STORY & PHOTOS: Northeast Softball Rallies For 5-4 Win Over Chesapeake

Mallorie Hetzel was in a pressure-packed spot on April 1. The Northeast senior came to bat against rival Chesapeake with a dream scenario — the bases loaded — but with her Eagles trailing, 3-2, in the bottom of the sixth inning. The pressure only intensified after she got two strikes against her.

But the moment wasn’t too big for Hetzel, who ripped a base-clearing double into the outfield, giving her Eagles a lead on the Cougars and putting Northeast on course to a 5-4 win.

“It was two strikes, and I hit it right past the left fielder’s head,” said Hetzel, who was on last year’s Northeast team that ousted Chesapeake from the playoffs in the region semifinals. “It felt so good to beat them.”

It was the second hit of the day for Hetzel, who had four of her team’s RBIs in the victory. Krista Klemkowski singled and scored twice for Northeast, who got a winning effort in the circle from starting pitcher Cecilia Swarthout. Swarthout pitched a complete game, allowing three earned runs and striking out a career-high eight batters.

Making her second varsity start after earning a win over Old Mill in her first outing, Swarthout improved to 2-0 with the rivalry victory.

“I was kind of excited to pitch against [Chesapeake’s] Haley Downin, because I knew she’s a hitter,” said Swarthout. “I got her once, but she got some hits off me. I had eight strikeouts in all, which I was really excited about, because that’s my best since a few seasons ago. …This team, we’re really confident.”

It was an important win for the Eagles, who are 5-3 through eight games and needed a victory to avoid falling too far behind in the county standings, all with implications for region seeding come playoff time. Northeast fell early to North County and suffered a 4-3 loss to a good Glen Burnie team before beating Chesapeake.

Since, they’ve sandwiched wins over Meade and South River around a 2-1 loss to reigning 4A state champion Severna Park.

Against Meade, the Eagles exploded for nine runs as Madison Schelfe (3 hits, 1 double, 2 RBIs), Kaitlyn Bayne (2 hits) and Gabrielle Baquol (2 hits, 1 RBI, 3 stolen bases) had big days offensively. Hetzel was the winning pitcher in seven innings with seven strikeouts and only four hits allowed.

Against Severna Park, both teams pitched well and played strong defense as the Eagles and Falcons combined for zero errors and only nine hits. Heather Barlage had two of Northeast’s hits, including a double, while Taylor Norfolk had an RBI base hit. Norfolk also pitched, allowing only two earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts.

Swarthout improved to 3-0 on April 9 when Northeast defeated South River 5-4.

Baquol had 4 hits in the win over the Seahawks, while Barlage had 2 hits and 2 RBIs, Tori Bache had 2 hits, Kiersten Tomshack had 1 hit, 1 RBI and 1 steal, and Klemkowski also had a hit, RBI and steal.

With Norfolk, Hetzel and Swarthout all able pitchers, Northeast coach Joe Hart has riches to deploy in figuring out the best lineups and matchups.

“There’s talent there, but we’re still trying to find our way,” said Hart. “We’re trying to put girls in the right places. Cecilia did a great job in that Chesapeake game, and her changeup was a big pitch for her that day to keep them off-balance. Defensively it’s a sound squad when they right pieces are in the right places. We’re still trying to find our way. To me, the county championship is a nice thing, but it’s the end you’re working for.”

The county championship might feature Chesapeake. The Cougars’ only loss through seven games is against Northeast, and they look strong all around. Downin had 3 hits, including a triple, against the Eagles, and Tristyn Stewart had 3 hits and 3 steals.

Against Arundel on April 8, Downin was an infield single away from pitching a perfect game, and she finished with 8 strikeouts in a 13-0 win. Ali Pollack hit a 3-run home run, while Norah Hart was 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI. Jerzie Nutile pitched a no-hitter in a 12-0 win over Southern on April 4. Against the Bulldawgs, Devan Wenger had a 2-run, inside-the-park home run. Kendal Thomas was 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. Brittany Lesson was 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Still, the early headline belongs to the rivalry winners. Hetzel said Northeast is confident it can continue to improve.

“This year being a captain, it’s a huge responsibility. We’re at the point where we have to grow since it’s a new team, a bunch of seniors left last year,” said Hetzel. “Chesapeake was a good start since they’re our rivals. We’re going to take that, and we’re going to use that intensity and how aggressive we were and put it in every game.”

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