Haley Downin, Chesapeake, Sr., P
Downin surpassed even her own sky-high standards this spring, setting 13 school records and one state mark as she carried the Cougars to an in-season county championship, a win in the county championship game, Class 3A East Region title and an appearance in the state final “on her back,” per coach Don Ellenberger.
She compiled a 1.18 ERA with 173 strikeouts for an 18-4 record and batted .511.
“Most coaches in their coaching lifetime get, if they’re fortunate, one great player,” said Ellenberger, who also coached U.S. National Team member Lauren Gibson 10 years ago. “Somehow, I guess I’ve been around long enough to get number two, and that’s Haley.”
Campbell Kline, Severna Park, Sr., SS
Kline finished her historic career with the Falcons with a .661 batting average, including 24 RBIs, 17 singles, nine doubles, three triples and eight home runs — striking out only once.
She proved invaluable in relief (8.33 IP), five strikeouts for a perfect 0.00 ERA, allowing three walks for a 1.32 WHIP and a .216 batting average against.
Kline snapped the state record in career hits, which she’s crystallized at 179, and continues to own the state single-season hits record, which she set at 69 as a junior.
“When you are that level of athlete, when you play with that level of athlete, when you coach that level of athlete, its a joy to be on the field. Its not easy, in fact its rare to have that combination of talent, dedication and grit,” coach Meredith McAlister said. “But Campbell has it and it was a joy to coach her and to watch her grow. If she stays on the same path, we will watch her become one of the best in collegiate ball as well.”
Tristyn Stewart, Chesapeake, Soph., C
The table-setting slap-hitter combined power and speed to become an indomitable force in the number two hole. Stewart, a two-time unanimous coaches’ first team All-County pick, batted .561 with 46 hits, 36 runs scored, 15 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. She amassed 122 putouts with only two errors.
“Tristyn may be our most versatile player as she can play any position. She totally controls the game from behind the plate,” coach Don Ellenberger said. “Most teams do not try to run on her.”
Brooke McCormick, Glen Burnie, Sr., C
The Gophers’ catcher and lead-cheering leader continued her leadership behind the plate, hitting a team-high 38 hits made of 31 singles, four doubles, a triple and two home runs. She recorded a .452 batting average, but was intentionally walked three times in key games.
“It’s going to leave a big hole as far as persistent hitting without Brooke,” coach Dave Sauble said. “You pretty much knew she was capable of getting a hit every time she got up to the plate.”
Wynter Radcliffe, Glen Burnie, Soph., P
The Gophers’ ace started every game, racking up a 19-4 record by the end of a season that brought Glen Burnie all the way to the Class 4A state final. Striking out 147, Radcliffe completed her debut on varsity with a 1.351 ERA with 40 walks and 26 earned runs allowed.
Radcliffe also served as a solid middle hitter, batting .380 with 15 singles, six doubles, a triple and five home runs.
“She matured so much from last year. What she was able to throw, when she was able to throw it,” coach Dave Sauble said. “The biggest growth this year was when mistakes were made, was she able to handle it? And she did.”
Jayla Neal, Archbishop Spalding, Jr., OF
Neal belted a two-run home run in the IAAM A conference final, sparked Spalding’s scoring run that resulted in a title. She batted .429 for the Cavaliers, leading the club with 17 runs and nine doubles, as well as 18 RBIs.
She plans to provide the senior experience necessary to further Spalding’s reign next season.
Madison Gentry, Arundel, Sr., P
Gentry anchored the Wildcats in their run to the Class 4A East Region Section I semifinal, fanning 106 batters that faced her this season. With a .409 batting average, 13 RBIs and 27 hits, she also finished second on the team with seven doubles.
“She does not have a lot of wins under her belt due to a very young team behind her, but she has pitched two shutouts…She is clearly one of the most dominant pitchers in the county,” coach Lisa Mills said. “She has also been dealing with a nerve injury all season and has had pitch limits as a result.”
Skylar Morley, Arundel, Jr., CF
A two-year starter, the Wildcats’ leadoff hitter and starting center fielder topped the charts with a team-high batting average (.475), stolen bases (27), walks (15), runs (34) and on-base percentage (.579). Morley has verbally committed to continue her career at Salisbury.
“Skylar’s slapping, speed and baserunning skills immediately put her into consideration for the leadoff position that was vacated by a senior last year,” coach Lisa Mills said. “However, as the season progressed, Skylar became a triple threat with hitting singles and extra base hits. When she got on base, she scored 68 percent of the time.”
Jerzie Nutile, Chesapeake, Soph., SS
Nutile’s “power is something to see,” per her coach, as she led the Cougars in home runs (8) and RBIs (38), scored 28 runs and had 32 hits for a .400 average. She was a jack of all trades, playing shortstop, first base, outfield and pitcher, and it was her abilities at short, her coach said, that bolstered Chesapeake’s defense all around.
She supported Downin through 18 innings of sterling pitching, sporting a 0.00 ERA with 22 strikeouts.
Julia Harrison, Broadneck, Jr., Util
The two-time first team All-County selection started the season with a bang, hitting for the cycle in the season opener in a win over Hammond.
She went on to bat .523 with 31 hits, 23 runs, 17 RBIs, five doubles, four triples, along with a dozen stolen bases.
Versatile in any corner of the field, Harrison also pitched in 13 games this spring. Voted first team All-County by coaches.
