Giordano Too Much for Hart Again

Perhaps the Hart High softball team shouldn’t count how many Foothill League games it has lost in a row to rival Saugus and start counting the days to Nicole Giordano’s graduation.

Giordano pitched a three-hitter and scored the run in a 1-0 victory Tuesday night at the William S. Hart Baseball-Softball Complex.

In Giordano’s four seasons as a varsity starter, Saugus has beaten Hart nine consecutive times in league play.

Hart defeated Saugus, 6-5, in a fourth-place game in the Woodbridge tournament earlier this year, with Giordano (17-5) taking the loss in relief.

But Giordano, who has a scholarship to Arizona, again delivered in a big game.

She led off the first inning with a single to left and beat shortstop Jackie Bailey’s throw to second on Julie Watson’s grounder.

Shannon McRoy was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. One out later, Giordano scored on a squeeze by Tracy Passafiume, beating the tag of Hart catcher Dani Socha.

“I love games like this and I love the Hart-Saugus rivalry,” Giordano said. “It’s the best game I pitched all year. My ball was really moving.”

Giordano struck out eight and walked none. She pitched out of a jam in the fourth inning, in which she allowed two of Hart’s hits.

Giordano survived a scare in the seventh, when the first two batters hit line drives to right.

Saugus right fielder Watson fielded both balls cleanly on the bounce and threw out Vanessa Raschella and Becky Bowen at first base.

The Centurions (17-5, 5-0 in league play) have a two-game lead over Hart (16-6, 3-2) and Valencia with five games left.

“We threw a lot of things at them and they didn’t choke,” Hart Coach Al Weil said. “They made the plays, and that’s what wins ballgames for you.”

After struggling in the first inning, Indian freshman Amanda Fortune (15-5) finished with a three-hitter, striking out three and walking one.

Saugus hasn’t lost to Hart in league since May of 1993, when the Indians posted a 4-3 victory at Saugus.

Giordano arrived the next season.

“She’s the finest athlete I will ever coach--boy or girl,” said Saugus Coach Ron Hilton, who played Giordano in the outfield as a freshman and sophomore and at shortstop as a junior.

“She just dominates the game.”