The question marks were few for Langley’s softball team. No longer the underdogs scrapping for respect in the Liberty District, the Saxons began the season ready for the pressure that comes with being a favorite.
But their hopes of repeating as district champions and making a run at a Group AAA state tournament berth rested on the biggest unknown: the starting pitching.
Neither senior Maren Miller nor junior Emily Willis had ever been the unquestioned ace of a pitching staff before. They still haven’t. Instead, the duo has been effective all season while sharing time on the mound, giving No. 3 Langley (13-1) a solid one-two punch to complement its powerful lineup.
“All along we felt like our pitching was being underratedcoming into the season,” said Langley third baseman Bridget Desbois, a four-year starter. “They still had to prove themselves. But they’ve been solid and given us a chance to win games.”
Willis, the junior varsity starter the past two seasons, has started nine of Langley’s 14 games. She is 8-1 with a 1.07 ERA, a finesse pitcher with a varied repertoire that keeps opposing batters off balance.
Miller is more of a power pitcher. She keeps the ball low and uses an effective screwball as an out pitch. In five starts, Miller is 5-0 with a 0.66 ERA. Tuesday night against Jefferson she tossed the first no-hitter of her career for a 10-0 victory.
The Saxons are seeking their third district title in four years. They have already beaten top rivals Madison and Stone Bridge in a pair of one-run games this month.
“To be considered among the top teams in the region now is a huge accomplishment for us,” said Langley senior second baseman McKinley Cooper, also a four-year starter. “It’s a long way from where we were at the start of freshman year.”
Mean Green
» Langley has a pair of Division I recruits in senior third baseman Bridget Desbois (N.C. State), who is batting .521 with 22 RBI, and senior second baseman McKinley Cooper (Georgetown), batting .442 with 14 RBI.
» Junior shortstop Kelsey Green is one of seven position players back from last season for Langley. She is batting .460 with three home runs and 13 RBI out of the leadoff spot.
» Junior Kim McMasters has stepped into the lineup at first base when senior Maren Miller is on the mound and at designated hitter otherwise. She has a .462 average with two home runs and nine RBI.
