Fazio's Two Hitter Stops Pequannock, 2-0

The Chatham Lady Cougars, 2-0, win on Monday was huge for a number of reasons.

In no particular order…

1. Because it was over the defending Morris County and Group 2 champion Pequannock Panthers.

2. Because starting pitcher Amanda Fazio allowed only two hits in her seven innings of work.

3. Because it was Head Coach Alexis Davies' 200th career victory with Chatham High.

"I was so wrapped up in the game that I totally forgot about it," Davies said after the game. "It was a huge win for us and number 200 makes it very special."

From the start, though, it was obvious that this was going to be a pitchers' duel as both teams struggled to get something going offensively.

In fact, both Fazio and Pequannock pitcher Kristen Brian made things so difficult for their counterparts that the first hit of the game wasn't given up until the top of the fourth inning, when Chatham shortstop Kendall Davies ripped a 3-1 pitch for a single.

Chatham immediately seized the opportunity to take the lead with a double to left field off of the bat of first baseman Kelly Winans, making the score 1-0.

Chatham would strike again in the top of the sixth as senior catcher Alex St. Romain got things started with a single. She then moved into scoring position with a stolen base.

Up next, Davies collected her second hit of the day, this one an RBI single, giving Chatham a 2-0 advantage. Davies was 2 for 3 on the day.

On the other side of the pitching duel, Fazio remained strong, holding Pequannock hitless through four innings of work.

But just as fans in the bleachers began whispering, wondering if Fazio had yet given up a hit, a bloop single fell just out of the grasp of Chatham centerfielder Cara Delsandro for the Panthers' first hit of the game.

Fazio was undeterred, though, striking out the next two batters and escaping the inning with no damage done.

"I didn't really think about it," Fazio said of the no-hitter. "I just went out and pitched."

In the next inning, Fazio gave up her second hit of the day as Pequannock shortstop Kayla Lombardo sent a 1-2 pitch between short and third.

Again, the star sophomore hurler just kept about her business, recoring her eighth strikeout against the next batter, right before inducing a ground ball to end the Panther's best scoring chance of the day.

"Fantastic," Davies said of Fazio's performance. "She's really coming into her own. She just pitched a fantastic game."

Fazio would record a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh, giving Chatham the win.

"We're really happy," Fazio said. "We came out just like it was another game and we pitched well we played good defense and great offense so we couldn't really ask for much more."

"I think we played a great game. I'm very proud of every single one of our players," Davies said.