One more night
SMAC softball seniors hook up for all-star game
For a few innings, at least, Tuesday’s inaugural Southern Maryland Athletic Conference senior softball all-star game felt more like social hour than a competitive softball game for North Point’s Brianna Baker.
“When I was over on first base a few of my old travel teammates were there and I was over there talking to them, ‘Hey, nice hit,’” said Baker, who was selected to the All-SMAC Potomac Division team at pitcher, of her experience playing first base for three innings on Tuesday. “It was casual.”
By the end, Baker and her Potomac teammates put a final stamp on their high school careers on the winning end of a 3-1 decision over Chesapeake Division squad. Potomac scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to surge to the victory.
“It was just great for us all to come together and play ball just for fun,” said Baker, who pitched four scoreless innings to get credit for the win in the
circle, striking out four while surrendering just one hit. “We were all trying to have a great ending to our senior year and try to enjoy the sport, some of us for the last time. I know it will be the last time for me, so it was just really fun and it was really meaningful for me. It gave me some closure.”
Playing for Chesapeake, which consisted of players from Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, Leonardtown’s Kaitlyn Beasley-Polko scored the game’s first run, reaching base on a two-out single in the top of the third. Huntingtown’s Kailey Cannon later drove her home with a single to right-center to give Chesapeake the 1-0 lead.