The first blow was more mental than physical. The second blow just hurt.
In last year’s 4A West Region final, then-sophomore Sherwood pitcher Dana Ward surrendered a two-run, first inning homerun to Damascus’ Brittany Wyatt. It prompted the decision to walk Wyatt intentionally in the bottom of the seventh to load the bases with the score tied. But Ward walked the next batter, too, to give the Swarmin’ Hornets a 6-5 victory and the region title.
Shaken by the season-ending loss, Ward took an even bigger hit in a summer tournament when she was hit by a line drive back to the circle, which broke her nose and fractured bones in her cheek.
But recovering both mentally and physically, Ward has rebounded this spring to become one of Montgomery County’s toughest pitchers.
“She’s worked really hard to get back where she was,” said senior catcher Katie Obal, her best friend. “She was really upset and then nervous to be pitching, but she got back out there. She’s just done a great job coming back.”
Ward went 7-1 with 96 strikeouts last season, her only loss coming in region final.
“That game, I don’t know, I really lost my confidence,” said Ward. In last week’s rematch with Damascus, she exacted revenge on Wyatt and the Hornets, striking out 15 in a no-hit, 2-1 victory. “I was thinking about what I could do to get [Wyatt] out, and I was so happy because I struck her out three out of the four times.”
Wyatt isn’t the only player to be bested by the powerful junior left-hander. In her first season as Sherwood’s sole starting pitcher, Ward has led the Warriors (10-1, 5-0 Montgomery 4A East) back to the top of the standings, amassing 157 strikeouts through Wednesday. But just to get to that point, she spent part of last summer wearing a mask to help her overcome the fears of simply stepping into the circle.
“That was really scary and traumatic,” said Ward. “I was so terrified to pitch.”
“She’s still recovering mentally from it because she tells me that she’s so afraid of that happening again,” said Obal. “It’s always in the back of her mind, but she’s getting over it.”
Ward is well on the way to her goal of 200 strikeouts for the season, and the Warriors, who will play in the 4A North Region during the postseason, are certainly favorites to advance deep into the playoffs.
“Our team goal is to get to states because we were so close last year,” said Ward. “It would be really cool to get there this season.”
Sherwood’s Warrior
» Ward has benefited from having Obal behind the plate. “We’ve been best friends since I can remember and she’s gotten a lot better at calling pitches. We’re on the same page most of the time,” said Ward.
» Ward’s fastball has been clocked at 63 miles per hour.
» She also counts a rise ball, a rollover drop curve and a changeup among her arsenal of pitches.
