Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School softball players’ spirits seem unusually high for a team that enters this spring with only one win in its previous two seasons combined. In fact, the Barons have not won more than four games in a single season since 2011—at least. But a new coach—Scott Davis—with a positive attitude and vast fast-pitch coaching experience coupled with some promising young talent has presented a light at the end of what has been a rather proverbial dark tunnel.
“Two juniors who haven’t played in the last two years have decided to come back, (which is a good sign),” Davis said. “The biggest thing for us is to try and get success and build on it. With a young team, that’s very important. If we can get a win, get some confidence, and play competitively early in the season, those will be keys to our success for this season.”
Montgomery 4A East
Four-time defending Class 4A state champion Sherwood remains the heavy favorite to sweep county—and state—competition again in 2016. Despite losing seven players from last year’s 17-4 campaign to graduation, defending Class 4A West finalist Blair is likely the only team in the division capable of truly testing the Warriors. The two teams have cultivated quite an entertaining rivalry over the past decade—Blair is the last team to have beaten Sherwood (in May 2011 en route to its first state tournament appearance).
Between returning pitcher Karylena Cruz, who coach Louie Hoelman said recorded all 17 of Blair’s wins in 2015, and freshman Courtney Wyche (University of Maryland recruit), the Blazers are all set in the pitcher’s circle. While Blair graduated star catcher Maria Cruz, who is in her freshman season at Delaware State University, natural third baseman Mildred Devereux is more than capable of filling in the important role. She did so two years ago after the elder Cruz went down with an injury before the season.
“Mildred is the type that, any position she played for us, she’d be the best in that position,” Hoelman said. “She’s just a real solid, all-around player. And I think she will be one of our top hitters.”
Returning 6-foot first baseman Reeva Kreeger and outfielder Anna Reachmack will provide some additional strength and experience to one of the youngest teams Blair has fielded in recent years. The Blazers’ traditionally versatile and crafty offense should help take some pressure off of its defense.
Of the remaining teams in the division, Richard Montgomery, Churchill, Whitman, Walter Johnson and Bethesda-Chevy Chase are all potential top 5 finishers.
Richard Montgomery (14-4) lost to Blair by one run in a very competitive Class 4A West Region Section I final last spring but the Rockets have huge shoes to fill after losing three-year starting pitcher, Shannon Powell, and five other starters. The good news is stalwart senior shortstop Devon Goetz is back after missing last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament—she was one of the county’s best as a sophomore. In what first-year Rockets coach Kelly Callan called a rebuilding year, Richard Montgomery will lean on its returning starters—Goetz, senior Alison Berman, junior Tatiana Davidson and sophomore Rachel Lebedinsky—to keep the program moving forward.
Churchill (8-8) has become more competitive in recent years and coach Sharon Morris said the Bulldogs intend to build on the successes of the last two years this spring. Churchill returns three starters. Among them is sophomore shortstop Brittany Lew, who hit three grand slams last spring. Sophomore catcher Erin Huang and freshman first baseman Ryan Storch should also be impact players.
Whitman (8-8) graduated seven seniors but returns four starters, including senior Leah Gordon in left field and classmate Gennie Anderson in center field. The outfield, and a young but talented left side of the infield, should be two major strengths for the Vikings. Whitman will also look to senior pitcher/designated player Taylor Shinnaberry for strong performances.
Though Walter Johnson (7-12) is young, this year’s roster includes more players who compete in softball year-round than in years past, coach Jamie Ahearn said. Junior Payton Buss and sophomore Jessica Kaplan have worked on their pitching in the offseason and come back much improved; junior catcher Susan Webster and sophomore third baseman Sedona Epstein are also players to watch.
Second-year starting pitcher Julia Dimmick is one of seven sophomores on B-CC this spring. In fact, there are more freshmen and sophomores—nine—than juniors and seniors—five—which bodes well for the Barons’ future. If B-CC can cut down on defensive errors—Dimmick averaged an overwhelming 150 pitches a game in 2015—and produce some runs by using their athleticism to execute small-ball tactics, B-CC could surprise a few teams this season.
