Lady Spartans Win Tourney, 52nd Straight Game
SOUTH RIDING, VA - Senior Caitlyn Delahaba fired a one-hitter with 16 strikeouts and also drove in a pair of runs on
sacrifice flies to lead top-seeded Broad Run to a 6-0 win over third-seeded Loudoun County in the Dulles
District Softball Tournament championship game Thursday night at Freedom High School.
The Spartans, who moved up to No. 2 in the recent USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25
Poll released earlier Thursday, will be the top seed in next week's Region II Tournament and earn a bye
into the semifinals. Broad Run will host either Fluvanna or Millbrook on Wednesday at 7 p.m. with the
winner earning a spot in the region title game as well as a berth in the eight-team state tournament.
Against Loudoun County, Delahaba plunked Raider leadoff hitter Rochelle Latka to start the game but
promptly fanned the next three batters to set the tone for the night. She also set down the side via
strikeout in the second, third and and fifth innings.
The Spartans grabbed control early with two runs in the bottom of the first.
Ashley Kramer started the frame by reaching on an infield error and moved to second on Michelle Clohan's
single through the left side. Karla Powell followed with another single through the left side to score
Kramer with the game's first run. After a fielder's choice moved Clohan to third, Delahaba sent a fly ball
to left to plate Clohan for a 2-0 lead.
After a rocky first inning, Raider starter Lindsey Packard (who threw just five innings during the
regular season) settled in and held the potent Broad Run attack off the board until the fifth, when the
Spartans pulled away with four more runs thanks to three hits, two errors, a walk and a hit batter.
The Raiders had their best scoring chance in the third, when, with one out, Kristen Gorman was hit by a
pitch and Rochelle Latka followed with a bloop single to shallow right. However, Delahaba fanned the next
two batters to end the threat.
Loudoun County looked to avoid the shutout in the top of the seventh. Hope Flanagan coaxed a lead-off walk,
and after a popped up bunt, was erased on Megan Lindsey's fielder's choice. Lindsey was then called
out on runner interference to end the game.
Kramer sparked the Spartan offense by reaching base all four times she went to the plate. She singled,
doubled, walked, reached on an error and scored twice. Clohan was 2-for-4 with two singles and two runs,
while Powell also singled twice and drove in one.
