Burlington Central 10, Harvard 0

She can't be called a little rascal anymore.

But there was a time, about 10 years ago, when Heather Wendt said Erica Maisto was just that.

That was when Maisto was 8 years old and Wendt was a senior at Burlington Central High School, on her way to pitching 70 career wins for the Rockets' softball program.

On Tuesday afternoon at Rocket Hill, Maisto became the program's all-time leader for career wins when she 2-hit Harvard in a 10-0 BC victory, the 71st win of her four-year varsity career. She now stands just 4 wins from tying Kelli Gallas of Cary-Grove for the most wins in the area in the last 15 years.

"She was a little rascal back then," said Wendt, a two-time all-area captain in her playing days who attended Tuesday's game, of Maisto. "She started pitching when I was here and I helped her. I think I might have even umpired a couple of her games when she was 7 or 8 years old. I played for her dad (Wade), so if anyone was going to break (the record) I'm glad it was her."

Maisto, who struck out five and walked two in winning for the 11th time this season without a loss, was just happy to have the milestone event come and go.

"I'm so relieved it's over," she said. "I was nervous the whole entire game. I'm glad it's over but it's a good feeling. I never ever ever thought this would happen. It never even crossed my mind that I'd ever come close to Heather."

Despite their 10-year age difference, Maisto and Wendt have become friends over the years.

"I can remember going to the Wendt's cabin in Wisconsin and tubing with Heather when I was younger," said Maisto, who is now 71-9 in her career and on Tuesday threw her 43rd career shutout while lowering her season ERA to 0.22. "I thought I was the coolest kid in the world because I was hanging out with Heather."

Maisto had a relatively easy time with Harvard (6-15, 3-6 Big Northern East) on Tuesday, allowing only a bloop single to center field in the fourth inning and a soft liner to right in the fifth. Her defense was again flawless in front of one of the biggest crowds of the season.

"The fans were all so supportive and there's no way any of this happens without my teammates over the years," Maisto said. "I'm just so happy right now."

Tenth-year BC coach Scot Sutherland has seen each of Maisto's 71 wins and acknowledged the magnitude of that number.

"It's a great honor for her," Sutherland said. "That's a lot of victories in four years and she's got more in her. That's a record that won't be broken for a long time. There's nobody more deserving. She's all about the team. She's not about personal statistics. She wants to win and she puts the good of the team ahead of everything else. She's got great character and there's a lot of blood, sweat and tears that have gone into her four years here."

The game itself was a rout for the top-ranked Rockets (21-1, 8-0). They scored at will against the visiting Hornets, taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning and building on it from there.

Junior Kayla Oranger had a 3-for-4 day with 2 doubles and 2 RBI, Brooke Porto was 2-for-2, Abby Morrow was 3-for-3 with a double and 4 RBI and Jordan Maisto had 2 hits and an RBI.

Area's best (since 1993)

Years Name (school) Wins

1998-2001 Kelli Gallas (Cary-Grove) 75

2005-08 Erica Maisto (BC) 71

1995-98 Heather Wendt (BC) 70

1993-96 Jill Henson (BC) 69

1993-96 Elizabeth Waller (Elgin) 60

1996-99 Jackie Brittain (St. Edward) 54

1999-2001 Maria Doukas (Jacobs) 45

1992-95 Michelle Dickerson (Larkin) 41