When Saugus High softball was at its lowest on Tuesday afternoon, it was also at its loudest.
The energy worked, fueling the Centurions’ six-run comeback in the seventh inning, completed by a walk-off grand slam by Cassidy Fitzgerald, to beat Chatsworth 9-8 at home.
“They were louder that inning than throughout the whole game, which is great because we have a ‘never give up’ attitude and they really fought the whole entire game,” said coach Julie Archer. “Some teams in that last inning, if that would happen to them, they would just roll over.”
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Chatsworth (8-3) scored five runs in the top of the seventh to pull ahead 8-3.
Saugus (7-5) didn’t shut down for the rest of the afternoon, though.
Makayla Lopez and Taylor Tonoian hit back-to-back RBI singles. Then, with bases loaded, Fitzgerald approached the plate.
“When I was up to bat, I just knew I needed to pull my end right now and just get a pitch to drive,” she said.
The senior saw her opportunity and launched the ball over the fence between center and left field.
“As I was running to third, seeing my whole team there, I just felt the excitement of (hitting) a walk-off grand slam, and it was the best feeling I could have, especially for a team like this. We’re real scrappy,” said Fitzgerald.
The Chancellors were trailing for the first three innings, then scored a game-tying run in the fourth when Lyndsey Zamora homered, making it 3-3.
The Cents switched pitcher Leslie Reynaga for Angeline Riley, hoping to knock Chatsworth off balance.
“It was definitely the right time to change and put in Angel just to give them a different look,” Fitzgerald, a catcher, said. “The two of them are completely opposite. So giving the batters another look definitely threw them off for a minute.”
