The Darien High School softball team had already proved this season it has a powerful offense. They just had to prove they could beat a contender. Darien cleared that hurdle by a mile Monday evening as the Blue Wave bats continued their torrid streak. Darien collected eight hits and took advantage of three Staples errors, thumping the Wreckers 9-3.
"A win like that is always good. Staples is a really good team and we were ready for a tough one tonight," Darien starting pitcher Jess DeMaio said. "I had some really good defense behind me tonight, and I always count on that."
After two quiet innings, DeMaio helped her own cause, ripping a two-run double in the top of the third. The second Staples error of the inning led to a third run for the Blue Wave.
Staples came right back in the bottom of the frame with six straight batters reaching base, tying the game at three. After that speed bump, DeMaio was nearly unhittable, retiring 12 of the last 14 batters. In her complete-game effort, DeMaio scattered nine hits, struck out three and gave up just two earned runs.
Shortstop Nicole Buch, playing with a tightly taped and injured knee, drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the fourth. The floodgates soon opened with Olivia Gozdz, Courtney Bell and Kelly Fahey all collecting RBI hits.
"Staples fought back and our bats were ready to take the lead back," Buch said. "We always know our bats are going to come through for us. They're a tough competitor, and we definitely have momentum now."
Darien will face another quality opponent on Wednesday when it travels to Ridgefield for a 4 p.m. game.
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