2008
CH: Chesapeake
F: Sherwood
SF: E Roosevelt
SF: Linganore
4A WEST (#1 seed)
#1 Sherwood 16-1
def Gaithersburg (13-4) 5-4 (8)
4A NORTH (#4 seed)
#1 North Carroll 17-3
def Westminster 5-3
4A EAST (#3 seed)
#1 Broadneck 18-0
def 17-3 Chesapeake 8-2
4A SOUTH (#2 seed)
C H Flowers 16-1
def #2 Bowie (16-4) 3-1
Broadneck 5 North Carroll 2 (4A Final)
(5/23) "Bruins Handle Unfinished Business" After Emily Tempestilli squeezed the final out on Broadneck's first state softball championship, there was little celebration, except for a few cursory high-fives from All-Met pitcher Kourtney Salvarola to her teammates jogging toward the dugout. It wasn't until after the second-ranked Bruins shook hands with North Carroll that they celebrated their 5-2 victory in the Maryland 4A final yesterday in the way they deemed most proper. The 13 Bruins encircled home plate, motioned for quiet from the applauding crowd at the University of Maryland, and then simultaneously bellowed a heartfelt "Coach Ware." Broadneck (20-0) celebrated each of its final three victories this season this way, honoring Jim Ware, their coach of 11 years, who died suddenly last July. Before Ware took over, Broadneck had never had a winning season. In each of the two previous years, the Bruins won 20 games but lost to arch-rival and eventual state champion Chesapeake in the 4A East region final. "Because the whole season was based off of that theme" of Ware's memory, Salvarola said of the postgame ritual, "and we wanted to make sure all our fans knew we were going to win states for Coach Ware." This year, they got past Chesapeake and never stopped. "We had a reason this season," said sophomore catcher Adrienne Gebele, whose first-inning, three-run homer put Broadneck ahead for good. "He was our motivation. He was the one who started it all here, and we had unfinished business for him." Gebele's homer took care of that business right away, as she lined the first pitch she saw over the left center-field fence. After North Carroll (18-4) responded with two runs in the top of the second, Broadneck added a run apiece in the third and fourth as part of a 10-hit attack. Source: WaPo Still With Them: Broadneck gave winner's trophies to former coach Jim Ware's two grown children, son Pat and daughter Beth, who also posed with players for photos after the Bruins' victory. Power Center: Broadneck is the sixth Anne Arundel County school to win a softball title since 1998, joining Chesapeake, Glen Burnie, North County, Northeast and Severna Park.
"For Coach Ware" Reese Kiple had it all lined up.He was going to chase his dream, enter the world of college softball and become an assistant coach at Catonsville Community College. Then he and the entire Broadneck community received the news that would change everything. Jim Ware, the Bruins' long-time coach, unexpectedly passed away last summer and a group of very promising high school softball players, one of them being Kiple's stepdaughter, Kourtney Salvarola, needed a leader. "It was a big life lesson for everyone," said Kiple, a volunteer assistant at Broadneck last season who took over the program this past spring. "I hope I've played a part in that for these girls because they learned at a very young age that there's more to life than what happens on the field. "This season was for coach Ware and the girls weren't going to stop until they had that state championship. They won it for him." Salvarola pitched a complete-game, four hitter while sophomore catcher Adrienne Gebele hit a three-run home run in the first inning to spark Broadneck's 5-2 victory over North Carroll in the Class 4A state championship at the University of Maryland on Saturday.How many chances do you really get to coach another member of your family? "(Kourtney) was the first person I talked to about it," said Kiple, whose team capped off a perfect 20-0 season and took home their first state title. "She knew about my dream of coaching at the college level and she certainly didn't want to hold me back from that." Said Salvarola: "After coach Ware died, he asked me what I thought. He coaches me in summer ball and is one of the best coaches I have ever had. He's coached me since I was five and I knew he could lead us to the state championship." This wasn't the first state title Kiple brought to the Cape St. Claire school. In 1995, he coached alongside his father, Jerry, and led the Broadneck outdoor track & field team to the state crown. After getting by back-to-back state champion Chesapeake in the Class 4A East Region final, the Bruins quickly became the favorites in College Park, something Kiple strongly believed back in March. "There was no doubt in my mind," he said. "If I have doubts then they're going to have doubts and they sort of keyed off of me. I expected to win every time we took the field." Broadneck took the field Saturday and the first hitter Salvarola faced reached base for the Panthers (18-4). It was one of three innings when the lead-off hitter got on. "It never changed the game plan," said Salvarola, who finished with four strikeouts. "Adrienne (Gebele) and I have a strong connection on the field. We can communicate without her coming to the mound and I also have plenty of faith in my teammates when we're at bat." After senior Minday Daugherty reached in the first, Salvarola retired the next three North Carroll batters and then it was the Bruins' turn. Senior left fielder Avery Gabbard (3-for-4, RBI, run scored) smacked a single into center to lead off and Salvarola was walked to put two runners