up pitching in the championship game [tomorrow].

• Why Duke? Contact was made with them, and I got invited down to a junior day there. I really liked what I saw. We met with the coaches and really like the direction the program is going. .

• Your mom is South Fayette's scorekeeper. Is she fair? If anything, she's too hard on me pitching, and even hitting. I'll get a hit, everyone says it's a hit, but she'll give me an error.

• Your first name is spelled a little differently. You see a lot of times "Dylan." Any significance to it? I don't know, but my mom said she named me after some character in an old TV show.

• Are you serious? The old "Gunsmoke" TV show with Marshal Matt Dillon? Yes, that's it.

Can you tie a tie? I can come close, but not all the way. I still need a little help with that from my dad. He wears one to work every day.

Abby Nichter

Shaler

The past week: Nichter pitched a two-hitter and struck out eight as Shaler defeated Central Bucks South, 2-1, Monday in a PIAA Class AAAA semifinal. Shaler won despite having only one hit. Last Thursday, she pitched a three-hitter in a 1-0 victory against WPIAL champion Hempfield.

Check this out: Nichter, a junior, has a 16-5 record. She is one of nine non-seniors in the Titans' starting lineup. Three freshmen are starters.

• Have you ever been in a game where your team had one hit -- and won? No. I guess it was kind of lucky we won.

• Considering how young this team is, are you surprised at all to be in the state championship game? We're pretty surprised because certain people we know told us we weren't going to make it this far, for how young of a team we have. I guess we kind of proved them wrong.

• Does the team have any rituals? We all sit in the same exact seat on the bus to games. We all have to sit with the same exact person.

• Why is Shaler always good in softball? I guess we're prepared pretty well in middle school and junior high, with good coaches.

• Will you have a summer job? I'm a cashier at Giant Eagle.

• Are you watching the Penguins games? Not really. I'm more of a Steelers fan.

• Something that bothers you about high school boys? How annoying they are. It's just an immaturity thing.

• Last concert you attended? Rascal Flats.

• People might be surprised to know that you ...? For how quiet I am, I want to be a teacher.

-- By Mike White