Chantilly Softball Claims Concorde District Title

After nearly two days since the first pitch, the Concorde District Softball Championship resumed with the Chantilly Chargers taking their first district title since 1999 with a 2-0 win over the Oakton Cougars.

, but a downpour postponed the game after two scoreless innings were played. On Tuesday both starting pitchers, Oakton's Allison Davis and Chantilly's Alex Sallberg, had given up one hit — and each knocked the only single for their respective teams. Davis also pitched one strikeout before the game was called.

"We had to stay energized and we knew we had to win this game. It was really important to us because we hadn't won in a long time," Sallberg said. "The rain was annoying, but we stayed energized."

The game picked up right where it left off, with both pitchers suffocating any offense in the third and fourth innings. Oakton's Emily Corridon had the lone hit through both innings.

But the Chargers finally broke through the stalemate in the bottom of the fifth. Heather Fernandez, who led off the inning, became the Chargers' first base runner since the second inning after being hit by a pitch. Then Colleen O'Brien, with one out tallied, hit a single to left field to put runners at first and third bases. Laura Conaghan followed up with a pop fly just over the second baseman's head to drop where no Cougar could reach it to knock in the first — and game-winning — run. The Chargers added a second run on an error later in the inning. 

The Chargers and Cougars have faced off twice this season, with the Cougars coming out on top both times with shutout wins. In the championship game, Davis — who tops the Concorde District in strikeouts by 74 — pitched six strikeouts and gave up five hits in her complete game effort.

"We knew we had to jump on their pitcher early and hit or else we wouldn't win," Sallberg said. "That's what we did today in that fifth inning, and it really helped us out and it got us focused."

The rest of the game remained scoreless, with Sallberg pitching a complete game shutout to strike out four batters and give up four hits. Sallberg was named the Most Valuable Player on the All-Tournament team. 

"I pretty much know all their hitters, so I know what to throw," Sallberg, a junior, said. "I was really focused and hyped, and I really wanted to win."

The Chargers earned the school's first district title in softball since 1999, a fact they do not take lightly after ending up in the runner-up slot last season. 

"Tonight was our night, and it's been since 1999 for the school and we're so excited to put 2012 on the banner," Coach Carmen Wise said. "... I'm really proud of all five of my seniors. I'm so excited they finally got to know what it feels like to have success. They've been with us since their freshmen year when we were down and out. It's just really cool to be able to see them come this far."

Both the Cougars and Chargers will continue in the Northern Region Tournament starting today. The Chargers will host Langley at 6:30 p.m.