The Bishop O'Connell Knights defeated the Bishop Ireton Cardinals 3-2 in 10 innings to end a three-year drought and capture the 2004 WCAC Softball Title. The game was played May 21 at Wheaton Park, Md.

With the win, O'Connell improved to 22-4 on the season (a perfect 16-0 WCAC mark). Ireton dropped to 15-5 on the season (13-3 WCAC regular/postseason).

After a scoreless first inning, Ireton notched two runs in the top of the second.

"Our girls were really in this game from the first pitch until the last out today," said Ireton’s first-year head coach Susan Flynn.

Four-year starter Beth Dalmut led off with a single. One out later, sophomore catcher Elise Lopez smacked a double which scored Dalmut. Lopez, who recorded the winning RBI's in last seasons Ireton 3-1 win versus O'Connell for the 2003 WCAC championship, advanced to third base via a putout at first base.

"Elise (Lopez) has really done a good job this year. She has a good arm and a good stick," said Flynn.

Two batters later, senior right fielder Clare Neller's single to right scored Lopez to give Ireton a 2-0 lead. O'Connell held Ireton scoreless during two regular season games.

"We might have been a little bit stunned right there, but I felt confident that we were going to eventually tie the game up," said O’Connell head coach Tommy Orndorff.

"When we got behind we said that there was no way that we were going to lose this game. We stepped up and played extra hard [from that point forward]," said the Knights’ four-year starting pitcher Cara L'Etoile.

In the bottom of the second, L'Etoile led off with a single to right. Junior Natalia Kroll pinch ran for L'Etoile.

Following a fielder’s choice and a pop out, Knight sophomore third baseman Toni Roubin beat out an infield single to put runners at first and second.

O'Connell senior right fielder Kerri Spaulding hit a single to right for her first RBI of the game. The inning eventually ended with Ireton ahead 2-1.

"It was important that we came back and answered them with that run," said Orndorff.

The Knights tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Engman hit a one-out triple. One batter later, freshman center fielder Chelsea Logan flied out to center to score Engman via a sacrifice fly.

"We were definitely hitting the ball hard all game long, but early in the game we were hitting it right at them," said Orndorff.

In the final three innings of regulation, neither team scored. L'Etoile retired nine consecutive Cardinals. O'Connell hit four singles over the three innings but could not generate a run, thus sending the game into extra innings. In Orndorff’s 19 seasons as head coach he does not recall another game that went longer than 10 innings.

L'Etoile retired the Cardinals in the top of the eighth. Ireton standout freshman pitcher Chrissy Sborz (first-team All WCAC, along with L'Etoile) got some help from her infield to retire the first two O'Connell batters.

"Our pitching and our defense - especially in the infield - has been our strong points all season long," said Flynn.

Even though Chelsea Logan and Toni Roubin singled, O'Connell stranded both runners as Sborz recorded a ground out to end the eighth inning.

Ellen Horen led off the top of the ninth with a single. Dalmut's perfect bunt/sacrifice advanced Horen to second. However, L'Etoile retired the next two batters to end the Cardinal's final threat of the game.

"Cara started throwing hard and they played some good defense today," said Dalmut.

Sborz retired all three Knights in the bottom of the ninth with some help from her infield. Short stop Horen threw out sophomore first baseman Regina Duffy for out number one and also caught a hard shot from O'Connell senior second baseman Trish Sexauer to end the inning.

In the top of the 10th, L'Etoile recorded a ground out and two consecutive strikeouts.

In the decisive bottom of the 10th, Sborz put the first two Knights down in order, but Engman beat out an infield single and then Chelsea Logan drew a walk.

Toni Roubin hit a line shot to center which loaded the bases. Spaulding then smacked the game-winning single to left/center field. The clutch hit scored Engman for the winning run. Engman scored all three O’Connell runs.

"It was a high fastball down the middle and I hit it pretty well," said Spaulding.

"Unfortunately, I got a little tired at the end," said Sborz.

"The past few years we didn't win this game for whatever reason. This win is the culmination of what we've been working for all year long," said Sexauer.

"We were the underdogs. We wanted to prove [the critics wrong]. We played our hearts out today," said Ireton third baseman Kayla Kelleher.

"Our kids had something to prove today. Thay proved that they could play with O'Connell. I never thought that we would have gotten this far this season with a freshman pitcher on the mound. I couldn't be prouder of these girls," said Flynn.

"This is a great win," said .L’Etoile. "Coach Orndorff is a great coach. He pumps us up whenever we're down. He is very motivational."

O'Connell, Ireton and Paul VI will all participate in the Virginia Independent Schools State Championship Quarterfinals starting May 25 (too late for this edition).