By James Yodice / Journal Staff Writer
Call her a weapon, call her an asset, call her completely invaluable to the cause. On Tuesday, Melissa Purcella fit all those descriptions in bulk.
The Albuquerque Academy senior has a Division I career awaiting her on the East Coast, at Rider University in New Jersey, but she seems quite intent on ending her prep days with the Chargers with a flourish.
Purcella tossed a five-hitter in the circle for Academy in a showdown with visiting Bernalillo, and she also drove in five runs — including a three-run, walkoff home run in the bottom of the sixth — as Academy belted the Spartans 14-2 in what amounted to a winner-take-all game for the District 6-4A softball championship.
