Want to know the fundamental reason the Perry softball team was able to win the City League championship this season?

That's easy ... fundamentals.

Just ask any of the Commodores, and they'll tell you it's true. A random sampling of what some of Perry's players said when asked the secret to the team's success:

• "Fundamentals, fundamentals," senior catcher Bethany Morrow said. "That's all my coach would talk about."

• "We work extra hard and pay extra attention to fundamentals," senior shortstop Kristen Dix said.

• "With our team, we're always working on the basics, working on our fundamentals," senior first baseman Cara Krepp said.

Said coach Amy Gavran, understatedly, "We really stress fundamentals."

It's a formula that worked for Perry, which won its first City League title in five years with a 4-2 win against Brashear in the title game May 27 at Pitt's Trees Field. The Commodores' season wrapped up last week with a loss in the PIAA Class AAA playoffs.

"It makes it so much easier to work hard when you know the things you are working on will pay off," Morrow said.

They did for Perry, which jumped out to an 8-0 record in City League play but stumbled down the stretch, losing its final three league games.

The Commodores recovered nicely, posting a 2-1 victory against Schenley in the City League semifinals and avenging a loss to Brashear in the title game. The Bulls had beaten Perry two weeks prior in their regular-season finale and also defeated the Commodores in the 2007 City League championship contest.

"I was definitely happy considering we lost our last three of the season and came back to win the City," said Gavran, who has guided the Commodores to the City championship game five times in her eight seasons -- winning four -- and also played on two City League titlist Perry teams.

The heart of the team was a strong seven-member senior class that included five starters, four of whom started at least three seasons. Krepp and Dix each were four-year starters and Morrow and center fielder Cyndie Horvath three years.

Outfielder/designated player Danielle Ferrari was a three-year player who was in her first season as a starter, with Anna Washabaugh contributing on defense as a "flex" player. Maeve Gallagher began the season in the lineup but sustained a broken collarbone that kept her out of action.

"These girls aren't only good kids and good ballplayers, they're good students," Gavran said.

It's a legacy the team's underclassmen figure to follow.

Already, many of them are excelling on the field. Sophomore second baseman Kelsey Squelch served as the team's leadoff hitter. Juniors Danielle "D.J." Ufolla and Korey Freyermuth split time pitching and both batted in the heart of the Commodores' order. Third baseman Mareya Justice started as a freshman.

"Every year I step on the field to coach, I expect to win," Gavran said. "And every game I step on the field to coach, I expect to win it."