Donley, Bradley hold off Stagg

Olivia Donley and Bradley-Bourbonnais made the SouthWest Suburban Red softball race a little more interesting.

Donley hit a three-run homer to help the Boilermakers hand host Stagg a 7-6 league loss on Friday.

Stagg’s loss left Andrew alone atop the conference at 8-1. Stagg and Bradley are tied at 7-2, while Lincoln-Way North still is in the hunt at 6-3. Five conference games remain.

A heroic hitter (Victoria Dellorto) was on second base and Stagg’s best player (Faith Johnson) in the on-deck circle when the end came for the Chargers on a well-hit flyout to right.

“Everyone has potential,” Dellorto said. “I think it’s whoever comes out to play. Anyone can beat anyone on any given day. We’ve proven it, everyone’s proven it. Bradley came ready to play today.”

Dellorto was 2-for-5 with three RBI while Johnson cracked a solo home run for Stagg (21-2).

Donley’s blast in the Boilers’ four-run third trumped Johnson’s effort, which had given Stagg a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

A run-scoring double by Joey Crockett in the bottom of the fourth got the Chargers to within 4-2, but there were many other opportunities lost.

Twice Stagg had runners thrown out at the plate trying to score on wild pitches. The Chargers stranded 11 others. A key defensive misplay in the top of the seventh allowed Bradley to pull out to a 7-2 edge.

“Some silly stuff cost us,” Stagg coach Missy Mason said. “Baserunning was not great, the fielding wasn’t great. But credit to (Bradley). They’ve got some good sticks. We knew they’d be good. You know, 1-2-3-4-5? Good hitters.”

Jessica Arebalo and Mary Kate Fournier set the table for Stagg’s last-gasp comeback with singles, while Melissa Cobb contributed an RBI groundout. Walks by Kelly Sistos and Crockett loaded the bases with two outs for Dellorto.

“I love these situations,” Dellorto said. “I know I can come up and hit a ball. It’s kind of what I live for. It IS what I live for. I love to just be able to step up for my team and lay it all out on the line.”

Dellorto lined a bases-clearing double over the head of Bradley center fielder Lauren Steward to make it 7-6. The next hitter, Lea LaSota, also hit the ball well, but skied it to Savanah Brinegar in right for the final out.

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