Spring sports set to start

Athletes from across the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference have been preparing the upcoming spring sports season that gets under way in earnest this afternoon through a bevy of practices and scrimmages designed to hone their skills in their respective sport.

There was ample activity last Thursday afternoon, March 14, at Calvert High School as the baseball and softball teams took part in extended practices while the school’s boys’ lacrosse team entertained Chopticon for both varsity and junior varsity scrimmages. A quartet of Calvert softball players remained well after practice to take extra batting practice, including three that were part of the 2A state title team two years ago.

Juniors Kineta Bradley, Emily Milam and Sadie Willis, along with sophomore Abigail Seay stayed for an additional hour to hone their hitting skills with each of them taking turns pitching from behind the portable pitching fence. Milam, who scored the winning run in the 2A state title victory two years ago, will be in her second season as shortstop and leadoff batter for the Cavaliers after two-time SMAC player of the year Karlee Hughes graduated.

“Last year was definitely a great learning experience,” said Milam, who joined Bradley as one of the football team managers. “Karlee was a great player, so it was tough to step in and fill her spot. But it’s great being a part of this group. We love staying after practice to take extra hitting.”

Bradley, who has been the catcher for the Cavaliers each of the past two seasons when they reached the 2A state final, is looking forward to her junior season. Bradley had primarily caught southpaw Emma DeBoer the previous three seasons, but this year she will call the signals for Willis, who will get the bulk of the work in the circle.

“I like staying after practice and taking extra batting practice,” Bradley said. “It’s been something of a tradition since I’ve been on the team. We have a lot of new players this year. We still have some good girls back. Our goal is still the same — we want to get back to the state championship.”