Ryan Pindell has been has seen this kind of drama before. She wanted to make sure the ending was a little bit different this time.
The junior had three hits, including a triple in her first at-bat, to lead third-ranked John Carroll softball to a 6-3 win over Archbishop Spalding in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship game Friday at Stevenson University.
The win breaks a streak of four consecutive titles by the Cavaliers, with the last two coming at the expense of John Carroll.
“It felt really good [to triple in the first inning],” Pindell said. “I feel like I’ve been in a slump all year, and scoring early was big for us.”
The Patriots (16-1) wasted no time getting started. After starting pitcher Julia Wilkes held Spalding scoreless in the top of the first, Pindell tripled to right field with one out. The next batter, Sophie Anderson, walked and stole second, and Kallissa Coats singled to score both Pindell and Anderson to put John Carroll ahead, 2-0.
After No. 6 Cavaliers pitcher Cessi Prince loaded the bases with two walks, she walked catcher Juliana Aragon to score Coats and make it 3-0.
Spalding (12-4) got a run back in the top of the second when Aragon threw the ball into right field after a strikeout by Wilkes and allowed Taylor Barchanowicz to score from second.
The Patriots again added to their total in the bottom of the third. Sydney Dawson walked, and her aggressive base running put her on third after a ground out to Prince. Aragon brought Dawson home with a single up the middle for a 4-1 lead.
The Patriots when up 5-1 when Dawson’s popout scored Savannah Claycomb with the bases loaded.
Spalding cut the margin in the sixth. A two-out single to center field by Mya Lamp scored Barchanowicz, and the Patriots threw home to cut off another run. Catcher Aragon made one of her biggest plays of the day, throwing out Sydnie Lanasa as she tried to advance to third to end the inning with John Carroll up 5-2.
Both teams added runs in their last at-bats, but Wilkes managed to strike out Makenna Dean for the final out, giving John Carroll the win and touching off a celebration.
May 17, 2024: Mia Jelen makes solid contact during the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
The John Carroll High School Patriot takes a selfie with the team after they won the IAAM A Conference softball championship against Archbishop Spalding High School 6-3 at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
Savannah Claycomb misses a diving catch during the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
The John Carroll High School Patriots pose for a photo after winning the IAAM A Conference softball championship against Archbishop Spalding High School 6-3 at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
Sydney Dawson manages to safely slide into third against Makenna Dean’s defensive efforts during the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
John Carroll’s Sophie Anderson cries on the shoulder of Mia Anderson after winning the IAAM A Conference softball championship against Archbishop Spalding High School 6-3 at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
Archbishop Spalding pitcher Cessi Prince throws a pitch during the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
Sydnie Lanasa, center, cheers as she leaves the Cavalier’s pregame huddle before the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
A Spalding player wears a festive cowboy hat in the pregame huddle before the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
John Carroll’s Juliana Aragon attempts to make a play at first base during the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
Ryanne Clark tags Ryan Pindell to get the out at second base during the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
Sophie Anderson slides safely misses the glove of Danielle Kallas to score a run during the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
Alyssaa Derr narrowly misses the ball during the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
John Carroll’s Sophie Anderson looks to the officials after tagging Lanasa out at second base during the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
Pitcher Julia Wilkes throws the ball during the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
Archbishop Spalding pitcher Cessi Prince jogs off the mound after she was taken out late in the the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
Danielle Kallas joins her team after warm ups before the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
Archbishop Spalding pitcher Jalaya Jones winds up for a pitch during the IAAM A Conference softball championship between Archbishop Spalding High School and The John Carroll School at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)
“To be in the championship three years in a row and finally get a win feels really good,” Pindell said. “Our team is really, really good, and we showed that today.”
The John Carroll offense overshadowed a great pitching effort by Wilkes. The senior gave up nine hits to the Cavaliers, but she made the key pitches when she had to and struck out six.
“They’re a good hitting team, so I stuck with a lot of curves and screws because I trusted those pitches,” Wilkes said. “It means everything to do this. I’ve been working for this for four years, and I’m so happy we got it done. This time it was our turn.”
It was the second title for John Carroll coach Sherry Hudson, who won her first in 2017. She said she knew this team would be special when it lost the title game last season.
“We’ve been knocking on the door for this, and we finally broke through,” Hudson said. “We lost to them in a close game in the championship last season, and these girls had been working towards this since December.”
For Spalding, the loss was the end of an era for a team that had seven seniors and had won the title every year they played except this one.
“They’re a great team,” Spalding coach Delaney Bell said of John Carroll. “Every time we play them, we know it’s going to be a good game. We’ve been splitting with them the last couple of years. I’m happy for them, and I’m glad they got to win.”
