by Reid Duvall ‘27

Junior Callie Kent drives a pitch to left field in game against Richard Montgomery.

The Warrior softball team has run through Montgomery County on its way to a 16-0 record and a county championship with key wins in the second half of the season over respected programs like Northwest, Damascus, Clarksburg, and Quince Orchard. This year’s team features a small roster of just 14 players and has battled through injuries all year. With five underclassmen, expectations were uncertain but as the season progressed, the goal became clear that the team had the talent to compete for the state championship.

The pitching staff has been dominant, highlighted by five straight no-hitters against Springbrook, Gaithersburg, Blake, Paint Branch, and Magruder. Senior Reagan Corb and sophomore Kylie Valois have led the Warrior staff to an Earned Run Average of around one and 127 strikeouts in 98 innings.
“This season, Reagan and Kylie have become a team, and it has been amazing to watch them dominate on the mound when they are out there,” said junior outfielder Emerson Long.

The offense has also been great, averaging more than 10 runs a game despite losing two pieces of their lineup due to injury. The unit is led by Corb and Valois, who have the most and second-most hits on the team, respectively. Sherwood has also featured key contributions from numerous other players throughout their lineup, with a team batting average of .429 and an on-base percentage of .510. The Warriors are primed for a deep playoff run.

Last season, the team also ran through the regular season with an undefeated record and rolled through the first couple of rounds of the playoffs before a nail-biting loss to Chopticon in the state final. This season, Sherwood again earned the one seed in the 3A South 1 division and took on Guilford Park on May 11. Sherwood is the only undefeated team in 3A; among the other top teams are Northeast, Arundel, Chopticon, and Damascus. “We saw Chopticon at States last year, and we are prepared to see them again,” said Long.

Sherwood’s depth and perseverance have been tested all season long. Their elite pitching and defense, paired with their deep offense, have the team looking like one of the strongest groups in the state. If the Warriors can keep producing and continuing their regular-season success, they should be suited for a deep playoff run and a possible state championship.