Loudoun County Hangs Tough to Advance

By Matthew Stanmyre

Friday, May 23, 2008

As wacky as the past two days had been, Loudoun County infielder Kristen Gorman wouldn't have changed a thing.

The Raiders had endured two rain delays and a postponement on Wednesday, an early departure from school yesterday and the fact that they had to restart their season-deciding game against Park View with the bases loaded for the Patriots.

Sleep-deprived and anxious, none of the distractions could hold back the Raiders as they rallied in the seventh inning to beat Park View, 2-0, yesterday in the Virginia AA Dulles District tournament semifinals at Freedom-South Riding High. The victory clinched a berth in next week's Region II tournament, a feat that sent the Raiders into a euphoric celebration following the final out.

"Our team came through," said Gorman, who went 3 for 3 and drove in a run. "We stayed focused, we stayed calm and I think it showed."

Loudoun County (17-3) and Park View played through four outs on Wednesday in a driving rainstorm at Broad Run High before the game was stopped and postponed. After a restless night, the Raiders were informed on the bus ride to Freedom that the game would be restarted in the same situation as when it was stopped — with the bases full of Patriots and one out.

"That was definitely stressful," Loudoun County pitcher Lindsey Holtz said.

Added Gorman, "I started freaking out."

Holtz got two fly outs after the restart, getting out of the unusual jam and setting the tone for the rest of the game. She gave up just three hits — two after the restart — and did not allow a runner past second base after the opening inning.

It was the second season in a row that Loudoun County had knocked off Park View — which has won three Virginia AA titles — in the district semifinals. The Raiders will travel to Orange County High on Monday in the opening round of the region tournament.

"We wanted to come out here and show that we are here to stay, that we can be a powerhouse in this district," Gorman said.

Loudoun County's Hope Flanagan and Lindsey Packard singled and Megan Lindsey drew a walk to start the seventh. Second baseman Taylor Grimmell drove in the first run, and Gorman scored Packard with an infield single.

But Loudoun County's turbulent two-day run was not over — about 90 minutes after beating Park View, the Raiders lost to top-ranked Broad Run, 6-0, in the district tournament championship in a game that had no effect on postseason seeding.

Already owning the top seed in the Region II tournament entering the game against Loudoun County, Broad Run (23-0) increased its winning streak to 52 games. Two-time All-Met pitcher Caitlyn Delahaba struck out 16, gave up one hit and has now thrown 125 consecutive scoreless innings.

Broad Run has a bye in the first round of the region tournament and will host a semifinal game on Wednesday.

Tagged: 2008 Dulles Tournament, high school sports, Loudoun County High School, Park View High School, softball

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