on. Gebele, Broadneck's cleanup hitter, took the first delivery from Panthers' sophomore pitcher Samantha Stitely for a line-drive shot over the wall in left field. "I thought it was going to be short and I would have to run the bases," said Gebele, who is a first-year starter after transferring from a school in Michigan but attended several camps that coach Ware conducted when she was in grade school. "I knew what we were up against and it was our goal from Day 1 to do it for coach Ware. I'm just happy we got it done." North Carroll got two runs back in the second. Stitley, who had three hits on the day including a double in the fourth, scored from second base on a errant throw to first. Sophomore Cindy Rehak drove in senior Cara Corsaro on a fielder's choice before Salvarola tallied a strikeout to end the threat."I'm really glad our girls came back fighting," said Panthers coach Lloyd Ford, whose team had not given up a home run in the first inning all season. "Sam has had a very solid year hitting. It's great for her to have a day like that. It would have been nice to sort of spread those hits around a little bit or string them together. Hopefully, it helps the pain of being the losing pitcher." Like Stitley, a group of four sophomores made up the middle of the Panthers' lineup, which speaks volumes about the future for the North Carroll program. "They'll be on a mission next year," said Ford, whose team has won six state titles, but none since moving up to Class 4A two years ago. Stitley got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom half of the second when her and senior shortstop Kelsey Eckenrode defended back-to-back plays to get the force out at home and then Stitley got junior Diana Naylor to ground out.Gabbard hit an RBI-single to left in the third to tack another run for the Bruins and junior shortstop Ashley Thomas hit a sac fly to score Salvarola, who led off the fourth with a triple. Salvarola finished 1-for-2 with two walks. Salvarola and the Broadneck defense retired nine of the next 10 batters to seal the victory. "My team hit like they always do," said Salvarola, a junior, who is already committed to the University of South Florida. "Adrienne's home run in the first was a big relief for me and I think the rest of the team fed off that." When the win was complete and before the Bruins accepted their state trophies, the team gathered at home plate for one final cheer for their former coach. Coach Ware's immediate family and friends were in attendance and the Bruins' tribute was welcomed by a warm ovation from both teams' cheering sections. "For what that team has overcome, it's just incredible," Lloyd said. And for Kiple, he already said college softball can wait one more year. He'll be back with Salvarola and the other 11 returning varsity players next spring when the Bruins take aim at a repeat. "Oh yeah, I'll be back," he said. "Can't wait." Source: DigitalSports.com
North Carroll 1 Sherwood 0 (8) (State Semi-Final)
(5/19) Sherwood's late-inning heroics (and dumb luck) finally ran out. The Warriors lost a heartbreaker in a 4A SF for the second time in three years, dropping a 1-0 decision to North Carroll in eight innings. The Warriors left the bases loaded in the fifth and runners on second and third in the sixth, but came undone in the ITB in the top of the eighth. North Carroll's Kelsey Eckenrode, starting on 2B, advanced to third on a wild pitch on the first toss of the inning. Jaime Cordery followed with a squeeze bunt up the first base line to score Eckenrode. In the bottom half, the Warriors tried to bunt their runner but popped into a double play which effectively killed the inning -- and the game and the season. "You're in a tough position if you don't take advantage of (stranded) runners," said Sherwood coach Pat Flanagan. "I guess you can't do it (come from behind) three games in a row." Source: WaPo
Broadneck 12 CH Flowers 0 (5) (State Semi-Final)
(5/19) Four days after their biggest win in school history, Broadneck primed itself for a state championship. The Bruins scored four runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back, routing Flowers 12-0 in five innings. Ashley Thomas hit a 2-run homer and steamrolled the Jaguars' batters all afternoon. Bruins leader Kourtney Salvarola said it was difficult, initially, to focus after defeating archrival (and the previous two years' nemisis to reaching the finals) Chesapeake on Friday to claim their first-ever region crown. Now, the Bruins are on the verge of the school's first title, and are playing this season to honor their longtime coach Jim Ware, who died suddenly last summer. Salvarola, who is expected to pitch the final, said Saturday can not come quick enough to play for the title against North Carroll. Source: WaPo
