Chargers edge out Reavis for win

Updated: April 11, 2011 3:14PM

The Stagg softball team continues to party like it's 1999.

The Chargers made the most of six hits and rallied past Reavis 3-2 in a nonconference clash Saturday afternoon to improve their undefeated record to 12-0.

The game was moved to Burbank because of wet grounds at Stagg, but the Chargers still batted as the home team. This is Stagg's best start since opening the season 16-0 in 1999.

"I think the senior leadership and the team chemistry is awesome this year," Stagg senior second baseman Victoria Dellorto said. "I think we have come out and all believed we could do it and we've just gone out and played that way in every game."

Stagg trailed 1-0 till the bottom of the fifth. That's when senior pinch hitter Melissa Cobb opened the inning with a single to right. Number nine hitter, sophomore Joey Crockett who was 2-for-3, followed with a single up the middle to put two runners on.

That brought up Dellorto, who had struck out and slapped into a line out in her first two at bats. This time she drilled a 1-1 pitch into the right center field gap for a two-run triple.

"We had runners at second (following a steal) and third and I just needed to drive them in," Dellorto said. "I didn't want to think of the previous at bats."

Winning pitcher Lea LaSota then put down a perfect squeeze bunt on the first pitch as Dellorto raced in to score to make it 3-1.

"I've gotten better at bunting," LaSota said. "I kind of figured I might be bunting there, but didn't know if it would be a suicide squeeze, so I'm just glad I got it down."

Reavis (9-4) tried to rally in the top of the sixth. Freshman second baseman Ally Balandis (2-for-4) led off with a single up the middle. One out later her senior sister, Caitlyn Balandis (2-for-3) singled past third and senior Sarah Saunders followed with a walk to load the bases.

A dropped fly ball in right then scored Ally Balandis to make the score 3-2. But LaSota bounced back with two strikeouts to end the inning.

Junior pinch hitter Sabreen Suliman walked on a full count to lead off the seventh for the Rams. She was sacrificed to second and that brought up the top of the Reavis order. And once again LaSota bared down to get a pair of strikeouts to end the game.

"I think I just have to not stress out when someone is one base," LaSota said. "I just told myself 'don't freak out and step up.'

"I'm so excited about how we've started this season. We've been together for awhile and everyone contributes."

LaSota, a senior righty, improved to 11-0. She allowed one earned run on five hits while walking two and striking out 12.

The Rams got a run in the top of the first on singles by the Balandis sisters and a one-out RBI single to center from Saunders. LaSota then retired the next 14 in a row, eight of them via strikeout.

"Stagg is a quality team that doesn't fold under pressure," said Reavis coach Jim Meskill, who will be without Caitlyn Balandis in the circle until at least Thursday, because of a strained right forearm. "They showed that in the late innings. But overall I'm pleased with our kids and it was a nice game."

Charger assistant coach Jen Tyrrell was an All-American second baseman for Stagg in her senior season of 1999. She loves how this group has come together.

"We've had some great teams here at Stagg," Tyrrell said. "But the best thing about this team is that we have a few stars and a lot of kids playing well. Maybe we surprised ourselves by winning some early season games, and we've kept it going."

That '99 squad finished 27-10 and no Charger team has won as many games since. Although they have hit 26 wins in two of the past three seasons, including last year.

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