REPEAT PERFORMANCE

Maybe that "S" on Jamie LaBovick's game shirt doesn't stand for Sunrise Mountain.

Maybe it stands for Supergirl.

The senior pitcher threw a complete-game, 2-hit shutout and drove in the winning run to beat No. 3-seed Deer Valley 1-0 Saturday at Rose Mofford Park to earn top-seeded Sunrise Mountain softball team its second straight 5A-II state championship.

Besides crediting her teammates for keeping her focused, she also gave a nod to the video game Guitar Hero.

"I get so nervouse before big games," LaBovick said. "So I play Guitar Hero and that helps me focus. I played it a lot yesterday and today. ‘My name is Jonas' is probably my favorite.'"

While the band Weezer kept her nervous energy busy off the field, her teammates provided help on the field and in the dugout.

Skyhawks pitcher Jenny Tyler had retired 10 of the first 11 batters she faced, four by strikeout, and hadn't allowed a hit before LaBovick stepped to the plate in the fourth inning. Remembering some  advice from fellow senior Brigette DelPonte, the Mustang hurler stroked a 1-and-1 pitch to the gap in right-center field for a double, breaking up Tyler's no hitter.

"Brigette said go with the outside pitch, so I went with it and drove it pretty good," LaBovick said.

"I do that a lot," DelPonte said of handing out advice. "I try to help out the other hitters whenever I can."

LaBovick, who no-hit Ironwood Ridge for the state title last year, threw five more no-hit innings Saturday until Tyler laced a single up the middle. The base hit ended LaBovick's hitless string at 11 innings.

Tyler moved to second on a ground out to first baseman Dani Bonet. That brought up the Skyhawks No. 3 hitter, sophomore Lauren Haeger. On a 1-and-2 pitch, Haeger ripped a shot destined for the right field corner, but Bonet stood from her crouch and snagged the liner to end the inning and Deer Valley's scoring chance.

"It was really just a reaction play," Bonet said. "I was glad I could squeeze the glove and get the ball down."

That was something Sunrise Mountain coach Nick Rizer wasn't sure his first baseman could do heading into the game. Rizer said Bonet hit her index finger with a bat Monday, and wouldn't allow her to swing a bat in practice during the week. Five days later, her finger was still purple and swollen.

"We weren't sure if she could go until today," Rizer said. "When she got back to the dugout (after the catch), I told her she could cry now, because that ball came off the bat real hot."

Pinch hitter Chelsey Brown led the Mustangs' sixth off with a double into the right-center field gap that was nearly chased down by Skyhawk center fielder Genelle Carrizosa. The Deer Valley junior, who was shaded toward left, dove for the ball but it tipped off the end of her glove and rolled to the fence.

"That's what it takes in games like this," said Deer Valley coach Carl Bakemeier. "Sometimes you have to make those great plays. If (Carrizosa) makes that play in center, they don't get that runner on and they don't score."

"I wanted to find a place to get her into the lineup because she's a senior, and I wanted to make sure it was spot where she could succeed," Rizer said. "I told her this was her chance, just find your pitch and put a good swing on the ball."

Haeger, who took the mound in the fifth, walked DelPonte intentionally to put runners on first and second with no outs.

"That was something (Haeger and catcher Morgan Desaulnier) decided," Bakemeier said. "I had a different plan. Either way, you don't want (DelPonte) to beat you. She can change the game with one swing."

Haeger struck out the next hitter, but a wild pitch allowed both runners to move up to second third with LaBovick stepping to the plate. The Skyhawk pitcher had her Mustang counterpart down 1-and-2 before LaBovick pulled a pitch to left fielder Jacque Robbins, deep enough for pinch runner Sala Shanley to score from third.

LaBovick struck out the first two hitters she faced to start the seventh until second baseman Claire Zampini hit a blooper over third baseman Karissa Haleman's head, and just out of reach of DelPonte's dive, for a two-out single.

Desaulnier followed with a bad-hop grounder to second that ate up freshman Annie Jordan. With Zampini heading to third after the ball skittered into short right field, Jordan's throw to Haleman appeared late, but Zampini over slid the bag and the sophomore applied the tag to give Sunrise Mountain it's third title in four years.

"The first two titles were awesome," Delponte said. "But this one is extra special because it is my senior year and the last high school softball game I'll ever play."

"It's a great way to end my high school career," LaBovick said.

 Rizer, who coached his four departing seniors to last year's state title - Scott Miller coached the Mustangs to their first softball title in 2006 - said this championship was special because of the seniors who are leaving.

"This was a neat thing for the seniors, especially like this against two great pitchers. The whole team just got after it today, and I'm really proud of all of them, especially the seniors.

"While lose four seniors, with two who will be tough to replace we still have a good group of kids who are capable and some down below (on the junior varsity squad) who are ready," Rizer said.

For Deer Valley, it must have felt like it was playing its third title game in four days. On Wednesday, the Skyhawks faced No. 2 Centennial twice, with the second game lasting 11 innings. Including Saturday's loss, each game was decided by one run.

"That's what you expect when the top 3 teams face each other," Bakemeier said. "It came down to three tough games against some real good pitchers and we played great in every game. Any of those three games could have gone either way."

Tyler pitched four innings, striking out five while allowing one hit. LaBovick finished with eight strike outs and a walk.