For a team with two sophomores in the outfield, a newcomer behind the plate, and a new defense on the right side, Broadneck has come a long way. A first-year coach (necessary because long-time coach Jim Ware passed suddenly last summer) inherited a team that overcame their rival Chesapeake for the first time (that is really counted) in three years. The Cape St. Clair team jumped on C H Flowers early and often for a 12-0, five-inning win to advance to the state finals. "We've won a lot of games in the past three years, and have (enjoyed) good press and high rankings, but still, we want that championship," said Bruins coach Reece Kipple. Broadneck threw their "second" pitcher, Ashley Thomas at Flowers, but that's like using your F-18 Hornet instead of your F-22 Raptor. Thomas made quick and short work of Flowers' lineup while Kourtney Salvorola took a respite from pitching duties until the final. Thomas had nine Ks, threw only 55 pitches (in five innings) and was one hit away from a perfect game. She also clubbed a two-run, inside the park home run in the second inning. "After my first at-bat I realized (Flowers pitcher Michelle Shackleford) was throwing first-pitch strikes down the middle. My next time up I took a chance, swung at that first pitch and I was right," said Thomas. Flowers did display some good defense, getting out of a bases loaded jam in the first with a double play (3B caught the ball and tagged-up the runner on third) and a ground out. "If we weren't going to catch up (to Thomas) then I knew the girls could show off their defense," said Jaguars coach Molly Bender. In the 2nd inning, senior LF Erika Clark hit a first-pitch offering from Thomas into CF for the Jaguars' only hit. Thomas -- 8-0 this year -- is expected to play SS when Salvorola (0.09 ERA this year) takes the mound in the final. Source: DigitalSports.com
#1 Broadneck 8 #2 Chesapeake 2 (4A East Final)
(5/15) "Broadneck gets Emotional Win (Wash Post) Finally, Broadneck will be part of the state softball tournament instead of watching from the stands. After two years of painful losses to Chesapeake in the Maryland 4A East region final, the No. 2 Bruins kept their undefeated season alive with an emotional 8-2 victory over the third-ranked Cougars yesterday in Annapolis, earning a berth in Tuesday's 4A semifinals. The victory comes 10 months after the death of Broadneck's coach, Jim Ware, who passed away in July at age 62 after leading the Bruins for 11 seasons. "This game had a lot of meaning for all of us," said junior pitcher Kourtney Salvarola, who struck out seven and retired 12 of 13 Chesapeake batters between the third and sixth innings. "At the beginning of the season, we said we'd dedicate it to Coach Ware. We knew it was this game or we were done." Broadneck (18-0) intentionally did not pitch Salvarola, an All-Met who has committed to South Florida, when the teams met during the regular season. The strategy was simple: The Bruins did not want to give Chesapeake hitters a chance to figure her out before this critical game. Instead, they used Ashley Thomas, who pitched a shutout and hit a three-run home run. Yesterday, Thomas's triple to the gap in left-center scored Salvarola to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth, and then the Bruins' bats ignited. Adrienne Gebele followed with an RBI triple to right. Diana Naylor singled in Gebele, and Jill Siok and Kellie Lucas followed with singles, too. Avery Gabbard's single made it a four-run inning, plenty for Salvarola, who allowed only two hits over seven innings. "You can't keep good teams down for long," said Chesapeake Coach Don Ellenberger, whose Cougars (17-3) were bidding for a third straight 4A title. "They put a couple of hits together. It's a tough way for our seniors to go out." The game marked the end of a stellar career for Chesapeake's three-time All-Met pitcher Lauren Gibson (Tennessee). Gibson struck out five, allowed 11 hits, walked four and hit one batter. Source: WaPo
"To Honor Coach" (Baltimore Sun) When Kourtney Salvarola struck out the final batter in Friday's Class 4A East regional championship against Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, the top-ranked Broadneck girls softball team gathered at home plate and chanted in unison, "Win it for Coach Ware." The 8-2 victory over the visiting Cougars was huge for Broadneck's program. Not only did the Bruins end two consecutive years of the frustration of losing to Chesapeake in the regional final, but they also were able to dedicate a monumental win to their late coach, Jim Ware, who died over the summer at the age of 62. Bruins coach Reese Kiple, who served as Ware's assistant, was almost overcome with emotion after the teams finished shaking hands. Broadneck enters the state semifinals at 18-0 and is looking to give Ware an even bigger tribute with a state title. "It's been about that from Day One," Kiple said. "We haven't really talked about it a whole lot, but they had it in their hearts the whole season. I am sure he is looking down on us today, and he is pretty proud of these young ladies." Salvarola pitched a gem of a game for Broadneck. After allowing two runs - one earned and one unearned - in the second inning, Salvarola retired 13 of the next 14 batters. She allowed two hits and struck out six with six walks. Chesapeake's Lauren Gibson, The Sun's two-time All-Metro Player of the Year, ended her high school career by allowing 11 hits, with six strikeouts and four walks. With the score tied at 2 in the fifth inning, Salvarola walked, and Ashley Thomas and Adrienne Gebele hit back-to-back triples. Diana Naylor, Jill Siok and Kallie Lucas each singled in the middle of the order, and Broadneck built a 6-2 lead. "I think we were coming out here ready to play. We were prepared and hit the [heck] out of the ball," Salvarola said. "If we hit the ball the way we hit today, I don't think we can be stopped." After Ashley Thomas scored on a wild pitch and Lucas singled home another Bruins run in the sixth, Salvarola shut the door on Chesapeake in the final inning, ending the Cougars' two-year reign as state champs. "We knew it was going to come down to one big inning," Chesapeake coach Don Ellenberger said. "It's a tough way for the seniors to go out. But we'll start rebuilding next year."
