- Several Washington County high school spring sports teams have started their seasons strong.
- Undefeated teams include North Hagerstown baseball, South Hagerstown girls tennis and Boonsboro boys and girls lacrosse.
With most Washington County high school spring sports a little over two weeks into the season, it's a good time to take a look at the teams that have gotten off to hot starts.
North Hagerstown baseball
The Hubs have opened the season with a seven-game winning streak. Four regulars are hitting .400 or better: Ian Kelley (.450), Matt Mallardi (.444, three doubles), Colt Tucker (.421, five doubles) and James Ortiz (.400). On the mound, Joey Dorsey is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings, Jackson Coulter has struck out 13 over 12 innings, Henry Lewis has 11 strikeouts over eight innings and Kelley has a perfect ERA and 10 strikeouts over four innings.
South Hagerstown girls tennis
The Rebels are off to a 5-0 start, going 23-2 in their matches. Lindsay Rasco is 3-2 at first singles, and South's other four positions are undefeated. That includes Azaniya Genda at second singles (5-0), Isi McCarty and Kaylee Murphy at first doubles (5-0), Ella Biddle and Avery Wood at second doubles (5-0), and Gracy Nianga and Michaela Kadjemse at third doubles (5-0).
Boonsboro girls lacrosse
The Warriors are 4-0 to start the season, led by Bekah Meiklejohn (15 goals and four assists), Taeler Stouffer (14 goals and four assists) and Nicole Malasky (11 goals and six assists). Mikayla Bailey (seven goals and five assists), Paige Howe (six goals) and Annabel Fletcher (three goals and two assists) add offensive depth.
Boonsboro boys lacrosse
The Warriors are 3-0 and made a major statement with a 16-8 victory over six-time defending region champion Smithsburg. Wyatt Maguire has been in the middle of everything with six goals, seven assists, 25 ground balls and seven caused turnovers. Colin Telemeco has a team-high nine goals and has won 20 ground balls and 32 of 39 faceoffs. Connor Permenter (six goals), Trent Stouffer (five goals and four assists) and Regan Varney (three goals and seven assists) are offensive threats and Nate Montgomery (10 ground balls and four caused turnovers) and Trent Jenkins (nine ground balls and two caused turnovers) are significant defensive players.
Boonsboro softball
The Warriors, who went 22-2 and played in the Class 1A state final last year, are 6-1 this year, outscoring opponents 89-5. Among those with at least 10 at-bats, five Warriors are hitting .500 or better and two more are hitting .400 or better. They include Addison Tyler (.619, four homers), Kalyn Lawrence (.600, five extra-base hits), Mac Griffith (.556, five homers and five doubles), Sydney Kulikowski (.526), Alivia Taylor (.500), McKenna Johnson (.476, two homers, five extra-base hits) and Kamryn Dillow (.448, seven extra-base hits). In the circle, Tyler is 4-1 with a 0.91 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 23 innings, Ellie Harrell has a 0.78 ERA and 17 strikeouts in nine innings, and Johnson has struck out 11 over seven innings.
Smithsburg baseball
The vastly improved Leopards are 5-1, which is one win shy of last year's victory total. Mason Oates, who played at St. Maria Goretti before the school's closing, is red-hot at the plate, hitting .579 (11-for-19) with a homer, a double, nine RBIs and seven runs scored. On the mound, George Mantz (2-0) has allowed just two hits and five walks while striking out 12 over 9 2/3 scoreless innings, and Heath Githens has a 2.40 ERA over 11 2/3 innings.
Saint James softball
The Saints are 4-1, with five regulars hitting .400 or better: Everett Sechler (.643, two homers and six extra-base hits), Claire Barnes (.571), Lily Schlotterbeck (.562), Tenley Mullendore (.538) and Carli Mazaleski (.438). Schlotterbeck, the 2024 county pitcher of the year, is 3-1 with a 0.32 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 22 innings.
Smithsburg girls tennis
The Leopards are 3-1 in their first four matches, led by the strength of their singles standouts. Atlee Hilliard is undefeated at first singles (4-0) and Chloe Fisher is perfect at second singles (4-0).
Saint James boys lacrosse
The Saints are 5-2 following Monday's victory over Gerstell, and have outscored opponents 90-46. It's a strong start in their first-ever season as reigning Mid-Atlantic Conference champions.
South Hagerstown boys lacrosse
The Rebels are 4-2 to start the season, and that's their most victories in a year since finishing 6-7 in 2015. Nick Bryan (10 goals) and Thurman Harold (five goals) have been the offensive leaders, and Wyatt Roberts has been clutch with two of his three goals this season being game-winners. Sophomore goalie Israel Andino Guardado has led a stingy defense, allowing only 5.5 goals per game.
South Hagerstown softball
The Rebels are 4-2, led by an explosive offense with five regulars hitting better than .400 -- Raelee Fry (.579, three doubles), Kailia Burke (.524, four extra-base hits), Chelsea Desmond (.500, three doubles), Ja'Seri Chapman (.435) and Kenzie Lamer (.409, four extra-base hits). Addison Wright is 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA over 11 2/3 innings.
Hancock baseball
The Panthers improved to 4-2 with Monday's win over Berkeley Springs. Blaire Ray (.636, three extra-base hits) and Chandler Buskirk (.500) are the leading hitters, and Logan Hendershot (2-0, 0.58 ERA) and Ray (2-0, 1.75 ERA) each have 18 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched.
