Spartans Stay On Top With 1-0 Win Over Vikings
(Ashburn, VA) - When Loudoun Valley and Broad Run play in softball, it tends to carry some weight. Tuesday's matchup once again would prove this to be true as the #1 ranked Spartans hosted the #2 ranked Vikings for bragging rights in Loudoun County, and a whole lot more. The Spartans entered the game also ranked #17 in the United States by the USA Today, and Loudoun Valley was one big win away from cracking the top 25 itself.
Broad Run ace Caitlyn Delahaba faced off against Valley's Caroline Williams, and both were impressive. In the early going, Delahaba made quick work of the Vikings despite allowing two base runners in the 1st inning. Viking Hayley Grabner reached base on a controversial infield hit that didn't appear to clear the batter's box, but Valley couldn't capitalize on the break. After a Delahaba walk, Delahaba struck out the next hitter and foiled the biggest threat that Valley posed all night long.
After Spartan Ashley Kramer got on base in the bottom of the 1st inning, Karla Powell came to the plate with the most crucial at bat in the game. Powell's powerful bat stroked a single to the right center field gap, knocking in Kramer on a 1-0 pitch from Williams. Powell would later get thrown out at 3rd after another Spartan hit, and Broad Run finished the inning scoring just one run. Powell, as she explained after the game, looked for her pitch and got it.
"I was looking for my pitch and she threw it, and I just sat back on it and tried to drive it," Powell said. "It turned out to be a big hit in the game."
For the next 6 innings, Broad Run followed Caitlyn Delahaba's lead as she struck out 15 Valley hitters on her way to a one hitter, and a shutout. Delahaba's performance caught the eye of Valley's coach Joe Spicer.
"She was just awesome tonight," Spicer said. We looked at too many pitches early on, but she was just really on tonight. I thought we battled a little better later in the game, and we started to get our whacks in, but it was just too late."
Broad Run's Delahaba was anxious to face the Vikings and was pleased that things turned out well for her team.
"I've had this game circled since the beginning of the season because I knew both teams were going to be really good," Delahaba said. "I know so many of the girls on Valley's team and the last thing I wanted to do was lose to them."
Spartan head coach Ed Steele was also pleased with the outcome of Tuesday's matchup and saw plenty of positives from the game.
"I thought we played good defense tonight and played well as a team," Steele said. "It's not too often when the top two teams face each other in the regular season, so we were excited about the matchup. This should help us build confidence for the remainder of the season."
With the win, Broad Run improved to 17-0 on the season and pitcher Caitlyn Delahaba remained undefeated on the mound in 2007. Valley dropped to 13-1 and shouldn't fall too far in the Washington Post Rankings. The Vikings and Spartans both should be formidable state championship contenders.
Chick-fil-A Players of the Game
Caitlyn Delahaba - Broad Run
Delahaba struck out 15 Valley hitters and was dominant in Tuesday's highly anticipated game. Delahaba is averaging over 13 strikeouts per game so far in 2007 and her ERA continues to hover around 0.97. She is also averaging an astonishing 2 strikeouts per inning.
Karla Powell - Broad Run
Powell's single in the 1st inning was an impressive piece of hitting. The pitch from Caroline Williams was on the outside corner, but Powell sat back and used her strength to deliver the game's biggest hit. Powell has developed into a clutch hitter in big games and continues to be a steady player for the top ranked Spartans.