Montgomery 4A West
While Class 4A state finalist Northwest and Clarksburg are the top contenders, a much more experienced Wootton team (6-10) is sure to provide more resistance—and perhaps pull off a few upsets—this spring. The Patriots return five starters, including center fielder Bryn Sanger, who coach Al Lightsey said “makes things happen for us.” Senior pitcher Shayna Golfer and sophomore hurler Meredith White have both come back stronger, Lightsey added, which will certainly help Wootton’s cause against the county’s upper echelon. The Patriots’ batting order has already been more explosive early this spring than last year, Lightsey said.
“It makes a heck of a difference, to know you can count on a pitcher, and that they can count on the defense,” Lightsey said. “They can hold each other accountable. You can’t do anything well if you don’t have pitching. It does impact the offense. It becomes a softball game, it allows us to do more things, to manufacture runs.”
Montgomery 3A
There are several teams that can take this division, including Blake, Magruder and Damascus.
Two major contributors to Blake’s (14-4) recent success are missing from this year’s roster—shortstop Bailey Boyd, who is amid a successful freshman season at Towson and left-handed pitcher Ellie Smethurst transferred to Northwest. But the Bengals, led by senior second baseman Monica Hallmark and sophomore first baseman Nicole Kidwiler, are versatile, which gives coach Nicole Wallace flexibility with her lineups. Blake has traditionally boasted one of the county’s strongest offenses; sophomore Shannon Callan has taken over pitching responsibilities to start the season. But Wallace said there are other potential options to provide support.
“We are trying to build team chemistry,” Wallace said. “We are focused on playing ‘smart’ softball and communicating. There’s a lot of young talent on our team.”
Independent School League/Washington Catholic Athletic Conference
A year after finishing second in the Independent School League’s “AA” (Upper) Division, Holton-Arms (10-4) has its sights set on a championship this spring. The Panthers return a veteran squad, led by junior third-year starting pitcher Lilian Baker. She’ll be backed by a strong defense, including juniors Nora Apt (shortstop) and Olivia Daneker (second base). Three freshmen have also broken into the starting lineup and should make an immediate impact—Katie Smith (third base), Amber Carrico (outfield) and Maggie Meinhardt (catcher).
Stone Ridge (8-5) has been a seeming mainstay in the ISL “A” (Lower) Division championship game in recent years and longtime coach Charlie Adams said he’s hopeful the Gators can go one win further this spring. Improved pitching, led by junior Landry Werth, will be a major step in that direction. Stone Ridge doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses this season and presents quite a balanced lineup. Returners Anna Jones (catcher), Grace Hemming (second base) and Werth were joined by an influx of young talent that should help lift Stone Ridge to a new level.
Experienced fast-pitch coach Jason Deitz takes over a Bullis team (3-14) looking to become a factor in the ISL “A.”
“We’re not looking at wins or losses this year,” Deitz said. “My goal is to make each one of these girls a better softball player than she was yesterday. I want to help them learn the game and give them the proper skills and mechanics, teach them the right way and really build this program.”
Natural outfielder Michaela Henderson, who Deitz said is being recruited by several NCAA Division III programs, will lend her remarkable athleticism to the shortstop position this spring. Sophomore Hayley Sanders has begun to work with a private pitching coach, Deitz said, and this could be a breakout season for her. Freshman second baseman/outfielder Elizabeth Holliday is also expected to make major contributions.
With eight returning starters, St. Andrew’s aims to improve on its 1-5 record in the ISL “A” Division a year ago. With more experience on their side, coach Gary Wyatt said the Lions have been able to focus more on the nuances of the game, rather than learning the fundamentals. Returning shortstop Megan Blaine, outfielder Mary Wallace and returning pitchers Ashley Alexander and Natalie Orr are the Lions’ top players to watch.
Holy Cross has been one of the more competitive teams in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference before but it has been a while. The Tartans look to rely on four-year varsity players Casey Magersupp, Devon Lyons and Sofia Muzzatti to help them get back there in 2016.