Northeast softball’s state tournament frustration has now lasted 26 years. That’s how long it’s been since the Eagles last captured a state championship.
Brooke Colliflower and Cassie Wolfe blasted home runs, while pitcher Carllie Nelson delivered a strong start as third-seeded Chopticon beat No. 2 Northeast, 11-4, in the Class 3A state semifinals held Tuesday night at Bachman Sports Complex.
Wolfe smashed a three-run shot as the Braves broke it open by scoring five runs in the top of the fifth inning. Nelson, a sophomore left-hander, shut out the Eagles the rest of the way as Chopticon (22-2) advanced to Friday night’s 8 p.m. championship game against top-seeded Sherwood (19-0) in College Park.
“It was a team effort. Everybody up and down the lineup did their job. We didn’t need to rely on one person to do everything. We’re at our best when we do that,” Chopticon coach Kevim Ciappo said. “I have a lot of respect for that program over there and we’re happy to be moving on.”
When it was over, veteran Northeast coach Joe Hart could only shake his head. Starting pitcher Presley McGinty had a rare bad outing and the Eagles (24-2) committed a couple costly errors behind her. Meanwhile, their bats were unusually silent for five of seven innings.
“It just wasn’t our day. We had some mistakes that really cost,” said Hart, who just completed his 14th season.
Northeast claimed nine state championships from 1982 to 1999 with eight coming during the tenure of coach Lynn Pitonzo, a member of the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame. During the now 26-year drought, the Eagles have lost in the state finals twice and the semifinals another five times.
“For whatever reason, I can’t get past this game,” said Hart, who has been at the helm for the last four state semifinal losses. “When you get to this level you’re playing the best of the best. That means you have to play like you’re the best of the best.”
Chopticon made the long trip from southern Maryland to Glen Burnie and showed up ready to swing the bats. Nelson and Bella Talbert connected on consecutive singles as the Braves scored two runs in the top of the first.
McGinty gave up a leadoff walk, but got the next two batters to pop up. However, she could not escape the jam and an error in the outfield allowed an unearned run to score. Northeast got one run back in the bottom of the first as a single by Jenna Burroughs plated McGinty.
Chopticon reclaimed the lead in the third inning when Colliflower hammered a two-run homer to straightaway center field.
McGinty came through in the clutch by stroking a three-run double to tie the score at 4 after four innings. A perfectly executed bunt by Carleigh Canada had loaded the bases with no outs. It appeared Nelson might work out of the jam after notching a strikeout then making a superb defensive play by fielding a bunt and getting the lead runner at home plate for the second out.
However, McGinty drove a hard grounder through the gap in right-center to clear the bases and it was a whole new ballgame, albeit briefly.
Chopticon erupted for five runs in the top of the fifth with Wolfe’s deep drive over the fence in right-center proving the decisive blow. Northeast missed an opportunity to limit the damage. Lexi McAllister, who had walked with one out, was attempting to score on a double by Hayden and it appeared the play at the plate would be close.
However, the throw home sailed high and the inning continued. Wolfe’s home run came with two outs. McGinty departed having allowed nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits and two walks.
“I was proud of the way we battled back after going down by four,” Hart said. “You have to come back and have a shutdown inning. You can’t give up five runs in the next inning. You pulled the momentum over then just handed it right back to them.”
Northeast only loses three senior starters and Hart remains convinced his club will finally “kick that door in someday,” and secure another state title.
“I told them in the circle to remember what this feels like because we’ll be back here next year. I really feel that way,” Hart said.
Nelson wound up pitching a complete-game and allowing four runs on eight hits, a walk and hit batter. She limited the Eagles to two hits over the final three innings, setting the side down in order in the seventh to end the game.
“Carly was tremendous, as she has been all season. She was consistent and got the big outs when she needed them,” Ciappo said.
It was a particularly tough loss for pitcher-outfielder Kayleigh Fyffe and the other five Northeast seniors, who suffered a 12-1 loss to Calvert in the 2023 state semifinals.
“It’s pretty hard mentally to take a loss in states, especially as a senior. When we were in 10th grade it was a big deal, but not as much as it is now that we are seniors,” said Fyffe, who was disappointed the Eagles did not do more offensively. “We didn’t pass the bat as well as we usually do. I feel like we could have been a little more mentally tough.”
Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.
Chopticon (22-2) 202 051 1 — 11-14-0Northeast (24-2) 100 300 0 — 4-8-22B: CH — Hayden. NE — McGinty.HR: CH — Colliflower, Wolfe.WP: CH — Nelson.LP: NE — McGinty.