After starting the season 11-0, Scecina's defending Class 2A state champion softball team had lost four of six games heading into Saturday's City Tournament semifinals, repeatedly stranding runners in a series of close setbacks.

But Crusaders coach Tom Moorman thinks his team may be over its mini-slump following a near-perfect sixth inning against Bishop Chatard in the tournament final at Brookside Park. Trailing by two runs entering the bottom of the sixth, Scecina (15-4) scored nine runs on seven hits -- including a grand slam from catcher Amanda Couture -- to pull away for a 9-2 win that gave the team its fifth straight City title.

"We'd been in a hitting slump, but we came back and went wild in that sixth inning," Moorman said. "We'd been looking for a big inning like that. It was great to see Amanda come through like that."

Chatard (7-11) forged a 2-0 lead on first-inning RBIs by Kim Tyler and Amanda Coutz -- who combined on the mound to hold Scecina to two hits through the first five innings. But Trojan Molly Kilbane -- who had picked up the win against Cathedral in the semifinals -- came in and gave up a pair of walks around an infield error to load the bases.

Ty Bremer, Morgan Kantner and Emily Bernstein all followed with run-scoring singles before Couture drilled a pitch to center field into a heavy wind, just clearing the fence and upping the lead to 7-2.

"It felt pretty good when it left my bat," said Couture. "It was the first (grand slam) I've ever hit. I was ready to get a hit."

The Crusaders added two more runs and then watched pitcher Amy Tamer (8-3) close the game by getting two groundouts and a fly ball to center field. Tamer allowed four hits and struck out nine batters.

Chatard advanced to the final with an exciting 5-2 win against Cathedral in Saturday's semifinal. Tied at 2 in the top of the seventh inning, Chatard's Casey Williamson hit a two-run home run over the center field fence. Teammate Kellie Tekulve followed with another shot out of the park.

Cathedral put two runners on base with one out in the bottom of the inning, but Trojans third baseman Kim Tyler snagged a line drive and then doubled up the runner at first to end the game.

Scecina had little trouble with Ritter, winning 10-0 in five innings in the other semifinal. Jamie Goss allowed just one hit and struck out seven while going the distance, while Katy Stanton drove in three runs and Ty Bremer two more.