by Hunter Moore ’15

Last year, girls’ softball finished with a perfect 22-0 record while outscoring opponents 235-25 throughout the season and culminating with the school’s first-ever state banner for softball.  Their domination led to a #69 national ranking, according to maxpreps.com, which is all the more impressive because the listing includes private high schools that can recruit top talent.

All of these extraordinary stats for the 2012 season were accomplished by a team consisting of only four seniors. Although it always hurts to lose talented varsity players such as graduated players Emily Hughes, Juliana McClurkin, Kristin Holonich and Sara Sabry, the remaining members of the championship team from last year have only matured and gotten better.

In high school sports, it is a nearly annual occurrence for a varsity team to lose half of its players to graduation. The Lady Warriors, however, will take the field this season with eight returning starters: seniors Megan McDonough, Kailyn Cohen, Amelia Naik and Kelsey Lineberger, juniors Rachael Harrison, Meggie Dejter, and Marybeth Bidwick, and sophomore Nicole Stockinger.

“We got good talent, we got good chemistry. I don’t think we are going to lose. I think we are going to bring Sherwood its second consecutive state championship,” said Dejter, a pitcher who is crucial to the team’s success and has verbally committed to a full scholarship to Villanova for softball.

Talk of a dynasty is always risky, especially since even the best teams need their share of luck to win a state championship. Still, it is hard not to look ahead at the future and see the makings of team that should compete for championships for a few more years to come. “Many young players are expected to have great impact. Sophomore Nicole Stockinger was a 1st Team All County Gazette and Washington Post All-Met honorable mention centerfielder and should have an impact again like last season. Sophomore Julie Swarr should also have an infield spot locked in amongst many other talented players,” said Coach Pat Flanagan.

Perhaps because of the burden of high expectations, the girls are not taking this season for granted and have been working hard in the offseason to be mentally and physically prepared for the year. Most of them play for a nationally ranked fast pitch softball team called the Cougars during the summer and fall, as well as attend workouts during the winter.

“Over the offseason, most of us play on a competitive softball team together, as well as work out commonly to stay in shape. We go to batting cages and do other activities to be ready for the season,” said Swarr.

The Lady Warriors have been one of the elite softball teams in the state of Maryland for a number of years, and this year’s collection of players has the talent and drive to take that impressive legacy to an even higher level of success. “The softball field is out back behind the tennis courts. Come out and support us as we attempt to defend our county, region, and state titles,” said Flanagan.