Chatham Softball Grinds Out Low-Scoring Affair

Amanda Fazio's unstoppable pitching and a series of breaks propelled the Chatham Cougars over the Fort Lee Bridgemen 2-0 Wednesday at Lum Avenue Field.

The win allowed the fourth-seeded Cougars to move on to the NJSIAA Section II, Group II semifinals, where they will face top-seeded West Essex.

"You get a game like today and you want to win by seven or eight, but you only need one," said Head Coach Alexis Davies.

The Cougars were able to "get two" by capitalizing on the fielding errors of Fort Lee and getting runners on base.

Amanda Fazio started the game off characteristically strong, striking out eight Bridgemen in a row and setting the tone defensively for the entire game.

"I warmed up really well, so I was really confident going in," Fazio said.

It was a scoreless game heading into the bottom of the fifth inning when Kelly Winans led off by drawing a walk. Catrina Yohay moved Winans over with a ground out.

Next, Elke Luria hit a hard ground ball to the Fort Lee shortstop. Winans whizzed by the shortstop, escaping the tag and giving Luria enough time to reach first base.

Shortly afterward, Luria stole second base, and Kendall Davies drew a walk putting Fort Lee into a bases loaded two out predicament when Fazio—Chatham's hottest hitter—came to the plate.

Fazio was able to put the ball into play, and after a Fort Lee miscommunication in the field, she reached first base after driving in the game's only two runs.

"I feel for the other team because we have lost a lot of games like that," said Coach Davies. "I guess the difference was that we had more runners on base."

Fazio ended the game just as she started it—by striking out three batters in a row.

The team then moved on.