"Broadneck ends Cougar/Gibson hex" (DigitalSports.com) The Cougar/Gibson hex is over for the Broadneck High School softball team! After losing the last two years in the Class 4A East Regional final in softball to Lauren Gibson and the Chesapeake Cougars, the Broadneck Bruins claimed their first regional crown over nemesis Chesapeake, 8-2 at James Ware Field in Cape St. Claire on Friday. "Yeah, that would be a good way to say it, broke the hex," said Chesapeake's eighth-year coach Don Ellenberger. "We've battled them for a couple years now and we had the upper hand until this year, but this year, Reese (Kiple, first-year Bruins' coach) had them absolutely set. And they put it on us. I predict they will be the next state champion from Anne Arundel County." Gibson had beaten the Bruins (18-0), ranked No. 2 in the latest DigitalSports Baltimore-metro softball Top 20 Poll, the last two seasons in the 4A East final and gone on to win their sixth and seventh State titles overall. Gibson fired a perfect game in each of the last two state championship games, but a third straight wasn't to be as a two-hitter by Bruins' junior Kourtney Salvarola (11-0) and clutch hitting by her mates carried the hosts. "I think we came more mentally prepared than they they did," said Salvarola, who has committed to South Florida University. "We hit extremely well and we figured whoever hit the best was going to win. We didn't want that feeling again (losing in regional final)." Neither of the two superb pitchers was at their sharpest as Broadneck scored twice off Gibson in the first inning with shortstop Ashley Thomas' squeeze bunt scoring the first run and the other coming home on an error.
Chesapeake answered in the top of the second with two runs on a throwing error to tie it. The two windmillers then each retired seven batters in a row. Salvarola walked Gibson leading off the fifth, but got the next three hitters with no damage done. In the bottom of the fifth, Gibson walked Salvarola, who had singled and tripled in her first two at bats, to start the inning and five straight hits followed, the last three on the first pitch. The Bruins would score four runs for a commanding 6-2 lead. "I actually didn't throw well on Wednesday in relief," said Salvarola, who threw a season-high 133 pitches yielding two-hits (first two innings), walked six and struck out eight.
"Today I got better as the innings went on. I think it was nerves at the beginning because they are an excellent hitting team."
Gibson, who yielded 11 hits, walked four, hit a batter and struck out six on 110 pitches, gave up two more runs in the sixth on a passed ball and an RBI single by Kellie Lucas. But the five straight hits in the four-run fifth were crucial and to her credit, Gibson never lost her poise in suffering the setback and frustration. Two of those hits, back-to-back triples by Thomas and catcher Adrienne Gebele after the Salvarola walk ignited the Bruins. "I knew about the rivalry, and what we were up against and I just wanted to contribute," said Gebele, a Michigan sophomore transfer (her dad is in the military) who has a strong arm, blocks pitches well and also caught a pair of foul pops like a pro. Bruins' coach Reese Kiple said "I would find it hard to believe that there is a better defensive catcher in Maryland." Thomas, who pitched and won against Chesapeake in regular season, said, "our bats kind of went quiet after the first inning, but we picked it back up." The victory also was for late coach James Ware, who died unexpectedly last summer and the school named the softball field after him. "Winning it for coach Ware has been our theme all year, since our very first practice," said Salvarola. "We wanted to tribute this win to him. That made us play even harder." Salvarola's father, coach Kiple, succeeded Ware and has had a remarkable, unbeaten season. "We got a huge monkey off our backs," said Kiple. "I wouldn't have wanted it to go through anybody else (Chesapeake) to finally get to this next step."
C H Flowers 3 #2 Bowie 1 (4A South Final) "Lady Jaguars earn their 1st-ever Regional title and trip to states"
(5/15) Although the skies above the 4A South softball championship were dim and gray, smiles were as bright --if not brighter-- than that of any sun could be for the C.H. Flowers Lady Jaguars. The smiles came after the Lady Jaguars (randomly placed at #9) earned a 3-1 victory over the hosting Bowie Lady Bulldogs (Seeded No. 2) delivering Flowers its first-ever softball regional title. And as the skies promised rain at times, the only drops of water on the day came from the Lady Jaguar players in the forms of tears, in particular junior starting pitcher Michelle Shackelford who pitched a complete game in the victory. "It was great," Shackelford said. "I was just so happy I had to cry." But before the tears, before the smiles, there was a game to be played, and the game got started for the Lady Jaguars on an Ariel Spencer triple for the first hit of the game in the top half of the second inning. Teammate Jasmine Muir then plated Spencer with a RBI sacrifice fly in the very next at-bat to give Flowers a 1-0 lead. "Every time I get up at-bat, [head coach Molly] Bender just tells me to hit the first strike, and that's what I did," Spencer said. "It's a continuous thing for me," Muir added about her RBI. "I don't understand how it happens." The quick start was good for the Lady Jaguars and coach Bender as it helped lead to the eventual victory. "It feels great," she explained of the championship feeling. "I have known for the past few years that we have always had a lot of talent, we have just been lacking experience. "These girls did the best they could, working hard in the off season and playing in the fall league and things like that." The biggest hit of the game came from the bat of senior first baseman Dionna Clemons who hit a solo home run into left field increasing the lead to 2-0 just one inning letter. "It's great, it's wonderful, it feels amazing," Clemons said of the championship. Although Flowers would add an additional run in the fifth inning, the earlier two runs were enough to clinch the 4A South and a trip to the Maryland state tournament. Bowie scored its only run of the game in the bottom half of the fifth inning as an error allowed Skylar McBarnette to cross the plate and cut the lead to 3-1.However, the Lady Bulldogs and head coach Sarah Bible fell just short in its bid for a regional title."I told them that they are the best part of my day," Bible said of her team. "It is a privilege to coach and it is a privilege to be called, 'Coach,' and I had a great group of kids. A lot of these seniors led the team unbelievably, but Flowers was the better team today. ... A three-one game is a good game." The Lady Jaguars will now travel to Bachman Park in Anne Arundel County for their state semifinal contest, a game scheduled for 7 p.m. "They are just excited to be where they are at," Bender said. "This was a huge hump for them to get over because this is the third time we have been in this championship game. Years past, we have been 10-run ruled, so we are glad to get over that hump, and it will be an experience for them." Source: DigitalSports.com
