WVU Potomac State Claims Division II Softball Titles

CATONSVILLE, Md. – WVU Potomac State claimed their fifth straight Division II Region 20 Softball title and the Mid-Atlantic District Championship on May 11 with a victory over tournament host CCBC Catonsville. The Catamounts were undefeated in the tournament and outscored opponents 28-5.

The tournament opened on May 4 with eight teams playing at the location of the highest seed. The winners of each advancing to the final four May 9-11 at CCBC Catonsville. The higher seed in each matchup advanced with #2 College of Southern Maryland, #3 CCBC Catonsville, and #4 Frederick joining top seed WVU Potomac State.

On Friday, May 9, the Catamounts blanked Frederick 6-0. Homeruns by Shaleigh Darlington, Lindsay Mowry, and Skyla Compton lifted Potomac State to the win with Chloe Greise allowing just five hits with seven strikeouts in the win.

In game 2, Southern Maryland erupted for four runs in the first and never trailed, taking a 10-3 victory. Lexi Drayer homered twice and Laci Johnson added three runs batted in (RBI) for Southern Maryland.

The two winners, Southern Maryland and Potomac State opened play on Saturday, May 10. In a thriller, Southern Maryland opened scoring in the first with two runs on a Johnson homer. Potomac State responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. After a scoreless second, Southern Maryland added three more runs in the third, utilizing homeruns from Megan Chroniger and Katelyn Tkach. Potomac State matched the effort when Ashton Spiker launched a three-run homerun. Potomac State tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning as Mowry drove in Eva Ochoa. In the bottom of the seventh Potomac State would need only one batter as catcher Braylee Corbin belted a walk-off homerun to earn the Catamounts the win.

Game 4, which was the second game played on Saturday, saw similar fireworks. Holding Frederick at bay early, CCBC Catonsville opened scoring with a run in the first inning. Both teams would be blanked in the second while Catonsville added single runs in the third and fourth innings. Down 3-0, Frederick used an extra base hit by Joelle Staub and single by Kaitlin Murphy to drive in three runs and tie the game. Catonsville answered immediately with a sacrifice fly from Kayla Musgrove, plating the go ahead run in the bottom of the fifth. In the sixth, Staub powered the Frederick offense to another three runs with a two RBI single. Leo Cline drove in Staub for the Cougars second consecutive three run inning. The 6-4 Frederick lead would not last long as singles from Madison Krupiewski and Riley Nace would plate two runs. Working to protect the 6-6 tie, pitcher Emily Fagan retired the side in order in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Musgrove doubled to lead off the inning for Catonsville. With the next two batters retired, the Cardinals were down to their final out before extra innings when Cassidy Barth singled to score Musgrove and earn the walk off win for Catonsville.

In Game 5, the final game on Saturday, Catonsville and Southern Maryland met with advancement to the championship on the line. Catonsville plated a run in the top of the first inning, but Southern Maryland responded immediately with a three-run homerun by Laci Johnson in their half of the inning. Catonsville chipped away with another run in the second inning, a single by Jordan Cleveland which plated Ava Blum. Two more Cardinals RBI singles turned the game back in Catonsville's favor, leading 4-3 in the fourth. Southern Maryland tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on a Kit Shrewsbury RBI single. Responding in the top of the sixth, Catonsville put the game away, scoring three more runs on timely hitting. Southern Maryland added a run in the sixth on a Emily Dove homerun but the Cardinals prevailed 7-5.

Advancing to Championship Sunday on May 11, Catonsville met undefeated Potomac State. Potomac State loaded the bases in the first and jumped out to a 5-0 lead with Spiker, Compton, and Darlington all collecting RBI's. In their next inning the Catamount offense would add three more runs with RBI's from Mowry, Jamie Kelly, and Kameron Beck. Five runs would be enough for Potomac State as they held Catonsville scoreless for an 8-0 win in five innings. Greise had another stellar day in the pitcher's circle surrendering four hits in the complete game shutout.

Potomac State will represent Region 20 in the Division II World Series as the Mid-Atlantic champion. The Catamounts earned the 16th seed in the tournament and will open tournament play against #17 Mercer County on Monday, May 19 at 12:00 pm. All tournament games will be played at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, AL.

All-Tournament Team

Leo Cline, Frederick
Laci Johnson, Southern Maryland
Katelyn Tkach, Southern Maryland
Alana Watts, CCBC Catonsville
Emily Fagan, CCBC Catonsville
Sarah Devilbiss, CCBC Catonsville
Braylee Corbin, Potomac State
Skyla Compton, Potomac State
Chloe Greise, Potomac State
Lindsay Mowry, Potomac State