With her team hanging on to a one-run lead going into the last inning of yesterday's Baltimore County title game, Catonsville pitcher Amanda Fefel stared down at the heart of Western Tech's lineup.
The junior took a deep breath and threw a flawless seventh inning, ending Catonsville's 2-1 victory with her 11th strikeout of the day.
With the final out, Fefel returned the county title to the No. 9 Comets (19-2) after a one-year hiatus.
"We won the county title my freshman year, but lost it last year. So it feels really good to get it back now," said Catonsville shortstop Mallorie Clary, who produced two of the Comets' five hits and the game's only extra-base hit.
In pitching a one-hitter, Fefel, who improved to 13-1 with seven shutouts, one perfect game and an 0.40 ERA this season, won a duel between two of Baltimore County's most feared pitchers.
"We heard a lot of stuff about her, and I wanted to face her," Fefel said of Western Tech pitcher Julianne Roper (14-4), who has 10 shutouts, five no-hitters and two perfect games in her 14 wins this season. "I knew we could hit her."
Clary (28 steals) opened the game with a double and stole home to get the Comets off to a quick lead. Catonsville third baseman Nicole Chupka scored in the third inning, after first baseman Kelly Dorsey singled and Western Tech made an error in the field.
The Wolverines' only run - and only hit - came in the sixth inning from first baseman Shannon Mills, who singled, reached second, stole third and scored on a Catonsville error.