#1 Sherwood 5 Gaithersburg 4 (8) (4A West Final) "Sherwood comes from behind -- 2nd game in a row"
(5/15) Sherwood Coach Pat Flanagan always tells her team that there are no do-overs in softball; that once an opportunity is gone, it’s gone.Well the Warriors have proven Flanagan wrong their past two playoff games, especially in their 5-4 extra-innings win over Gaithersburg in the 4A West region Friday evening. After Sherwood failed to score in the bottom of the seventh with runners on second and third and nobody out, Gaithersburg pushed across two runs in the top of the eighth inning (international tie breaker). But when given a second chance Sherwood rallied, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth – including the final run on an overthrow to first base – to win its third 4A West region crown in the past three years. Aftewards, Flanagan was asked where this game ranked on thrilling finishes. “Right at the tippy top,” she said. “Wednesday, I thought, that was right at the tippy top.” In Wednesday’s 4A West region semifinals, Sherwood beat Blair, 5-4, by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh. The game-winning run came on a play at the plate when the catcher – who was trying to turn a double play – didn’t have her foot on the plate. Thus, even playing for the region title was a second chance for Sherwood. Gaithersburg seemed bent and able of breaking the Warriors’ run, however. The Trojans scored first on an RBI single by Jennifer Hance. Sherwood answered with two runs in the bottom of the third on an Amanda Nardone triple and Kristin Holonich single. Gaithersburg fired back in the top of the fourth when Colleen Everett doubled and then scored on a grounder to second base to tie the game at 2. That’s where the score remained until Sherwood rallied in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings.The Warriors left the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth when Gaithersburg starting pitcher Julie Hance struck out Leah Rufus, who saved a Trojans run from scoring the half inning before with a shoe-string catch in right field. Then in the seventh, Amy Laughner led off the inning with a bunt that was misplayed, allowing her to reach. The same thing happened on a Julianna McClukin bunt, putting runners on second and third with nobody out after a McClukin steal. Nardone hit a chopper back to the mound and Laughner was cut down at the plate for the first out. Then Holonich hit a bullet to third base that was snared in the air by Everett. Heavy-hitter Taylor Stockinger grounded out to pitcher Julie Hance to end the threat. “I figured our luck’s got to run out at some point,” Flannagan said. “You have a chance in the sixth inning, you have a chance in the seventh inning. It’s like, how many opportunities are you going to have?” Gaithersburg seemed to deal the finishing blow in the top of the eighth when – with a runner starting on second base according to the rules – Everett drove home one run with a flair over second base. Then Devin O’Neil roped a single to right field to drive in Everett and make the score 4-2. Sherwood was in trouble. Pitcher Erin McMakin – who went a complete game while striking out seven – grounded out to start the inning, but moving the ITB runner on second. Warrior senior first baseman Jessie Karp followed with an RBI double for the first run. Second baseman Kat Correa then lined a grounder to senior shortstop Sarah Moses -- who has been money all her career --and poof, it went right between her legs, allowing Karp to score to tie the game. Up next was pinch-hitter Amy Abel. Abel came late to the game after a field trip and had to get dressed in the team’s shed. She hasn’t been a regular at all this season. Abel chopped the first pitch into the dirt towards third baseman and senior captain Colleen Everett -- who is money twice over -- and who proceeded to throw the ball over the first baseman’s head, allowing Correa to fly around the bases for the winning run. An unbelievable way for Gaithersburg's senior leaders to end their career. “I’m still shaking; I can barely stand up,” Abel said. “I think I’m going to throw up right now.” “You just never give up because you never know,” Karp added. “We pulled it together on Wednesday. Did the same thing today. Got to do it again – we’ll just try not to make it so close next time.” Source: DigitalSports.com
Chesapeake 11 Thomas Stone 1 (4A South SF) -- L. Gibson sets table for rematch vs. Broadneck
5/13 Chesapeake High School senior pitcher Lauren Gibson struck out eight and gave up just two hits to lead the Cougars in a 11-1 victory over visiting Thomas Stone in the Class 4A East Region semifinals on Wednesday.The Cougars (18-2), the No. 2 seed in the tournament, will meet top-seeded Broadneck (17-0) in the region championship for the third straight year. The Bruins will host the highly-anticipated bout -- both teams were supposed to battle for the Anne Arundel County championship but it was rained out -- on Friday at 4 p.m. "You don't want to miss it," Chesapeake coach Don Ellenberger said. Gibson also went 3-for-3 with a home run, two doubles and three runs scored for the Cougars, who dropped their regular-season meeting with the Bruins on April 9. Senior Alexis Matula went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and senior Amanda Montgomery had two hits and scored two runs for Chesapeake, which plated six runs in the fifth inning. Sophomore pitcher Kelci Therres finished with five strikeouts for Thomas Stone (14-5) but surrendered 13 hits and six earned runs. Source: DigitalSports.com
Gaithersburg 8 Wootton 1 (4A West)
(5/13) -- Note: this is a 3rd party, unofficial recap -- Colleen Everett had two home runs and nearly a third in leading G'burg over Wootton.
