Unbeaten Broad Run a Step Away

After Blanking Salem, Spartans Will Play for 2nd Straight Title

By Matthew Stanmyre

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Broad Run first baseman Karla Powell trotted off the field, sweaty and dusty, with another row of zeros lining the scoreboard behind her. Once again, her focus had been put to the test in the field, another game passing without Powell needing to make a defensive play.

Top-ranked Broad Run muscled past Salem, 8-0, in the Virginia AA softball semifinals at Radford University on Friday, with Salem putting only two balls into play — a single to center field and a grounder that was easily tucked away by shortstop Ashley Kramer. The shutout was Broad Run’s 22nd in a row and stretched its streak of scoreless innings to 153.

“Every once in a while, you see a ball put into play,” said Powell, who went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI. “It’s not expected, but you have to be ready for it.”

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Broad Run Racks Up Win

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In the fourth inning, Salem's No. 4 Catlin Carr tags out Broad Run's No. 16 Karla Powell at second base. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Broad Run's winning pitcher, No. 10 Caitlyn Delahaba, pitchesb against Salem. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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With a score of 8-0, Broad Run takes the field for the last time in the seventh inning. From left: No. 23 Reagan Doiron, No. 16 Karla Powell, No. 10 Caitlyn Delahaba and No. 9 Haley Johnson. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Broad Run brings in five runs in the first inning of the game. Here, No. 23 Reagan Doiron brings in the third run of the game and is congratulated by her team. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Broad Run (27-0), which has won 56 consecutive games, will aim for its second straight AA championship Saturday at 1 p.m. when it faces Tunstall, a 2-0 winner over Poquoson in the other semifinal. Broad Run is seeking to become the second team in Virginia High School League history to compile consecutive unbeaten seasons.

Although much of the credit for Broad Run’s defensive mastery lies with three-time All-Met pitcher Caitlyn Delahaba, who struck out 19 and gave up one hit against Salem (20-7), it has been up to the team’s overall collection of talent to shut out 26 of 27 opponents this year. Despite playing in the talent-rich Dulles District, Broad Run’s players have not made any critical errors in the field and have never lost focus during games in which Delahaba often mows down opponents in droves.

“We’re always ready and focused that the ball might come our way,” said Broad Run second baseman Michelle Clohan, a four-year starter who scored two runs Friday. “I don’t think we ever get rusty.”

Broad Run was last scored on 69 days ago — March 29 — during a 4-3 win over No. 8 Battlefield, a AAA softball finalist. The runs were all unearned, and it was so long ago, Broad Run Coach Ed Steele said: “It seems like it was last year. I don’t even know. You have to look way back.”

Even in the postseason, few have threatened Broad Run, which returned its entire infield from last year’s team. Salem’s players beat sticks together in the dugout Friday, clapped in unison and shouted encouragements to their batters — “It’s all you, girl! You gotta believe in that box!”

But nothing worked. Salem second baseman Katie Stauffer reached base on a single in the first inning, but Delahaba then fanned 18 of the next 20 batters.

Broad Run, meantime, came out smoking. A two-run triple by junior third baseman Reagan Doiron, followed by a sacrifice fly by sophomore outfielder Anna Blessing, gave Broad Run a 5-0 lead after the first inning. The team added single runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings. That put the team on the cusp of its third state title.

“I’m not nervous at all, and I know the team’s definitely not nervous at all,” Clohan said. “It’s the same situation as last year. We’re focused and ready to get the job done.”

Tagged: Broad Run High School, softball

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