Varsity Softball Posts Decisive Victory at West Springfield

The Chantilly Varsity Softball team used a combination of strong hitting and solid fielding to defeat the Lady Spartans of West Springfield 9-4 tonight in Springfield.  Playing its second road game in as many nights, the Lady Chargers did not look fatigued as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.  West Springfield countered in the bottom of the inning with four runs to take a 4-3 lead.  All was quiet until the fifth inning when Jennifer Loh singled with one out, stole second and third base, then scored on Heather Fernandez's game-tying triple to tie the score at four apiece. The Lady Chargers took the lead for good in the sixth inning when Wendy Sloan singled, stole second, then scored on Tori Doherty's fielder's choice.  The Lady Chargers added two more insurance runs in the seventh inning to seal the victory.

The Lady Chargers' offense, which out-hit the Lady Spartans 13-4, was led by Wendy Sloan and Heather Fernandez (3 RBIs) with 3 hits apiece, while Tori Doherty, Jennifer Loh and Dannie Almodiel each had 2 hits.  Rachel Taft led the Chantilly defense with 8 strikeouts and 5 putouts and Dannie Almodiel turned in a defensive gem in the fifth inning when, from her right field position, she threw out a West Springfield runner at second base who was trying to stretch a single into a double.

With a record of 2-1, the Lady Chargers return home next Tuesday to face West Potomac at 6:30 pm.