Hammond High sophomore pitcher Stephanie Speierman?s contribution to her softball team goes far beyond a state-record 408 strikeouts.
To her teammates, Speierman?s dominant performance on the mound actually helps boost the entire team?s offensive production. Many of Hammond?s players said they are so confident that Speierman, a sophomore, will keep the opposing lineup in check, it allows them to be more aggressive at the plate.
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“We have complete confidence in Stephanie,” freshman catcher Katie McCarthy said. “With her out there, our goal is to score a lot early and then hold the other team off in the end.”
This was the case in Tuesday?s 5-0 win in the Class 2A semifinals against Century. With the win, Hammond (22-1) advanced to its first state title game, where it will face North East at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the University of Maryland?s softball complex.
“I never go out there thinking I?m going to strike everyone out,” Speierman said. “It?s just the way it seems to happen out there.”
Century?s concern over Speierman went beyond her pitching prowess. She also is Hammond?s top hitter with a .673 average and 15 RBI. The Knights wanted nothing to do with her at the plate ? she walked three times. Her walk in the second cost Century when senior outfielder Jessica Purdy followed with a two-run single.
“We?re never scared in any game because we know we?ve got Stephanie,” Purdy said. “We used to wait until late in the game and then scramble to score runs. Now, we never have any doubts.”
Purdy said the team is just now thinking about its chance of bringing home a state title since the program had never won a county or regional championship before this season.
“We?ve kept focused on each step in front of us,” she said. “First, it was the county championship, then it was regions, and now we?re at states. We thought we?d be good this year, but this is even better than we thought.”
SOFTBALL FINALS
(At the University of Maryland)
» In the Class 3A final, Northeast (19-6) will play defending champion Huntingtown (21-1) at 8 tonight.
» In the Class 4A final, Chesapeake-AA (22-3) will face Damascus (18-2) at noon Saturday.