“Julia is one of the best all-around athletes that I have ever coached,” Bruins coach Deanna Romeo-Hamilton said. “She can and will play any position that we need. She works hard and leads by example. I can’t wait to see what her senior season and college career bring.”
Marissa Abdinoor, South River, Jr., C
A coaches’ first team all-county selection this season, Abdinoor stabilized the Seahawks from the backstop. She picked off eight runners, two at second base.
Abdinoor led the squad with 28 RBIs and 18 runs, hitting 10 doubles and a home run in 21 games, with a .415 batting average and .487 on-base percentage.
“Marissa was a leader for our team in many ways this season,” coach Tim Williams said. “At the plate she led the team in many offensive categories. She was even more instrumental in her role as catcher, helping to develop two freshmen pitchers and was extremely helpful in picking up any of her teammates as they needed it.”
Corrine Hayhurst, North County, Sr., 1B
In her final season with the Knights, Hayhurst propelled her team to the 4A East Section I semifinal. She compiled a .492 batting average off 22 singles, four doubles, five triples for 31 hits, 23 RBIs and 21 runs. She walked six times while only striking out six times.
“(Corrine) dominated North County’s offensive statistics, leading the team in hits, batting average, and RBIs,” coach Kelly Guarnieri said. “I have had the opportunity to watch Corrine mature into a student athlete who is prepared to take on challenges at the next level.”
Caroline Wasko, Spalding, Sr., Infielder
A “consistent and outspoken leader” per coach Delaney Bell, Wasko demonstrated leadership from the batter’s box, compiling a .484 batting average and .579 on-base percentage, as well as 14 RBIs.
She slapped in a run and a team-high two hits in the Cavaliers’ dominant victory over John Carroll in the IAAM A conference final.
Angela Sena, Spalding, Sr., C
The two-time first team All-County pick was the epitome of clutch hitting this year, serving up a walkoff bomb against Chesapeake in the regular season. She batted .341 with a .471 on-base percentage and .638 slugging, with a trio of homers and a dozen RBIs, as well as a team-high nine walks.
Sena pinned five runners down this year, assembling a .978 fielding percentage.
“She calls pitches and play calls,” coach Delaney Bell said. “Manages the game on the field.”
Destiny Zornes, North County, Sr., 3B
The four-year starter fielded three positions as a Knight, shortstop, third base and pitcher. In her final year, she fielded at a rate of 96 percent, making only two errors.
Zornes hit .460 with 29 hits and 31 runs scored, including nine doubles, two triples and a home run.
“Destiny has been an essential player on North County for the last four years,” coach Kelly Guarnieri said. “She is not only one of the smartest players I have had the opportunity to coach, but one of the most talented as well. … It has been a pleasure to watch Destiny grow on and off the field.”
Mallorie Hetzel, Northeast, Jr., 3B
The cleanup batter led the charge for the Eagles when she clocked a two-outs, bases-loaded double against rival Chesapeake to help secure a 5-4 victory.
She amassed 14 RBIs, six doubles and two triples, as well as 10 runs, for a .407 average.
“(She) was a defensive standout at third base who was pretty much automatic when it came to making a play,” Eagles assistant coach Steve Gorrick said. “I personally didn’t see any third base in the county who was better than her defensively.”
Coach of the Year: Dave Sauble, Glen Burnie
Sauble piloted his “coronary kids” to a 19-4 record, a Class 4A East region title and a runner-up finish in the state final. His Gophers became famous for their game-winning rallies, which they did for all five games of the postseason, including the state final, in which Glen Burnie staged a four-run comeback that fell just short.
“I guess I learned there is some truth behind never giving up,” he said. “Sometimes, as a coach or a player, you say, ‘OK, we’ll take this loss. It is what it is and you come back the next day.’ But they made me to think the opposite way — don’t ever give up. That last inning in the game proved to me you can win any time.”
Second Team
Amaya Carroll, Archbishop Spalding, Fr., P
Maddie Chadwick, Broadneck, Sr., CF
Kexin Wang, Chesapeake, Sr., OF
Emma Hall, Severna Park, Sr., 3B
Shaianne Turner, Glen Burnie, Sr. , 3B
Kylie Dingess, Severna Park, Sr., P
Jordan Fangman, Glen Burnie, Sr., SS
Ashlee Fahey, Meade, So., P
Lindsay Wilson, AACS, Sr., P
Jaclyn Nevins, North County, Jr., P
Jordan Johnson, Archbishop Spalding, Sr., CF
Sam Cinotti, Arundel, So., C/OF
Kaitlyn Penny, Arundel, So., C/SS
Sierra Williams, Arundel, Fr., 1B/OF
Katie Gouty, Glen Burnie, Sr., 1B
Rosemarie Weidenhoft, Glen Burnie, So., 1B
Alison Pollack, Chesapeake, Fr., 3B/C
Sophia Bianco, Chesapeake, Fr., 2B/OF
Kennedy Baldwin, South River, Sr., 3B
Alyssa Smith, South River, So., OF
Kenzie McLellan, South River, So., IF
Shannon O’Ferrall, AACS, Fr., SS
Makenzie Maenner, Archbishop Spalding, Jr., P/1B
Madison Schelfe, Northeast, So., IF
Ryan Finazzo, Broadneck, Sr., C
Elizabeth Shafer, Broadneck, Jr., 1B
Cori Bereznay, Broadneck, Fr., Utility
Hannah Davis, Southern, Sr., P/2B
