Massoni throws perfect game for Levittown

LAMAR, Colo. -- Levittown's Ashley Massoni was a model of perfection Tuesday.

The Slammers pitcher struck out 14 en route to her first perfect game and also homered as part of a 3-for-3 day in leading Levittown to a 5-0 win over the Osawatomie (Kan.) Rockets at the Babe Ruth 16-Under Softball World Series. Massoni's perfect game was believed to be the first in World Series history and is the first no-hitter since 2006, and her second-inning blast was the first over-the-fence shot of the Series.

"I'm happy and excited," said Massoni (2-0), who also struck out 14 in her first start last Saturday. "That's my first home run over the fence, and I didn't know [it was over] until I got to second base. I knew it was going far, but not that far."

The Slammers (3-1) played solid defense behind Massoni, committing no errors on the seven balls the Rockets (0-4) put in play. Levittown coach Mike Gordek was extremely proud of his squad's effort as the team ended pool play as the No. 2 seed in the American Division.

"Ashley pitched a heck of a game," Gordek said. "Fourteen of the 21 outs were strikeouts, and that's not bad. I'm proud of my girls and am ecstatic right now. To end pool play with a perfect game -- you can't ask for anything better than that."

Massoni said she knew she was close to the World Series' single-game strikeout record of 17, but didn't realize she had a perfect game going until Gordek told her in the fifth inning.

"I knew I had my team behind me, so I wasn't nervous," said Massoni, who was a triple short of the cycle. "My pitches were all working, and I felt good."

Massoni's homer broke a scoreless tie. The Slammers added two runs in the third on three hits, another in the fourth after Massoni singled and their final run in the sixth after Massoni doubled.

Centerfielder Sabrina Gordek went 3-for-4, and her father was pleased the team had different players step up each game. "Every day, we have a different girl hitting, which is great," he said. "They played as a unit today and made no mistakes."

The Slammers stranded 10 baserunners, but Gordek isn't concerned heading into double-elimination bracket play. "This is the way to go into the next round," he said. "Now it gets interesting."

The Slammers begin bracket play against National Division No. 3 seed North Olympic, Wash. (2-2) at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.