Chantilly Softball Ends Season With South County Loss

The Chantilly Charger softball team (15-7) ended its season on Monday at the hands of South County (17-7) in the Northern Region Quarterfinal game at Falls Church High School.

The Chargers were defeated 5-4 by South County but showed tremendous heart in defeat, scoring all four runs in the game’s final inning and coming just one hit away from tying the contest.

Chantilly entered Monday’s game coming off of their most dominant game of the season. The Chargers defeated Mount Vernon 19-1 in the Northern Region tournament’s first round on Friday, May 27.

With Mt. Vernon behind them, the Chargers set their sights on South County.

“We expected to matchup against South County pretty evenly. But their pitcher got the best of us,” said Concorde District Coach of the Year Carmen Wise following Monday’s loss.

Chantilly wasted no time getting on base Monday as Jennifer Loh turned a South County error into a double in the game’s opening inning. Loh then stole third but failed to score as she was left on base by Rachel Major who flew out to shortstop for the team’s third out.

The Chargers left several batters on base throughout Monday’s quarterfinal game, a statistic that would ultimately affect the team’s chances of rallying from behind to win later in the game.

Chantilly pitcher Alexandra Salberg started the game strong, allowing only two South County runs until the fifth inning. However, Salberg pitched herself into a hole in the fifth, where she allowed two runs. Wise then pulled Salberg for pitcher Emily Gembarowicz, who also allowed a South County run before ending the inning.

At the end of the fifth, South County held a 5-0 lead over the Chargers.

Despite being down five runs with only two innings remaining in the game, the Chargers refused to roll over.

As the game entered the seventh and final inning, Chantilly had one final chance at making an attempt to come from behind. The Chargers awoke from their slumber and proceeded to score four seventh-inning runs on six hits. Heather Fernandez, Colleen O’Brien, Alexandra Salberg, and Victoria Doherty all scored in Chantilly’s late surge.

With two outs and the go-ahead run on base, Danielle Almodiel stepped up the plate with the hopes of delivering the hit Chantilly needed to tie the score. However, South County pitcher Rebecca Martin settled down and struck Almodiel out, ending the game.

“We started catching up at the end and we caught on to [Rebecca] Martin’s style. It was an exciting end,” said Wise.

With only two seniors on this year’s roster, the Chargers will be a formidable Concorde district opponent for teams next season. Monday’s loss caps the end to a successful 2011 campaign which saw the Chargers finish as Concorde District tournament runner-up

 “After our team meeting, I told the girls to look tall and look proud, because they have nothing to be ashamed of,” said Wise.