Sherwood 5 Blair 4 (4A West)
(5/13) -- Two inches is not a lot of space. But that seemingly miniscule distance made all the difference in Wednesday's 4A West semifinal. The Warriors, who had already scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to complete a come-back and tie the game at four, had the bases loaded with only one out when senior Jessie Karp grounded a ball to first base. The ensuing throw home was perfect and the throw back to first to get Karp in time was too. But in the hoopla Blazer sophomore catcher Emily Haislip missed stepping on home plate by two inches, allowing the game winning score to count. "I ran in an saw (Haislip's) foot not touching the base but the umpire did not say anything," said senior 3B Amanda Nardone, who scored the run. "He waited until the play was over, then he (called) 'safe, the catcher's foot was not on the plate! Then we all started jumping up and down." Going into the game, 13th year Sherwood coach Pat Flanagan was aware of her school's undefeated streak against 9th year Blair coach Louie Hoelman. Sherwood got off to a good start to score one in the bottom of the first. But Blair's signature small-ball attack was aided by some power hitting imposed on Sherwood like no one else this year outside of Damascus. The Blazer's five hits were the most yielded by Sherwood senior southpaw Erin McMakin all year. The Blazers scored a game-tying run in the second, two in the third, and one in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Blair freshman P Samantha Schweickhardt did a great job of stifling the Warrior's bats, getting seven strikeouts and allowing just six hits. Trailing 4-2 in their last at-bats, Sherwood was down to possibly their last three outs in the season and Blair was poised for the huge upset. But a lead-off bunt, a hit batter, a single to right and a sac-grounder served to tie the game. Then Sherwood's two most dangerous hitters -- McMakin and SS Taylor Stockinger -- walked to load the bases, setting the stage for the game winning play. "Was it the prettiest game?" asked Flanagan. "No, but we will take the win." (Y'think?!) Source: Gazette.net
C M Wright 9 Dulaney 4 (4A North)
5/11 The C. Milton Wright Mustangs took one step closer to the Softball Regional Finals with their second round win over the Dulaney Lions, 9-4. A big second inning lifted C. Milton Wright over Dulaney, as 12 Mustang batters went to the plate and belted out eight hits, including a Nicole McClaskey double, to score seven runs. Dulaney made a strong effort to get back into the game in the fourth inning, with Battey’s RBI triple, and again in the fifth inning, taking advantage of a pair of Mustang errors to bring in three additional runs, but it would not be enough to dig out of the second inning deficit. McClaskey was the Mustang’s “hitter of the day”, going three-for-four with a double and three RBIs. Nicole Berardi helped out as well, going two-for-three from the plate with a triple and a sac-bunt. source: Digitalsports.com
Blair 7 Northwest 4 (4A West) photos-by-chip-py
(5/11 and 5/12) The Blair Blazers advanced to the third round of the playoffs on Tuesday with a win over the Northwest Jaguars in a game that took two days to play. Despite being mercy-ruled by Blair two weeks ago, the Jags came to Silver Spring full of confidence after a convincing win over QO the previous Saturday.The game opened with both teams having to work out of bases loaded jams in the first inning. The Jags loaded the bags with one out in the first before Blair pitcher Eve Brown decided she had enough and struck out two consecutive batters to end the inning. The errors that had plagued NW all season showed up once more in the bottom half of the first allowing Blair to load the bases with no outs. Senior pitcher Kristen Lee then struck out the next batter and forced two fly ball outs to end the inning. Blair settled into their defense after that as Eve Brown took matters into her own hands and struck out 5 of the next 9 NW batters. The second inning was not so kind for the Jags who walked too many batters and did not make enough of the routine plays. Errors and timely hits combined with the bunting of Blake Morgan-Gamber and Mayo (two tough outs who each reached three times and scored once each) were key to building the lead. Senior pitcher Tiffany Knight was called on to stop the bleeding and after two innings the Jags trailed 4-0. The Jags showed life in the top half of the fifth inning loading the bases with one out after Kristen Lee (who had been moved to CF after the pitching change) was hit by a pitch--RF Sarah Weaver had reached on a fielder's choice and 1B Paige Callahan singled before that. With SS Emily Forst coming up to bat, the darkening skies opened up and a deluge forced a stoppage in play...until the following day. The anticipation was great as both teams reconvened the following day when Forst came to the plate with one out and the bases loaded. A bloop single to right brought the Jags within two and a Steph Leschek SAC fly to center cut the deficit to one before the inning's end. A tightly played bottom half of the fifth and top half of the sixth saw no scoring. The bottom of the sixth was a different story. Errors and timely hits helped Blair open up a 7-3 lead. Eve Brown helped her own cause with an RBI single (she went 2 for 4 on the day) in the bottom of the sixth (Brown also had 11 Ks in the contest). In the top of the seventh, Sammie Schweickhardt stepped into the circle to close the game for Blair. Singles by Forst (3 for 4, 2 RBI, 1 R scored) and Leschek (2 for 4, 1 RBI) and an error on a Hanna Yi pop-up helped the Jags threaten the lead but it was too little too late as Schweickhardt struck out the final batter to end the game.
