Throughout most of last Friday’s 2A state softball championship game at the University of Maryland, the Huntingtown High School squad executed at a much higher level defensively than the reigning champions from Rising Sun High, who also arrived with an unblemished record.
Except for one instance early in the contest, however, Huntington (18-5) could not take advantage of the Tigers’ four miscues and eventually the Hurricanes yielded the state crown to Rising Sun in a 4-2 setback. Rising Sun earned its eighth state title in its 13th appearance in the tournament, while Huntingtown fell several runs shy of attaining its sixth.
“We definitely had our chances,” Huntingtown softball coach Mike Johnson said. “But give Rising Sun all the credit. They made plays when they had to and they came up with the clutch hits when they needed them. We had several chances to score more runs, but we could not seem to come up with that clutch hit.”
Rising Sun (24-0) forged its first lead of the game in the bottom of the first against Huntingtown junior hurler Jordyn Greever, but the Hurricanes drew even at 1-1 in the top of the third on the day’s ugliest play. Morgan Cranford led off with a single to left, stole second, went to third on an errant throw by the Tigers’ catcher then scored on another errant throw by the Rising Sun right fielder.
Rising Sun regained the lead immediately in the bottom of the third inning on a run-scoring double by senior second baseman Josalyn McMillian, but the Hurricanes drew even at 2-2 in the top of the fourth when freshman Madisyn Williamson smacked a solo homer off the light pole in left center to bring Huntingtown even for a second time in the contest.
Huntingtown had a genuine opportunity to claim its first lead of the contest in the top of the fifth against Rising Sun relief pitcher Madison Ore. Greever beat out an infield single down the third base line then watched the throw to first sail past the bag and into right field, allowing the Hurricanes’ pitcher to race all the way around to third.
With a runner on third and no outs, Huntingtown was in prime position to gain the upper hand. But the Hurricanes’ next batter Cranford hit a sharp grounder to McMillan at second, who threw home to retire the Hurricanes’ sliding courtesy runner. Cranford was then caught attempting to steal second and the Hurricanes failed to score in that frame.
Rising Sun regained the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth when McMillan again delivered a run-scoring single to center to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead and they added an insurance run in the home half of the sixth when Olivia Stickley scored courtesy of a fielding error by Huntingtown first baseman Cailtin Morey. Ore would collect the win while allowing just two hits in three innings of scoreless relief.
Huntingtown brought the winning run to the plate against Ore in the top of the seventh after Williamson reached on a one-out error then Greever delivered a two-out single. But Cranford grounded to third for the game’s final out, allowing the Tigers the chance to celebrate a perfect season and second consecutive 2A State title and their eighth overall.
“I think she had a good game plan,” Rising Sun coach Paul Taylor said of Greever. “She mixed us up a little bit, got us off guard, but we still came through with some timely hits.”
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