Severna Park High?s softball team hasn?t lost a step this season. The Falcons (6-1) are right in the mix of the highly competitive Anne Arundel County race with teams like Chesapeake, Northeast, Glen Burnie and upstart Broadneck.
But this Severna Park team is much different compared to the previous four years. The Falcons are now without pitcher Kaila Jenkins, a four-year starter who helped leadthe team to the 2003 Class 3A state title as a freshman and the 2006 state final last year.
Enter Sarah Castille. The junior played first base prior to this spring, but she worked hard in the offseason and quickly established herself as one of the better pitchers in the area. Entering this week, she is 4-1 with a 1.27 ERA, 37 strikeouts and eight walks in 33 innings. She is also one of the Falcons? top hitters, batting .412 with nine RBI and five runs scored.
“Sarah stepped right in and filled Kaila?s shoes,” Severna Park coach Jeff Shepherd said. “She carries herself very well on the mound.”
Castille is a stark contrast in styles with her predecessor. While Jenkins blew batters away and recorded 988 strikeouts in her career, Castille relies more on off-speed pitches and the defense behind her to get outs.
But like Jenkins, Castille has a great working relationship with Megan MacNabb, the team?s senior catcher. MacNabb is in her third year with the Falcons after playing only baseball. She even tried out for the school?s team as a freshman.
Shepherd said MacNabb has made a seamless transition to softball to the point where she calls most of the pitches in the game.
“We get along great, and she does a great job communicating with me what pitches are working and what needs to be thrown,” Castille said.
MacNabb said she is impressed with how far Castille has progressed this season and feels like Castille and senior Desirae Sullivan give the team an imposing pitching staff capable of going deep into the playoffs. MacNabb added that she has also tried to take charge on the field more this season.
“I learned a lot the last two years working with Kaila,” MacNabb said. “Then, I listened to her more since she had the experience. But as a senior now, I?ve tried to take on more of a leadership role because I feel like I can tell what?s working over the course of the game after seeing the hitters before.”