Wootton 9 Blake 3 (4A West)
(5/11) Wootton had been in this position before, with a seventh-inning lead over Blake April 18. The Patriots let that one get away in a 4-2 loss. They did not make the same mistake in Monday's 9-3, Class 4A West Region quarterfinal win over the visiting Bengals.
No. 4 Wootton (12-4) will host unseeded Gaithersburg on Wednesday. The Trojans upended No. 2 Richard Montgomery, 3-2, on Monday. Blake, which scored three runs in the seventh inning of the teams' regular-season matchup, did not get on the board after the fifth and ended its season 11-6. "I was not worried," Wootton coach Al Lightsey said. "I felt like we had the game in hand. We had a lot of leeway to work with. [Senior pitcher] Andi Garnher has not given up six runs in one inning all year. "Winning the division is nice. But we were more interested in playoffs. At the end of the day the goal is to win the region." Wootton, still looking for its first-ever region final appearance, boasts a historically solid defense and a hit-or-miss offense. But the Patriots got their bats going early Monday, tallying nine total hits. Wootton took a 4-0, first-inning lead off hits from Emma Barlock, Rachel Laufer and Alex Shamburek, who hit a three-run triple. Blake's Justine Smith and Bridget Hawvermale scored in the second to cut the Patriots' lead in half in the second inning, but Wootton recovered quickly with a three-run third inning and two-run fourth inning to blow the game open.
Blake managed one unearned run in the fifth, but Garnher and her defense stifled every Bengals comeback attempts after that.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Meredith Mathis tallied five strikeouts for Blake. She has been a huge part of its most successful season in at least five years, and will likely be the cornerstone of the team's bright future. "It is hard when you have beaten a team once and then you play them again and the score looks like you were not in the game at all," Blake coach Dave Schipani said. "We have shown we can win close games this season. But we struggled a bit at the plate. And when you are six runs down, you need more than just three or four batters. I think our hitting kind of caught up with us. But this has been a really good year." Source: Gazette
C H Flowers 2 Eleanor Roosevelt 1 (4A South)
(5/11) Ask C.H. Flowers Lady Jaguars starting pitcher Michelle Shackelford what her favorite ice cream is and she smiles and says, "vanilla," without hesitation, "or cookies and cream." As the Lady Jaguars softball team broke its huddle after Monday afternoon's 2-1 victory over the Eleanor Roosevelt Lady Raiders, two words emerged from the team huddle, "ice cream." The team was to gather for the late-afternoon snack in celebration of beating the No. 1 seeded Lady Raiders in the second round of the 4A South playoffs, advancing to the regional semifinals in doing so. Shackelford pitched a complete-game and earned the win from the circle with her nine-strikeout performance, and after the game, the pitcher was at a loss of words. "It's the best feeling ever," she said. "This is the reason I love softball. This was a varsity game, 2-1, this was the best." C.H. Flowers head coach Molly Bender was in awe of her starting pitcher's performance as well, adding: "I had a discussion with her at the end of the school day, making sure she was ready to go, and she did a very good job. " ... The biggest thing is that she started off most batters with a strike, and that was huge." All would have been for not, though, as a freshman may have played the biggest role in the win. Leading 1-0 going into the top half of the fifth inning, freshman catcher Jasmine Muir knocked home Flowers' second run of the game to increase the lead to 2-0. That run proved more than valuable as the Lady Raiders scored its lone run of the game in the bottom half of the seventh inning. "I was not very here that often, I'm a freshman" Muir explained, "but for these seniors, this was an amazing game since we have never beaten Roosevelt. We played hard, we practiced hard, and it showed off." On her eventual game-winning RBI, Muir added: "I wasn't trying to get a RBI, but I think that every little run counts, so I think I did my job and it paid off." "She has been hitting the ball very well," Bender said of Muir. " ... [Muir's RBI] was key, and she had a couple of big RBIs in our last game, too." Coach Bender can be heard throughout the game yelling instructions, directions, and reminders to her team, and as the ninth-seeded Lady Jaguars gathered their belongings, Bender shouted out one additional note to the squad, saying, "There is a Baskin Robbins down the street." Source: DigitalSports.com
Northwest 13 Quince Orchard 3
5/9 In late March, Northwest suffered a heart-breaking defeat at Quince Orchard when a throwing error on a pickoff attempt and then a passed ball allowed the Cougars to tie then beat the Jags in the bottom of the 7th inning. The result was another blown lead in a game full of walks and errors. This time around, the 12th-seeded Jaguars beat local rival Quince Orchard 13-3 in the first round of the 4A West region softball playoffs. Emily Forst went 4-for-5 with four runs, and RBI and two stolen bases. Stephanie Leschek was 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and senior second baseman Hanna Yi drove in three runs. Back in March, Northwest fielded a completely different defense. With games canceled for either rain or swine flu, Coach Kevin Corpuz tinkered and fine-tuned the defensive alignment during the first week of May. With the sweeping changes, the Jags took the field Saturday with a new-look defense in which few mistakes were mitigated by the fact that were rarely any Cougars on base and overshadowed by routine outs and an occasional spectacular play.The defensive tone was set early on when junior catcher Steph Leschek -- making her first start behind the plate -- made a diving play on a foul ball that had been popped up on the third base side for an out in the first inning.
