Point After: Lady Spartans Built A Dynasty
ASHBURN, VA - It's hard to put into words the feeling you get when you exit your last high school game as a state champion. Only a few get to experience the emotions, the feelings of happiness, and accomplishment. On Saturday in Radford, we witnessed the end of an era for the Broad Run softball program, and a collective statewide gasp of relief from opposing teams that tried over and over to pierce the Lady Spartan's armor.
Broad Run capped off an incredible three year run (83-1) to claim their second consecutive state championship, and stake their claim for a national championship.
The Spartans finished the season with a perfect 28-0 record, and continued their streak of consecutive wins with 57. That's right, I said 57 games in a row. You don't see streaks like this very often at any level, but especially in high school, where graduation usually ruins the dreams of undefeated seasons more often than not.
Somehow, this group of softball stars from Ashburn figured out how to play better than everyone, and they did so every time they hit the field. The secret to their success lies with a confidence that never wavered.
In 2006, we saw our first glimpse of what could become the greatest team to put on the Broad Run uniforms when a group of sophomores led by Karla Powell, Caitlyn Delahaba, Ashley Kramer, Michelle Clohan, and Kaitlyn Tiplady began their careers. They finished their first season for head coach Ed Steele with a heartbreaking loss to Powhatan in the state playoffs, and it was the last time they lost.
During the next two years, they were tested, but never flinched. In 2007, Park View had the Spartans on the ropes in the final game of the regular season, but like usual, Broad Run pulled it out with a few clutch hits to stay unbeaten. This year, it was Battlefield that nearly put an end to the unbeaten streak, but Broad Run calmly came back to win 4-3 against the eventual Group AAA state runner-up.
No matter the competition, Broad Run always found a way to dig a little deeper, and eventually send the other team home with a frown on their face. The headlines usually mention something about Delahaba's pitching, and rightly so, but this team was complete from top to bottom.
Saturday's contest with Tunstall, a rematch from the 2007 state semi final that saw both teams struggle to a 1-0 outcome with Broad Run winning in extra innings, wasn't even close. The Spartan hitters took things into their own hands in the top of the 1st inning, and gave their star pitcher a comfy two run lead before she ever had to throw a pitch.
Critics will say that Broad Run was too reliant upon Delahaba, and without her on the mound, they probably wouldn't have been that good. I would say hogwash to that. Broad Run beat most of their opponents in multiple ways, and the last time I checked, you have to score runs to win a game.
Delahaba is without question one of the best pitchers this state has ever seen, but she would be the first to admit that her supporting cast was just as worthy of the press as she was.
Come to think of it, how about the decision by Ed Steele back in 2006 to start mostly sophomores. Most coaches are so terrified of a parent riot that they don't flirt with a starting lineup that features mostly kids under the age of 15, but Steele never blinked.
Looking back, that might have been Steele's greatest coaching move ever, and he has two consecutive state championship rings to prove it.
Through the years, no coach has been blessed with the pitching talent that Steele has. Allison George, Christy Anch, Jenny Clohan, and of course Caitlyn Delahaba have all been dominant in the circle for Steele.
To Steele's credit, he has learned how to win with great talent, and not all coaches can do that. He's kept the egos checked at the dugout entrance, and his teams always play hard for him, which to me, is a sign of a great coach.
Saturday's win over Tunstall was really just another ballgame for Steele and the Spartans, but in reality, it was an end to a dynasty. We seldom use that term in high school sports, but there is no question this talented group had become a dynasty.
The true sports fan loves to admire a dynasty, and I found myself doing just that over the past two seasons. While many of the Gameday Radio Analysts fought for the best baseball and lacrosse games, Chris Starke and I never wavered on the games we wanted to call when the championships were on the line; it was always Broad Run softball.
The reason was simple, this team is rare, and we won't see one like them in a very long time in any sport.
As for next year, Steele might again have to turn to a bunch of sophomores, but if he does, I won't be the only one who will pause before calling it a rebuilding year.
