The girls’ softball team has begun the season with a solid record of 4-3, with JV being 4-1-1. The program has shown flashes of impressive outcomes against tough teams. The varsity team is led by two captains, senior Malia Schmelzer and junior Mckenna Kupersmith.
They began their season on Mar. 21, with a dominant victory over Watkins Mill, 15-1. Sophomore Emily Liu and freshman Megan Smith pitched an incredible game for a combined no hitter. A fantastic start to the season was followed by another commanding win just a day later. The team smoked Albert Einstein 10-4 on Mar. 22, smacking 10 hits, and giving up just three. “We have succeeded above expectations due to the many seniors graduating last year including our starting shortstop, Karen Potts,” Smith said.
Coming back from spring break the team has faced some tough competition. On Apr. 5, they took their first loss in a well-fought game against Poolesville, where they finished 10-8. The team fought until the last moments, almost scoring enough for a comeback in the seventh inning. The next day, on Apr. 6, the Patriots upset Rockville in an immaculate pitching duel. The starting pitcher, Smith, shut the Rams down through six innings pitched, in a 1-0 victory. They showed a lot of hope with their lock-down defense and pitching that is promising for the rest of the season.
Two of their recent games were played against powerhouses in the county. They played Damascus, the reigning state champs, on Apr. 9, where they had a rough loss of 12-0. Although the results looked subpar, there were instances of quality plays throughout the matchup. “Against the state champs Damascus, impressively, we only had five strikeouts against our team. I expect our team to continue to improve like we have since the beginning of the season,” Smith said.
Their most recent games have come with a loss to Sherwood 17-3 on Apr. 15, and bouncing back with a win over Kennedy on Apr. 16, 24-12. These two games have put them over the .500 mark to give them a positive record on the season.
To further prepare for the rest of the year, the team has plans to practice intensely every day. There are a few objectives that they focus on to practice effectively, primarily on the offensive side. Junior Yael Zief said that the team tries to focus on putting the ball in play and practices utilizing bunts to their advantage. “Our team will keep improving, putting in the work by practicing will help us win against some teams we play in the future,” Zief said.
The team has stayed confident through the tough losses and competitive wins. Schmelzer likes how the team has handled the mental aspect of the tasking sport, and kept their focus and encouragement high. Heading into their next game on Apr. 18, facing Whitman at home, the team is feeling optimistic. “The team has performed well overall. The team energy has remained consistently high and encouraging,” Schmelzer said.
