For most, March Madness is about college basketball: filling out brackets and following your favorite teams. But for Montgomery County softball players, it’s about battling the area’s unpredictable spring weather, like Saturday’s snow flurries, and getting ready for the start of a new season.
Wootton surprised everyone last year when, as a bunch of primarily freshmen and sophomores, it compiled a 12-5 record and nabbed the Class 4A West Region’s No. 4 seed. But the bitter taste of its 5-0, quarterfinal loss to unseeded Quince Orchard still resonates. With eight of nine starters returning in 2008, the Patriots have experience to rely on this year as they look to build on last year’s results and vie for their first-ever regional title and state-tournament appearance.
With many of its competitors dropping big names from last year’s rosters, Wootton should be one of the strongest in the county this season. But the Patriots know not to overlook their opponents. There are several teams out there capable of pulling off some big wins, including Quince Orchard, Richard Montgomery, Churchill and Whitman, among others.
Wootton boasts a balanced squad, powered by senior third baseman Jessica Rinn, who batted .471 with 21 runs scored, junior outfielder Sara Biron (.415) and junior catcher Alex Shamburek (.400). The Patriots will look to put up big offensive numbers. But, led by Rinn, who boasted a .927 fielding percentage, Wootton was strong defensively in 2007 as well, and that will be another key to its success.
But perhaps the Patriots’ biggest asset last year was their grit and will. The Patriots tallied four come-from-behind wins last year and look to rely on that same strong mentality in 2008.
Wootton doesn’t have one dominant pitcher, but three control pitchers capable of keeping the Patriots in games: three-year varsity pitcher Christie Oberst, a senior, sophomore Emma Barlock and junior Andi Gahrner.
‘‘The girls want to be considered a good team this year,” Patriots coach Alton Lightsey said. ‘‘Last year when a team saw Wootton on its schedule, I don’t think it was overly intimidated. But this year, there’s a new level of respect for us. I think with that extra year of varsity experience now, we can take it to a whole new level.”
A Class 4A West Region semifinalist a year ago, Quince Orchard cleaned house at graduation. The Cougars lost seven of nine starters, including outfielder Kelly Burnett, who led the team with a .500 batting average, and pitcher Rebecca Einstein, who missed the early part of last season with torn ankle ligaments before rebounding to strike out 91 in 11 games and bat .400 with 13 RBI.
Junior Stephanie Hom will likely take over pitching duties. She compiled a 3-2 record while Einstein was sidelined in 2007. Grace Wallerstedt (.462) has been an important part of the Cougars infield the last three years, splitting time between first and third base, and they’ll rely on her leadership and strong play this year.
Richard Montgomery has consistently threatened the county’s best teams the last few years. And it’s likely to push toward the top again this season behind a talented nucleus of returning players, including sophomore pitcher Kristin Hutchinson, sophomore second baseman Kelsey Boyd, senior catcher Jocelyn Pickering and senior center fielder Jill Eckhardt.
The Rockets are traditionally a strong offensive bunch. And they’ll look to get their bats going early.
Whitman more than doubled its 2006 win total in 2007. But after bidding farewell to six starters, repeating that success will be a tough task. The Vikings will rely on returnees like four-year starting catcher Eve Rosenbaum (senior) and junior Liz Owen, who moves to first base after two years as the starting center fielder.
With four sophomore starters, Whitman’s biggest challenge will be adjusting to the rigors of varsity softball as quickly as possible. The Vikings will make some rookie errors, but how they withstand that and move on from their mistakes will be a key factor in this season’s success.
Churchill improved on its four-win total from 2006 last year and is keen on continuing that climb in 2008. But it will have to do so without eight of last year’s players, including four-year starting shortstop Katelyn Kumm and pitcher Lacey Gorochow.
The Bulldogs will lean on strong performances from senior shortstop Polly Kisin, who batted .372 last year, and juniors Jacque Vito (catcher) and Amy Kaufmann (third base).
Sophomore Shannen Olan and freshman Bronwyn Davies will share pitching duties.
‘‘The key to winning for us will be team unity and how we do offensively,” Bulldogs coach Kim Kioske said. ‘‘Our defense seems pretty solid so far. If we could manage to score a few runs, I think we should be competitive.”
Bethesda-Chevy Chase struggled to a 4-13 record in 2007. But it also didn’t really have a pitcher. This year’s pitcher, senior Ryan Green, was slated to take care of business in the circle last year but was deemed ineligible. So junior first baseman Emily Becker, who only had slow pitch experience, volunteered herself.
Green is back. B-CC’s defense should be tighter now. And no one graduated, so the Barons’ strong offense, powered by senior catcher Ginna Roach (.392, 21 RBI) and senior third baseman Megan Wainwright (.324, 11 RBI) is back. If the Barons can continue to score consistently, they’ll be a tough opponent for any team.
Walter Johnson is keen on improving last year’s 1-15 record in 2008. The Wildcats dropped just four players from last year’s squad. Small size-wise, they shouldn’t be overlooked. Walter Johnson has some power at the plate and will lean on strong performances from senior center fielder Tiana Hakimzadeh, senior shortstop Meagan Morse, senior left fielder Maraya Pratt and senior pitcher Robin Wilke.
The Wildcats are a speedy bunch and will need to be smart on the basepaths and stingy on defense if they’re going to compete with the better teams.
After two consecutive years sharing the Independent School League A Division regular season title, Stone Ridge compiled a 7-0 record in the league’s lower division in 2007 and will compete in the upper division in 2008.
The Gators lost five seniors from last year’s championship squad, but return a core of talented players capable of keeping Stone Ridge competitive with the ISL elite. Senior Mary King and sophomore Elena Gambon will split time in the pitching circle. King went 7-1 last year and Gambon averaged 10 strikeouts per game en route to a 3-1 record.
Pitchers are stronger in the ISL’s upper division, but Stone Ridge looks to continue last year’s offensive production. It’ll lean on King (.560) and junior Hanna Walthall (.400) for big numbers.
‘‘Our defense still needs work,” seven-year Stone Ridge coach Charlie Adams said. ‘‘We’re just hoping to keep improving and by midseason start becoming more competitive and peak toward the end of the regular season and playoffs.”
