Going into the playoffs, the softball team is sitting at a positive 8-7 record. They have made big strides in the right direction after starting off the season 2-3. With back and forth games, the Patriots are hoping the last few will bring momentum to the postseason.
Starting on Apr. 4, the Patriots dominated for a five-game winning streak, beating Watkins Mill, Kennedy, Paint Branch, Northwood and Magruder by scoring a total of 84 runs and giving up just 25. This gives them an impressive positive run differential of 59 runs.
One notable win was against Northwood on Apr. 24. They had an incredible 18-0 win with great feats from multiple different players. Junior Emily Liu had a standout game, throwing a no hitter on the mound with 12 strikeouts in five innings pitched, while also going four-for-four with five runs batted in and three runs scored on the hitting side.
Their past five games have set them back, although they’re still holding their own with a positive record through their gauntlet. Tough games against Blair, Northwest and Whitman have given them three straight losses. However, two of the three came with close games.
While a final score of 15-8 doesn’t look close against Blair, the Patriots were closer than the score looks. They lost this game by seven runs, but gave up seven runs in the fifth inning. By preventing the big inning, they will be in a much better place going into the rest of the season and playoffs. Senior Yael Zief has some thoughts to prevent this big inning. “I think we need to stay focused on the game and making good plays continuing forward rather than dwelling on errors we made,” Zief said.
Their next game after Blair was a bounceback win. After defeating Seneca Valley 14-5, the Patriots are hopeful yet again. They practiced skills that helped them strive for a mistake free game, such as consistent repetitions during practice. “We are working on our fielding and situational plays in order to react quickly in a game,” senior Mckenna Kupersmith said.
They ended their regular season off with an incredibly close 9-8 loss against Quince Orchard. While they didn’t come out on top, it was a great effort ahead of playoffs. “I think we have grown a lot as a team and we are getting better at competing to the best of our ability. We will be practicing to fix small errors but overall we want to keep our positive attitudes,” senior Sara Pinzon said.
Their next game is against Kennedy on May 12. This is the first game of the playoffs, and the Patriots are looking for a statement win. They have already played Kennedy this season and won dominantly. With a final score of 16-6, Wootton looks to repeat this win when it really counts in the playoffs. “I think we have a good chance at another regional championship if we continue to practice hard and pick each other up,” sophomore Megan Smith said.
