From rookie of the year to best under pressure, here is a list of the 2016 spring season’s top performers
Player of the Year
Devon Goetz
Senior, Richard Montgomery, shortstop
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology softball and field hockey recruit’s stellar play in the middle infield helped keep the Rockets afloat following the loss of several key players to graduation. After missing 2015 with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, RM’s cleanup batter was .600 at the plate with 11 home runs, 40 runs batted in and 35 runs scored; she was virtually error free on defense.
Coach of the Year
Ashley Barber-Strunk
Sherwood
The Warriors captured their fifth consecutive Class 4A state title with their 103rd consecutive win. Such domination extends beyond a collection of talented softball players and Barber-Strunk has done an excellent job keeping Sherwood focused, driven and resilient in the face of rare adversity.
Rookie of the Year
Katie Smith
Freshman, Holton-Arms, 3B
Smith stepped into the cleanup spot for the Independent School League “AA” Division runner-up and batted over .400 with an on-base percentage of .578 and only four strikeouts; she’s like a magnet at third base.
Biggest Breakout Season
Kara Carney
Senior, Sherwood, 2B
Carney led the county in RBI with 39 and batted .492 with 27 runs scored and eight home runs, one of which was hit over the fence at the University of Maryland in the state final.
Most Improved
Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Led by a strong sophomore class that included talented pitcher Julia Dimmick and Corinna Davis (.564 batting average, 21 RBI), the Barons won more games this spring –six—than in the last three years combined.
Best Under Pressure
Jaime Schmier
Senior, Sherwood, pitcher
Schmier struck out 143 batters en route to a 0.64 earned-run average. She was undefeated in two years as a Warriors’ starter and never seemed fazed by the pressure to maintain a historic win streak.
Best Secret Weapon
Allie Janowiak
Junior, Clarksburg, shortstop
The third-year starter might not have the same name recognition as some of the top shortstops to come through the county in recent years, but she is a tremendous playmaker and batted well over .500.
Most Resilient
Bridgette Barbour (Senior, Northwest, pitcher) and Karylena Cruz (Senior, Blair, pitcher)
These players fought through pain—Barbour a lingering hamstring strain and Cruz a chronic back injury—to produce for their respective teams both in the pitcher’s circle and at the plate. Barbour finished with a .618 batting average and struck out 115 batters in 67 innings; Cruz batted over .500 and hit a two-run home run to clinch the Blazers’ regional final win over Clarksburg.
Most Versatile
Amanda Berkley
Junior, Sherwood, utility
Berkley would likely start in the pitcher’s circle for most county teams, but was willing to play wherever she was needed. A standout in both the infield and outfield, she batted .529 with a team-high 39 runs scored.
Best Cinderella Story
Blair
Uncharacteristic defeats early this spring casted doubt on the Blazers’ ability to compete for a regional title. But Blair found its stride at the right time to make its second state tournament appearance in three years—and got within three outs of the championship game.
Biggest Upset
Wootton vs. Northwest
Trailing 4-1 with two outs in the seventh inning, the Patriots mounted a major comeback to end the previously undefeated defending Class 4A West Region champion’s season in the second round of playoffs.
Best Sportsmanship
Joan Rackey
Coach, Einstein
The longtime coach was just as supportive of opposing players as her own and shouted words of encouragement for positive performances throughout games. The Titans always followed suit.
Honorable mentions: Lillian Baker (Holton-Arms), Georgia Bartels-Newton (Wootton), Kelly Bouma (Sherwood), Alexa Bowen (Northwest), Molly Brown (Wootton), Mildred Devereux (Blair), Nicole Kidwiler (Blake), Marisa Mancini (Sherwood), McKenzie Robinson (Blake), Susan Webster (Walter Johnson), Landry Werth (Stone Ridge), Cate Willing (Stone Ridge) and Gina Wingate (Quince Orchard).
