Regardless of how many players it might lose to graduation, Bowie High School’s softball team typically begins each spring as the team to beat in the 4A South Region. But this year could be different.
After going undefeated through the regular season and playoffs last spring, the Bulldogs lost the region final to Eleanor Roosevelt. And lost to graduation was pitcher Marianne Johnson, the Gazette-Star Player of the Year in 2007. Meanwhile, Roosevelt graduated only one player and regained shortstop Amanda King, who missed last season for personal reasons.
Longtime Bowie coach Sarah Bible said she is approaching the season with cautious optimism. The Bulldogs will rely on sophomore pitcher Sarah Bednarik, but will have senior Katie Cooper behind home plate and seniors Terri Kellaher and Katie Nalley at second base and shortstop, respectively. Nalley has signed with Mount Olive (N.C.) College and was a Gazette-Star first-team choice last spring.
‘‘It’s really tough to get a handle on what kind of team that we’re going to have this season,” Bible said. ‘‘We’re definitely a work in progress. Our program has been successful over the years, so I know the expectations are high. We’ll have good pitching and I think our infield is solid, it’s kind of tough for me to say how well we’ll do this year.”
Other contributors for the Bulldogs this spring will include Jessica Scruggs at first base, Kiara Washington at third base and Amanda Clark, Joy Hines, Kathleen Kaercher and Tessa Tolson seeing time in the outfield. Tiffany Harvell, Sa’Corya Rogers and Mary Miller also could play key backup roles.
Charles H. Flowers
Much like the school’s football and girls’ basketball teams, Charles H. Flowers High School has been a primary contender in the 4A South Region this decade while failing to get to the state semifinals. This year’s Jaguars’ will look to upend perennial favorites Bowie and Eleanor Roosevelt by riding the right arm of senior pitcher Trier Branch, catcher Takor Njang and shortstop Imani Lawson.
Flowers has reached the 4A South Region final twice in the last five seasons — losing to Bowie on both occasions — and last season was eliminated at home by Henry A. Wise in the quarterfinals. Coach Molly Bender once again heads into the season with a solid blend of seniors and underclassmen. Flowers was scheduled to open the 2008 season at DuVal on Wednesday afternoon.
Riverdale Baptist
Riverdale Baptist second-year coach Hank Lloyd expects his team to rely heavily on pitching and defense. Jacklyn Hall will handle the majority of the pitching chores for the Crusaders and catcher Taylor Milton will serve as her battery mate as Riverdale goes in quest of its second Maryland Independent Schools Athletic League title in four years.
‘‘Jacklyn is going to be the heart and soul of this team,” said Lloyd. ‘‘However Jacklyn goes, that’s how we’ll go. Bethany Montague will also pitch some for us. Our league really isn’t very tough, so we’ll see how we do.”
Lauren Williams will play first base, Nicole Grant at second and her sister Caitlin Grant at shortstop. When Hall pitches, Montague will play left field with Jasmine Johnson in right field and Blair Johnson in center field.
Largo
One year after leading the Lions to their first County 3A⁄2A⁄1A League title, Largo coach Saeed Olushegun was still looking to fill several positions at Tuesday’s practice. Largo was slated to face Douglass on Wednesday in the season opener for both teams.
Olushegun will hand the pitching duties to sophomore Charlise Morgan, the younger sister of former Largo basketball standout Kwame Morgan. Senior Kelsey Smith will play first base, senior Kadest Tamiru is the second baseman, senior Talaya Giles is at shortstop and freshman Jessica Lyons at third base. Olushegun still had not decided on his catcher or any of his three outfielders as of Tuesday afternoon.
“I graduated my strength right up the middle at pitcher, catcher and center fielder,“ Olushegun said, referring to Sharron Lipford (Virginia State), Ashley Williams (Johnson C. Smith) and Joanne Coley. “Luckily, I have my second baseman and shortstop back. I still have some spots to fill. We’re going to need to score some runs this year, so I might have to trade defense for hitting.“
Eleanor Roosevelt
Defending 4A South Region champion Eleanor Roosevelt High will head into the 2008 season with eight of last year’s nine starters returning, plus one semi-new addition. Senior Amanda King, who missed last season for personal reasons, is back on the field this spring.
But longtime coach Billy Hunter, now in his 22nd season, said his squad will have its work cut out for it this season.
‘‘On paper, we look pretty good,” Hunter said. ‘‘I think we’ll get good pitching from Erin Cacchiro and so it will be up to our defense to make the plays behind her. Having Amanda King back this year is going to be a plus. She’s probably the best athlete on the team. Bowie is going to be tough, as always, and Laurel, High Point and Flowers always give us trouble.”
Cacchiro and fellow junior Lindsay Hood will form the Roosevelt battery, with senior Olivia Tacconelli at first base, Megan George at second, Megan Gontarek at shortstop and King at third base. Senior Erin Snyder will play left field with Olivia Wyatt in center and Liz Johnson in right. Snyder was a Gazette-Star all-county first team choice last spring, while Cacchiro, Tacconelli and Gontarek were second-team selections.
E-mail Ted Black at tblack@gazette.net.
