DAMASCUS (18-2) vs. CHESAPEAKE (23-3)
Maryland 4A state championship
University of Maryland
Saturday, noon
Storyline » Two of the state’s most successful programs play for the 4A championship. Both are motivated by recent championship game losses. Chesapeake fell in the 2006 final, 4-3, to C.M. Wright, and the 2004 final, 4-2, to Westminster. Damascus lost to North County in the 2005 title game, 4-2.
Damascus history » Damascus seeks its fourth state championship. This is the Hornets’ ninth appearance in the title game. Damascus won 2A championships in ’87, ’92, and ’94, the last two under current coach Barb King (19 seasons). The last Montgomery County team to win a state title was Gaithersburg (1999).
Chesapeake history » The Anne Arundel County school seeks its sixth state title. From 1990-93, Chesapeake won a Maryland record four straight 4A championships. Teams from Anne Arundel or Calvert counties have won 17 of the last 21 Maryland 4A titles.
Damascus pitching » Senior Erin Nickell (12-2, 0.90 ERA) is not over-powering, but has good control and is efficient. In shutting out Eleanor Roosevelt in the semifinals, she limited the Raiders to three hits while fanning two.
Chesapeake pitching » Sophomore Lauren Gibson (18-2) has a good fastball. She fanned the side in the third and seventh innings in beating Sherwood, 3-2, Tuesday. Gibson also got a clutch strikeout with two out in the bottom of the sixth with runners on second and third.
Damascus offense » The Hornets’ powerful lineup includes senior 3B Ellen Smith (.450, 27 RBI, 5 HR), sophomore SS Taylor Wyatt (.338, 6 HR), sophomore DH Alli Part (.467, 23 RBI), junior 1B Amanda Ray (.411, 31 RBI) and P Erin Nickell (.392, 4 HR).
Chesapeake offense » P Lauren Gibson also is the team’s best hitter. Her two-run home run was a key hit in a 5-3 win over North County in the region semifinals. CF Brooke Owen has had the winning hit in the Cougars’ victories in the region final and state semifinals. SS Angela Yannone and C Samantha Dolski are tough outs.