The biggest difference in the two games was in the pitching circle. Walks had been the bane of the Jaguars' season as the team often relies on two or three pitchers (including Saturday's starter) to make a game competitive.Normally a center-fielder, senior Kristen Lee had been called on to pitch a few innings a game this year. Saturday she pitched the game of her life, allowing only two walks and striking out six. Lee relied primarily on the improved Jaguar defense. She hit locations that gave her teammates a chance to get outs. In previous contests, Lee had been asked to pitch three or four innings at the most. Of Lee, Coach Corpuz admitted that the plan was not for her to pitch the entire game but added that there was no reason to pull her given the performance. Lee had a shutout going into the sixth inning. When asked where her performance came from, Lee simply responded, "It's the playoffs."
Averaging over 10 runs per game, the Jaguar scoring machine did not disappoint as Northwest racked up 13 runs on 12 hits. The hitting was no surprise but the aggressive base-running helped the Jags keep runners in scoring position for the majority of the game.
Heather Fanning most often took advantage of napping infielders who, with ball in hand after a relay from the outfield, failed pay close enough attention to the senior third baseman allowing her to coast into second base twice and third once for an extra base. The road does not get any easier for Northwest, who must travel to fourth-seeded Blair Monday evening. Blair beat Northwest 19-9 in six innings on a rainy day during the regular season. Source: DigitalSports.com
Gaithersburg 3 RM 2 (4A West)
5/11 As far as a playoff game, a close game is what the fans want to see. Gaithersburg jumped out to an early 2-0 lead becuase of RM's two errors in the first inning. THe Rockets hit the ball all game, but just right to G'Burg players. Gaithersburg added another run in the third due to two more RM errors. RM had its chances with runners on base but could not get them across the plate until scoring 2 runs in teh 7th. But that proved too little, too late. Both pitchers pitched a good game. Kristen Hutchinson had 11 strike outs, allowing 3 hits, and 1 earned run. She also had a triple and double at the plate. Three routine plays cost the Rockets the game and another chance in the playoffs. Source: RM parent
C M Wright 21 Woodlawn 0 (4A North)
(5/8) The C Milton Wright Mustangs made quick work of their first opponent in the 4A North Region playoffs, pounding Woodlawn 21-0. Brittany Walter had the outing that any softball player dreams of'; perfect from the circle and dominant at the plate. She faced the minimum 15 batters in the 5-inning game (striking out 12) and crushed a home run and triple at the plate. Add other triples from Coats, Kuczak and Burke, and a double from Resnick, and it's no wonder CMW plated 21 times. They had 22 hits in all. Source: DigitalSports.com
North County 5 Glen Burnie 4 (4A East)
(5/8) Jennifer Miller knew the Glen Burnie HS softball batting lineup very well but not in a good way. She was inside the pitcher's circle twice during the regular season when the Gophers had their way with her and North County. But not this time. The sophomore allowed two earned runs in five innings of work as the Knights held on for a 5-4 win over visiting Glen Burnie in the 4A East Region. "This was a huge win for the girls and Jennifer," said NC coach Tommy Thompson, whose 8th seeded team improved to 7-9. Their reward? A visit to the region's top-seeded and state tournament favorite Broadneck on Monday. Miller surrendered eight hits before being spelled by Danielle Stracke, who gave up a couple runs. Miller re-entered for the final two innings and held the #9 Gophers (11-5) scoreless in the seventh to seal the victory. GB freshman P Melanie Slowinski finished with 3 Ks, 4 walks, and 3 earned runs. Source: Digital Sports.com
North Carroll (18-3)
def Sherwood 1-0 (8)
Broadneck (19-0)
def C H Flowers 12-0 (5)
2009
4A
Broadneck
5-2
C: Broadneck 20-0
F: N. Carroll 18-4
SF: Sherwood 16-2
SF: C H Flowers 16-2
