Listless Saugus Wakes Up in 9th to Edge Quartz Hill in Softball

After managing just two hits in the first eight innings Thursday, Saugus High rapped three in the ninth en route to a 2-0 Golden League softball victory over host Quartz Hill.

With two of the best pitchers in the region facing each other--Quartz Hill’s Heather Meyer and Saugus’ Kerry Coudry--hits were at a premium.

Coudry (11-1) won the first of two league battles against Quartz Hill (9-2, 1-1 in league play), the defending league champion and the Southern Section 3-A Division runner-up.

The senior right-hander scattered four hits, struck out 10, and did not allow a walk, and she seemed to get stronger as the game progressed, retiring 15 of the last 16 batters.

“Her maturity is just amazing,” Saugus Coach Ron Hilton said. “She raises it up a notch every time we need her to.”

By striking out the side on 11 pitches in the eighth, Coudry provided the momentum for Saugus to win in the ninth.

Kim O’Leary led off with a single to right field. After Corrine Ochoa sacrificed O’Leary to second, Carrie Brown (two for four) ripped a line drive through the left side of the infield to score O’Leary with the only run Saugus would need against the Rebels, who are fourth-ranked in the 3-A.

“I just wanted to put the ball in play,” said Brown, a senior catcher who is being courted by New Mexico State and Cal State Northridge.

Saugus (15-1, 2-0), unranked in the 3-A, added another run on Kelli Kranz’s bloop single to left that drove in Nicole Giacalone, who was pinch-running for Brown.

Meyer (7-2), a senior right-hander, was unhittable early. She was perfect through 4 1/3 innings until Kranz (two for four) tripled down the left-field line. Meyer, who gave up five hits and struck out seven, retired 17 of the first 18 batters.

“Heather doesn’t give up a whole lot,” Hilton said. “But the other thing is that this team doesn’t panic.”

Indeed, most of the Centurions should be fearless. For the third consecutive year, Hilton has the same seven starters in the lineup. However, after winning back-to-back league titles in 1989 and ‘90, Saugus tripped on its collective ego in 1991, went 14-10, tied Canyon for second place in the league and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

The Centurions are determined to reclaim the title, and it seems they are well on their way.