Woodgrove, Bishop O’Connell Lead the Final Softball Rankings of the Spring

Woodgrove, Bishop O’Connell Lead the Final Softball Rankings of the Spring

As the spring high school softball season comes to a close, Woodgrove High School and Bishop O’Connell High School have emerged as the top teams in the final rankings.

Woodgrove Remains Unbeaten

Woodgrove, located in Purcellville, Virginia, finished the season with an unblemished record of 25-0. The Wolverines dominated their opponents throughout the year, outscoring them by an average of 10 runs per game. Junior pitcher Maddie Gore was a key contributor to Woodgrove’s success. She posted a 20-0 record with a 1.11 ERA and 200 strikeouts in 122 innings pitched. Offensively, senior infielder Sarah Showalter led the team with a .563 batting average, 7 home runs, and 42 RBIs.

Bishop O’Connell Earns Second Place

Bishop O’Connell, located in Arlington, Virginia, finished the season with a 24-1 record. The Knights’ only loss came to an out-of-state opponent. Senior pitcher Ella Lawson was a standout for Bishop O’Connell. She recorded a 19-1 record with a 0.92 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 126 innings pitched. At the plate, sophomore infielder Kendra Afifa led the team with a .543 batting average and 45 RBIs.

Other Top-Ranked Teams

Rounding out the top five in the final rankings are: *

Chantilly High School (Chantilly, Virginia):

23-2 record *

James Madison High School (Vienna, Virginia):

22-3 record *

Centreville High School (Centreville, Virginia):

21-4 record These teams all had impressive seasons and demonstrated strong pitching, hitting, and defense.In the competitive realm of softball in the DC region, securing a state title is an arduous feat. Programs rarely ascend to the pinnacle without enduring nail-biting encounters in crucial playoff games.In the competitive realm of softball in the DC region, securing a state title is an arduous feat. Programs rarely ascend to the pinnacle without enduring nail-biting encounters in crucial playoff games. Woodgrove and Riverside, both past Virginia state champions, showcased their dominance with walk-off home runs in their semifinal battles. Bishop O’Connell’s adept bunt in the fifth inning clinched a 1-0 victory over Potomac School in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association championship. Sherwood’s Reagan Corb delivered a game-winning hit in extra innings for the Maryland 3A title, while 4A champion Leonardtown rallied with a three-run home run in the seventh inning of the state semifinal to extend their title hopes. As the dust settled, undefeated Woodgrove and Bishop O’Connell emerged as the undisputed top teams in the area. Their pitchers, Abbey Lane and Bri Lencz, both bound for George Mason University, concluded their remarkable seasons with dominant performances, vanquishing several teams ranked in The Washington Post’s final standings.Woodgrove and Bishop O’Connell lead the final softball rankings of the spring Two area high school softball teams finished the spring season ranked among the top in the state in their respective classifications, according to the final rankings released by the Virginia High School League (VHSL). Woodgrove finished the season ranked 10th in the final VHSL Class 4 rankings, while Bishop O’Connell finished ranked fifth in the final Class 6 rankings. Woodgrove finished the season with a 17-6 record, including a 12-2 record in the Dulles District. The Wolverines reached the Class 4 Region C semifinals, where they fell to eventual state champion Lake Braddock. Bishop O’Connell finished the season with a 20-5 record, including a 13-1 record in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC). The Cardinals reached the WCAC championship game, where they fell to St. John’s College High School. Both Woodgrove and Bishop O’Connell had several players earn all-state honors from the VHSL. Woodgrove’s Amelia Wienecke was named to the Class 4 all-state first team, while teammates Sarah Zirbes and Maddie Bray were named to the second team. Bishop O’Connell’s Ava Anderson and Julia Mericle were named to the Class 6 all-state first team, while teammate Kiera Liddicoat was named to the second team.