Softball season opened up on Mar. 24 against Einstein with a 12-1 victory.
After the decisive win against Einstein, softball traveled to face a close competitor, Poolesville. The game was close and each team battled for the lead, with the Patriots losing 10-9. Coming off that hard loss, the team has been working o sharpen their skills in the field and focusing on communication. “I think we can improve more on defense overall, communication skills on defense like when to cut the ball and certain plays [that they have] and just staying in the game at all times,” sophomore Megan Smith said.
The Patriots faced an even tougher Sherwood team on Mar. 28: The Warriors are fresh off a state championship in the 2024 season. This game resulted in a 14-0 loss, yet the girls remained confident in their craft and continued to work on their defense. “My team has done a great job at picking each other up after mistakes and keeping energy in the dugout,” Smith said.
Junior Caroline Min said she believes that the team could continue to build stronger relationships, which would allow them to trust each other. Smith said the coaches have been working hard and it has helped to bring the team together and keep them on the same track. “I hope to improve upon team chemistry since we have a lot of new underclassmen and a new coach,” Min said.
Nearly half of the starting nine players are underclassmen, with four freshmen on the varsity roster. Freshman Brynn Priolo and Smith both hit out-of-the-park home runs against Rockville on Mar. 31 to seal a 16-7 victory. “My home run felt great, especially because my teammate Brynn hit her first one of the season. Mine was a three-run home run and, since the game was getting a little close, it sealed our win,” Smith said.
Following a strong win against Rockville, the team faced Damascus on Apr 2. Despite a good effort, the team lost 16-1. The team did heavy reflection after the game and looked onto their next opponent Watkins Mill on Apr. 4. “Our team is working on being ready to play in the first inning,” senior Mckenna Kupersmith said.
Despite being early in the season, the team has already seen highs and lows. “The most exciting part of the season so far was our game against Rockville where we played really good offensively and had two home runs,” Min said.
The goals remain to win another regional championship and have fun. “We are working on improving team spirit and energy, increasing our team spirit will help us reach our goals,” Kupersmith said.
Their next game is away at Watkins Mill on Apr. 4 as they look to break .500.
