Salvarola denies Chesapeake again | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

Kourtney Salvarola picked a good time to figure out Lauren Gibson.

Salvarola hit two home runs and took a no-hitter into the seventh inning to push Broadneck to a 4-2 victory over Chesapeake Thursday night to claim its second consecutive county championship.

"Usually I either get walked by Lauren or I strike out," Salvarola said. "One of my biggest goals tonight was to get hits off her. I think I accomplished my goal."

Salvarola spent the last week working on taking the outside pitches to right field, and it paid off. She hit a solo home run to right in the first inning, and her two-run shot to right-center in the sixth put the Bruins ahead, 4-0.

"(I wanted to) see if we could find a weak spot," Chesapeake coach Don Ellenberger said. "I didn't find it. She won't see it again."

Broadneck won its first title last year with a 2-1 win against Chesapeake. The Cougars, who have been in every championship game since 2002 and are the defending 4A state champions, haven't won a county title since 2003.

Salvarola didn't allow a run through the first six innings, despite walking six through the fourth. She struck out nine and walked seven and threw 131 pitches, but gave up only one hit - a leadoff single to Amanda Montgomery in the seventh inning.

Salvarola worked out of bases-loaded jams in the first and third innings without allowing any damage. She struck out Angela Yannone and got Lexi Matula to pop out to third base the end the first inning before giving the Bruins the early lead.

"She's basically the leader," Broadneck coach Jim Ware said. "We tend to follow her example, and she got up there and got out of that problem in the first inning and belted one."

Gibson, Kelly Hickman and Yannone all walked to load the bases with two outs in the third, but Salvarola got Matula to fly out to left field.

Chesapeake stranded seven runners - four in scoring position.

"I definitely trust my defense. I've got a good defense behind me," Salvarola said. "I just threw my pitches to get out of the jams. I never really got anxious or nervous."

After allowing Salvarola's first-inning home run, Gibson settled down. She retired 14 of the next 15 hitters she faced, issuing a fourth-inning walk to Corie Seitler, and she didn't give up another hit until Dana Naylor hit a home run to left to lead off the seventh inning.

Lauren Battista followed with a single to left, and Salvarola drove a home run to the right-center wall.

"I think our bats came alive at the end because we've seen Lauren so frequently," Ware said.

Gibson retired the next three hitters on eight pitches. She struck out six, walked one and allowed four runs on four hits - three home runs - in seven innings.

Salvarola beat Gibson, 2-0, in their regular-season meeting in April.

Chesapeake crawled back into the game and was in position to tie with two outs in the seventh.

Montgomery, who Salvarola said is her best friend, poked a single into center field to break up the no-hitter.

"That makes it even worse," Salvarola said.

Megan Butzner walked and Brianna Prince reached on a fielder's choice, and they both scored on Salvarola's throwing error to close the gap to 4-2. Samantha Pettie laid down a bunt in between the circle and third base. Salvarola's throw to first was low and went into right field, and Pettie raced to third base without a throw.

Pettie tried to score on Erika Stach's one-out grounder to third, but Naylor, the third baseman, caught her at the plate.

Gibson, who walked twice before striking out to end the fourth inning, came up with a Stasch on first. For the fourth time, Gibson was able to work a full count, but Salvarola struck her out to end the game and clinch the county championship.

"That actually means a lot to me because she's a very good hitter, and striking her out was one of my main goals," Salvarola said. "The first time doing it, I was shocked, and the second time doing it was a bonus."

Chesapeake (18-3) 000 000 2 - 2 1 0

Broadneck (18-3) 100 003 x - 4 4 1

WP: Salvarola. LP: Gibson. HR: BR - Salvarola 2, Naylor. RBI: Salvarola 3, Naylor.