MPSSAA softball playoffs: Washington County Public Schools roundup

Boonsboro, the lone Washington County softball team remaining in the MPSSAA playoffs, took another step in its playoff journey Friday. Here's what happened:

1A state quarterfinals

Boonsboro 10, Carver A&T 0

Ava Nelson pitched a one-hit shutout with four strikeouts, and host Boonsboro erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fifth for a five-inning, mercy-rule win over Carver A&T to advance to the state semifinals for the third time in program history.

The Warriors (21-1) will face Francis Scott Key in the semifinals Tuesday at the Bachman Sports Complex, aiming to reach the finals for the first time since 2016 in quest of their first state title.

On Friday, Boonsboro went up 1-0 in the first inning and added three runs in the third before sending 11 batters to the plate in the fifth.

Sydney Hartle had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs in the win, while Kalyn Lawrence also had two hits, Sage Haller homered, Sydney Kulikowski tripled and drove in three runs, Haylee Hartman had a double and two RBIs, and Nelson added a double.

Thursday

3A West Region I final

Linganore 4, South Hagerstown 2

The No. 1-seed Lancers (16-5) defeated the No. 2 Rebels (13-6) for the third time this season, although the region final was much closer than the two regular-season matchups Linganore won, 11-1 on April 5 and 19-10 on April 22.

The Lancers broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning on Leo Cline's RBI double to the fence in center and Lilly Trunnell's RBI groundout to short.

Linganore opened the game with a run in the first inning on an RBI groundout by Alexis Hardy. South committed multiple errors in the inning.

The Rebels tied the game at 1 in the fourth inning on Mackenzie Lamer's RBI double to the gap in right center, and took a 2-1 lead later in the inning on Chelsea Desmond's RBI groundout.

The Lancers answered in the bottom of the fourth on a double by Trunnell, a single by Hardy and a passed ball that allowed Trunnell to score, tying the game at 2.

Hardy and Sydney Mott had two hits each for Linganore. Gracie Wilson allowed two earned runs on three hits and four walks while striking out 10.

Madi Wade allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits and struck out seven without a walk for the Rebels in her final high school game. She also singled and walked twice. Kailia Burke hit a double.

Wednesday

1A West Region II final

Boonsboro 9, Williamsport 2

The No. 1-seed Warriors (20-1) took a page from Theodore Roosevelt.

They carried big sticks -- and made good use of them.

Boonsboro hit four home runs, including two by Addison Tyler, to power its way to the region title over the No. 2 Wildcats (9-12).

The Warriors will host a Class 1A state quarterfinal Friday at 4:45 p.m. against an opponent to be determined. The eight region champions will be reseeded after region finals are completed Thursday evening.

"This is definitely what we've been looking forward to all season," Tyler said. "We've just got to keep it going."

Eight of Boonsboro's nine runs scored on home runs. Tyler ripped a two-run homer in the first inning. Ava Nelson hit her first of the season, a solo shot, in the second inning. Tyler's second of the game and fifth of the season was a three-run bomb in the fourth inning. Haylee Hartman added her eighth long ball of the year, a two-run shot, later in the fourth.

"The energy in the dugout is completely contagious, and today we executed very well," Tyler said. "We want to crack anything we see. We saw this pitcher (Williamsport's Jordyn Miles) the past two games, so we picked our pitch."

"The girls played very well today. They were hitting the ball very well," said Warriors coach Mark Wadel. "Ava's (homer) was real nice to see. We were talking about what our lineup was going to be, and Troy (Taylor, an assistant coach) said she was due, that she had a home run coming. So we did it, and there it was. Super happy for her as a senior to get one."

Hartman also hit an RBI single in the third inning to finish with three RBIs. Tyler finished with three hits, the third a double in the seventh inning, and five RBIs.

Tyler also pitched 4 1/3 innings for the win, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five. Nelson worked the final 2 2/3 innings in relief, allowing two hits and no runs.

Natalie Melby and Juliette Bragunier each had a hit and an RBI for Williamsport. Katie Vanderhuff had two of the Wildcats' six hits.

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Monday

1A West Region II semifinals

Williamsport 10, Smithsburg 0

The No. 2-seed and host Wildcats (9-11) scored seven runs in the third inning and eliminated the No. 3 Leopards (5-14) in five innings.

Williamsport will travel to face Boonsboro in the region final Wednesday at 4:45 p.m.

Jordyn Miles allowed two hits and two walks over four innings, striking out six, and also had two hits and two RBIs for the Wildcats. Juliette Bragunier had two hits, including a homer, and Chloe Lincks also had two hits, including an RBI single. Payton Weaver hit a three-run triple. Natalie Melby had an RBI single and a bases-loaded walk. Kaylen Butts added an RBI single.

Bralyn Ruppenthal worked a perfect fifth inning to finish the shutout.

Kimberly Hebert and Morgan Baker each had a hit for Smithsburg.

Boonsboro 13, Clear Spring 0

The No. 1-seed Warriors (19-1) scored five runs in the first inning, three in the second and four in the third to pull away from the No. 5 Blazers (2-18).

Boonsboro will host Williamsport in the region final Wednesday at 4:45 p.m.

Ava Nelson and Addison Tyler teamed up on a five-inning no-hitter, with only an error preventing a combined perfect game. Nelson struck out four over the first three innings, and Tyler fanned five over the final two frames.

Haylee Hartman went 3-for-3 with with a double and three RBIs, and Emmalee Burker had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs to lead the Warriors at the plate. Zoe Hartman hit a two-run single and Sage Haller walked four times, including twice with the bases loaded.

3A West Region I semifinals

South Hagerstown 4, Oakdale 2

The No. 2-seed Rebels (13-5) scored three runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead, and Madi Wade allowed just three hits and one earned run in a complete-game victory over the Bears, striking out six.

South Hagerstown will travel to face No. 1 Linganore, a 9-0 winner over No. 4 Tuscarora, in the region final on Thursday at 4 p.m. It was originally scheduled for Wednesday but was rained out.

Mackenzie Lamer had two hits, including an RBI double, to lead the Rebels' offense. Aubrey Rayhel hit an RBI single.

Thursday, May 9

1A West Region II quarterfinals

Clear Spring 8, Hancock 5

The No. 5-seed Blazers (2-17) took a 5-4 lead on Kendal Hoover's sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, and added three insurance runs in the seventh to eliminate the No. 4-seed Panthers (5-13) on the road.

Clear Spring will travel to face No. 1-seed Boonsboro in the semifinals Monday at 4:45 p.m.

Alexis Cox hit an RBI double and Grace Shoemaker added an RBI single in the seventh for the Blazers.

Shoemaker finished with two hits and Layla Barr also had two hits, including an RBI single in the third inning, for Clear Spring. April Pritchard hit an RBI single in the first inning, and Alexa Snyder hit an RBI single in the second inning.

Shoemaker earned the complete-game victory in the circle, working around eight hits and eight walks. She struck out five.

Taylor Weller had two hits for Hancock, including a two-run single in the second inning. Alyssa Keefer had two hits, including an RBI double in the fifth. Kaybree Souders hit an RBI single in the fourth and Keelyn Seal added an RBI single in the seventh.

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3A West Region I quarterfinals

Tuscarora 16, North Hagerstown 1

The host and fourth-seeded Titans eliminated the No. 5-seed Hubs (1-20).

North finished with two hits, one each by Gracie Thomas and Halie Hughes.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington County Public Schools softball playoff roundup