Washington Post
2009 All-Met Softball
MoCo players in BLUE
Player of the Year
P Melanie Mitchell, McDonough, Sr.
Struck out 315 in 133 innings; allowed just 22 hits and four walks; led Rams to MD 2A title. Will play for VA.
Coach of the Year
Reese Kipple, Broadneck (20-0, MD 4A champions)
Former assistant took over after untimely death of longtime Broadneck coach Jim Ware last summer. Led the Bruins, who had never won a region title. The Bruins lost in two previous years to eventual state champion Chesapeake despite beating the Cougars each year in regular season and Anne Arundel championship game. This season, they got over that hump, also beating Chesapeake in the region finals to clear their path to the 4A title.
First Team
P Brittany Black, Battlefield, Sr.
22-2; 0.36 ERA; 197 strikeouts in 139 innings; batted .494, 4 HRs, 33 RBIs. Led Battlefield to the Cedar Run District title. Will play for Austin Peay.
P Chelsey Dunham, South County, Jr.
3-time Patriot District POTY; 22-0; six no-hitters; 0.38 ERA; 271 Ks in 149 innings for the VA AAA Northern Region champions.
P Lauren Gibson, Chesapeake, Sr.
Four-time All-Met, hit .510; 12-3 with 160 strikeouts in 100 innings to cap a stellar career in which she led Cougars to two MD 4A state titles. Hit .5112 for her HS career, had 26 HRs and earned 62 victories. Will play for Tenn.
P Stephanie Speierman, Hammond, Sr.
Leaves HS as MD's single-season (426 in 2007) and career (1,363 -- old record was held by Calvert's Megan Elliott, now starring at Az. State) strikeout leader. Fanned 300+ for the third straight season. Career .426 hitter, drew a state record 105 walks in her career. Three-time All-Met will play for Michigan.
C Haley Johnson, Broad Run, Sr.
Dulles District POTY hit .406 with 20 aRBI and picked off 7 runners. Helped the Spartans to their fourth straight VA AA REgion Title and two state titles. Will play for James Madison.
C Courtney Liddle, Battlefield, Sr.
Repeat All-Met and battery mate of Brittany Black, Liddle led team in batting (.523), slugging (1.170), doubles (14), HRs (10) and RBI (44) to earn VA AAA Cedar Run District POTY honors. Will play for VA Tech.
1b Eileen Horsman, Northern, SR.
Linchpin of Patriots' terrific lineup, batted .429 with 5 HRs, 29 RBI, and scored 27 runs to lead Northern to second straight MD 3A title. Will play for UNC Greensboro.
2b Taylor Stockinger, Sherwood, Sr.
Four-year starter led he Warriors to three straight MD 4A SF's -- first MoCo team to do that since 1994 -- and a 53-7 record in that span. Hit .574 with 27 runs scored. Will play for Catholic.
SS Meghan Smith, Mountain View, Sr.
A force at the plate as well as an anchor in the field for the VA AAA Commonwealth District champions. Batted .432, slugged .659, has 12 extra-base hits, scored 18 runs and drove in 15 more. Will play for Appalachian State.
3b Emily Weiman, Spalding, So.
Just a sophomore, led Cav's in batting (.373), slugging (.617) and on-base percentage (.441). As the backup P she allowed just four hits in 28 innings. Had 69 Ks.
OF Rochell Latka, Loudoun Valley, Sr.
A year after setting VA single-season record in hits and stolen bases, Latka continued stellar play in CF. Hit .375 with .973 OPS as leadoff. Will play for William and Mary.
OF Erin Leddy, St. Mary's Ryken, Sr.
Four-year starter was the key to elevating Knights to on of the top private school programs in the area. WCAC POTY hit .421 with 14 steals, six of which were home. Will play for Mount St. Mary's
OF Caroline Williams, Loudoun Valley, Sr.
Few players put together a more complete resume than Williams. Hit .622, slugged 1.149, had 9 Hrs, 51 RBI, and also went 21-3 with 0.59 ERA. Will play for James Madison.
UT Kourtney Salvorola, Broadneck, Jr.
Three-time All-Met may be the most feared hitter in the area. Hit .617 with 6 triples, 29 RBI, 7 HRs to extend her MD career record to 28 -- and counting. Shariang P duty for rock solid Bruins, she went 12-0 with 0.11 ERA for the MD 4A champions. Committed to South Florida.
Second Team
P Heather Brown Northeast Sr.
P Ashley Cummings Mountain View Sr.
P Erin McMakin Sherwood Sr.
C Samantha Colein Elizabeth Seton Jr.
C Kelly Trimble Pallotti Jr.
1B Jess Ferrick Centreville Sr.
2B Sarah Eidt O’Connell Jr.
SS Taylor Wyatt Damascus Sr.
3B Marcy Bowdren Robinson Jr.
OF Anna Blessing Broad Run Jr.
OF Callie Eward Oakton Sr.
OF Taylor Williams Hylton Sr.
UT Kristin Schalk Northern Sr.
UT Ashley Thomas Broadneck Jr.
UT Jess Warner Huntingtown Jr.
Honorable Mention
Pitchers
Megan Alexander, Damascus, Sr.; Judy Betz, Broad Run, Sr.; Samantha Brady, Madison, So.; Stephanie Dameron, St. Mary's Ryken, Jr.; Jilly Falle, O'Connell, So.; Kate Fowler, Briar Woods, Jr.; Lindsey Holtz, Loudoun County, Sr.; Kristin Hutchinson, Richard Montgomery, Jr.; Katie Kolbe, Georgetown Visitation, So.; Kayla Martinez, Arundel, Jr.; Jess Mattia, Gwynn Park, Jr.; Kathleen McLain, Wilson, Sr.; Elaine Nescio, Spalding, Sr.; Cassie Phillips, Stone Bridge, Sr.; Kaitlyn Schmeiser, Northern, So.; Maire Shaughnessy, Highland, Sr.; Meg Tucker, Centennial, Sr.; Jennifer Windau, Hayfield, Sr.
Catchers
Megan Baltzell, Mountain View, So.; Christina Clark, Georgetown Visitation, Sr.; Alyssa Cook, Huntingtown, Jr.; Adrienne Gebele, Broadneck, So.; Michelle Gravdahl, Long Reach, Sr.; Amanda Hernandez, Woodbridge, Sr.; Frankie Martinez, Westfield, So.; Victoria Marvin, Centreville, Sr.; Ashley Scroggin, North Stafford, Sr.; Courtney Sunderland, Potomac Falls, Jr.; Karson Tuck, Walkersville, Jr.; Lizzie Weddell, Northeast, Sr.
Infielders
Jessica Burk, O'Connell, Jr., Kelly Hickman, Chesapeake, Sr.; Lauren McColgan, McLean, Jr.; Ella Miller, Highland, Sr.; Julie Orlandi, Northern, Sr.; Caitlin Palmieri, Arundel, Jr.; Casey Schmidt, Glenelg, Jr.; Stephanie Sbardella, South County, Jr.; Emma Schultz, Paint Branch, Jr.; Megan Waterman, Broad Run, Sr.; Tara Wood, Paul VI, Sr.; Brittany Willingham, Glen Burnie, Sr.
Outfielders
Chloe Fitzgerald, Huntingtown, Fr., Kelsey Fuller, Marriotts Ridge, Jr.; Hayley Grabner, Loudoun Valley, Sr.; Stephanie Hudlow, Damascus, Sr.; Samantha Kruemmel, McDonough, Jr.; Nicole Mantheiy, Chesapeake, Jr.; Erin Pronobis, North Point, So., Lauren Sutherland, McLean, Jr.