Point After: Delahaba Etching Her Legacy In Stone
ASHBURN, VA - It isn't often that our local student athletes set national records, but that happened on Friday night for Caitlyn Delahaba, Broad Run's dominant right handed pitcher. The senior entered the game needing a complete game shutout to break the national record for most consecutive scoreless innings pitched, and like clockwork, she snagged it in style with a strikeout to end the game. Broad Run won 16-0, but Delahaba's accomplishment should be featured because national records are hard to come by.
Since her sophomore year, Delahaba has won every game she has pitched but one. She has a state championship ring already, and with 3 more wins, she will be able to fill up both of her ring fingers with hardware.
The leader of Broad Run's ferocious softball attack is as aggressive and intense as anyone on the field of play, but off the field, she's a humble young lady, and always quick to give her teammates credit for success. That's how it should be if you ask me, that's a leader, and that is what champions do.
As she had all season long, Delahaba was as calm as ever despite County having the bases loaded twice in the game. She never flinched, and County never scored. Two strikeouts ended both of the Raider threats and the game was never close. What's amazing to me is Broad Run led by 9 runs after two innings, yet Delahaba never let up, never took an inning off. In fact, I'm sure most Broad Run softball fans would agree they have never seen her let up, thus the reason they have won 54 straight games and 80 of 81.
Delahaba and the Lady Spartans have been winning by big margins for so long now that it is just expected they will continue to do so. Even I at times take for granted the true greatness we are seeing on the softball diamond with this undefeated team.
Their head coach Ed Steele is the consummate professional, and never shows much emotion on the field. The 17 year veteran coach has won 313 games in his career, but I get the feeling the last 80 have been his favorite to watch.
His team plays with grit, determination, and a swagger that only the greatest teams in the country play with, and it is fun to watch. Before Friday's contest, Steele held back on telling his star pitcher that she only needed 7 more shutout innings to be the national record holder. He did it so Delahaba could pitch without pressure, but in my opinion, she would have still set the record even if he had told her ahead of time.
There are some athletes who fear pressure, and then there are those that thrive on it. Delahaba and her teammates certainly do the latter. In the toughest situations, they get tougher, and so far, nobody has shown they can match their intensity.
The Spartans will play at home on Tuesday night in the state quarterfinals, and for some who won't buy the gas to go to Radford, it might be the last time to watch one of the truly great pitchers to ever play in the state. No game is guaranteed as Coach Steele will tell you, but with Delahaba on the mound, I'll take my chances on booking our radio staff's hotel rooms in Radford.
