Chatham Softball Follows 'Emotionally Draining' Game With Another Win

Chatham pitcher Amanda Fazio led the Cougar softball team to its third victory in a row Thursday on the strength of a three-hit, 5-0, shutout in which her team provided excellent support on defense.

"Amanda threw well and fielded her position well," said Chatham Head Coach Alexis Davies.

This performance came just 24 hours after a hard fought and, as Davies put it, "emotionally draining" ten-inning victory over Pequannock in which Fazio also pitched.

"Yesterday's win gave us confidence," said Davies, who also announced she was giving her team a day off from practice tomorrow to rest up for next week, during which the team has four games on their schedule.

Parsippany, however, did not let the game get away easily, as it threatened to score several times, only to be turned away by Chatham's solid defense.

Each outfielder contributed their own spectacular play on defense. Left fielder Catrina Yohay made a sliding grab early on while center fielder Cara Delsandro ended the top of the sixth inning with her own shoestring catch. Not to be outdone, right fielder Caroline Murphy hustled on a two-out grounder in shallow right in the seventh. Wasting no time, she fired the ball to first base and the opposing runner was called out to end the game.

"We talk a lot about being aggressive and attacking the ball in the infield and outfield," said Davies.

The Cougars got on the board early in the bottom of the first inning, sparked by a leadoff single from Fazio. After a sacrifice bunt from shortstop Kendall Davies and a wild pitch thrown from Parsippany hurler Brianna Rossi, the Cougars had a runner on third and no outs. Catcher Alex St. Romain then reached second base on an error and pinch runner Elke Luria scored the first run of the game.

First baseman Kelly Winans reached first then stole a base to get in scoring position. With one out, she was driven in by centerfielder Cara Delsandro. "Scoring the first two runs really settled us down," said Davies of the importance of scoring early, especially after the previous game with Pequannock.

The rest of Chatham's offense came during a Parsippany error-filled fifth inning.