London lifts Lockport by Stagg

Updated: May 18, 2011 8:52PM

The Lockport softball team was celebrating senior night.

But it was a sophomore who delivered.

Ashley London went 2-for-3 with three RBI as the Porters toppled visiting Stagg 4-1 in a nonconference game between old SouthWest Suburban Conference rivals Wednesday afternoon.

The win was the 10 in 11 games for Lockport (23-8-1), which had lost six of seven games in a midseason slump to fall off the radar.

However, the Porters look to be back now, thanks to key contributions from people like London.

“Ashley has done that all year for us big time,” Lockport coach Marissa Chovanec said. “She is our second highest RBI person on the team behind (senior catcher) Lia Romeo, and adjusts well at the plate.”

London, a sophomore second baseman who stands 5-foot-1, did that in the bottom of the third inning. With the Porters trailing 1-0, she came up with no outs and the bases loaded. After falling behind 0-2 in the count, she knocked the fifth pitch of the at-bat up the middle, past the drawn in infield, for a 2-run single.

“Before I went up to the plate, I was watching how she (Stagg senior pitcher Lea LaSota) was pitching to the other hitters,” London said. “I noticed she was going outside and the first time I was up, I had the chance and didn’t get it (striking out on a high outside pitch in the first). So the next time I was more determined and more confident.”

After a bunt single by Jenn Bond,Tierney Bottino lined an RBI single to center to make it 3-0. London added to the lead in fourth, when she battled to a full-count before lashing a two-out RBI single to center.

That scored Sam DeMasi (2-for-4), who had a bunt single to start the inning and was sacrificed to second by senior first baseman Allie Phad. Romeo went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles for the Porters.

The pitching combo of Kelly Bowler, who improved to 7-4 by going the first four innings, and Amanda Oberc did the rest. The senior right-handers combined on a five-hitter, with four strikeouts and two walks.

“We hit a little speed bump in the middle of the season,” Bowler said. “But it’s good to come out of it playing Porter ball again.”

The loss prevented Stagg (26-6) from reaching 27 wins for the first time since 1999. The Chargers have lost five of 10, after opening 21-1. LaSota (21-6), took the loss. The senior righty went the distance, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits, with a hit batter, three walks and seven strikeouts.

Stagg scored in the top of the third. Senior second baseman Victoria Dellorto (3-for-3, walk) led off with a bloop single to right, moved to second on a LaSota sacrifice, and scored on a one-out single to center by senior shortstop Faith Johnson. But the Chargers stranded eight runners in the game.

“We didn’t feel like we played our best and you can’t beat a team like Lockport unless you play your best,” Stagg coach Missy Mason said. “But that’s why we play teams like Lockport, to get ready for the postseason.

“This game wasn’t even a scheduled crossover, but we wanted to play them. Now we hope to be back here (at Lockport) for the sectional.”

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