Tuesday, May 4
May 4, 2010Thursday, May 6
May 6, 2010
Pitching in the State Quarterfinal game on Friday afternoon, Vandebilt sophomore Leah Bergeron took a line drive off her bare palm.
The shot broke the sophomore’s right hand and forced her to miss the remainder of the game.
Just 24 hours later in the championship game against Sam Houston, it was the same broken hand that helped the Lady Terriers’ win a state championship.
With the team clinging to a one-run lead in the final inning, Sam Houston had two runners on base with two outs in the inning.
With the heat on and all of the chips on the table, the ball was hit to Bergeron at second base, where she braved her pain, fielded the ball and fired a perfect throw to first base to clinch a 3-2 win and the school’s 14th softball state title.
“All I could think about was getting that last out,” Bergeron said. “Then the ball was hit to me and we got that last out. It was the best feeling I’ve ever had … I stuck it out for the Semifinal and Finals game. I knew it would be worth it in the end.”
Bergeron’s sacrifice is the Vandebilt way as the team created the slogan, “It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome,” in January to guide them through the season.
In the state title game, that motto was put to the test as the team fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning against Sam Houston.
But in the bottom half of that inning, the Lady Terriers answered right back with two runs of their own to tie the game up.
The team went ahead for good and scored the game winning run in the third inning on an RBI single by Sarah Ourso.
“This team doesn’t like to be behind,” said senior outfielder Chelsea Allen. “If someone scores on us, we get revenge … We never gave up.”
Ourso’s single held up as the game-winning hit thanks to another stout performance in the circle from senior Saidee LeMaire, who was dominant after the first inning struggles and struck out seven in the game.
That performance came after a complete game, eight strikeout performance she had earlier in the day in a 3-1 Lady Terriers’ win against Teurlings Catholic in the Semifinals.
“We had great pitching,” Vandebilt coach Margaret Johnson told the American Press following the game. “It just shows you how resilient and determined Saidee is.”
With the win, Vandebilt closed the season with a 26-8 record and its third state title in five years at the softball powerhouse.
“This was our goal from January,” Allen said. “And to accomplish a goal like this, that you have been thinking about since your 8th grade year, while watching other seniors win championships – it’s just the best feeling anyone can ask for.”
The victory also sent home the team’s four seniors with another state title – something Bergeron said was a big part in keeping the team motivated this weekend in Sulphur.
“I didn’t want to let them down because I know how bad they wanted it,” she said. “They were great leaders and pushed us to get as far as we did.”
Allen agreed and said her final game at Vandebilt was her best.
“Going into this game, me and all the other seniors knew that win or lose, this was our last time playing as a Vandebilt Terrier,” Allen said. “We’ve been thinking about this moment since we were freshman and there was no way, with our motivation, that anyone could have beaten us last night. We played as a team with one heart. This was the highlight of my whole high school career.”
The Vandebilt softball team celebrates together following its state championship victory. The win marks the third state title in five seasons for the Lady Terriers. * Photo courtesy of LEAH BERGERON
