IAAM A champ Spalding rises to No. 2; Severna Park storms to No. 8; John Carroll and Catholic High also gain spots
It was not a season of state championship celebrations for Baltimore area teams, as three squads reach the state finals and all three came up short.
Patterson Mill, which saw its 44-game winning streak halted by a loss to Western Maryland’s Allegany in the Class 1A state championship game, will walk away from 2022 with the honor as finishing as the Baltimore area’s No. 1 team as they hold that spot in the final VSN Softball Top 20, finishing 21-1.
Archbishop Spalding, which began the year in the top spot, climbed up from No. 5 to No. 2 after winning the IAAM A Conference crown, while Rising Sun finished at No. 3 after reaching the 2A state championship game.
Rounding out the top five is No. 4 Reservoir, the Howard County champion, and No. 5 Chesapaeake-AA, the Anne Arundel County champion.
Severna Park, unranked throughout the season, made a late charge all the way to the 4A state final where it was defeated by champion Sherwood from Montgomery. The run was rewarded with the Falcons entry into the final state poll, as they landed at No. 8.
John Carroll School, the only team in the final Top 20 with a losing record, entered the final poll at No. 19, after reaching the IAAM A Conference final and Catholic High, which captured the IAAM B Conference title, also entered the final poll at No. 20.
Here is the final 2022 VSN Softball Top 20:
1. PATTERSON MILL
Record: 21-1
Previous rank: 1
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 1A STATE FINALIST & UCBAC CHESAPEAKE CHAMPIONS
2. ARCHBISHOP SPALDING
Record: 13-2
Previous rank: 5
SEASON RESULT – IAAM A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
3. RISING SUN
Record: 17-3
Previous rank: 6
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 2A STATE FINALIST
4. RESERVOIR
Record: 15-1
Previous rank: 2
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 3A EAST REGION II FINALIST & HOWARD COUNTY CHAMPION
5. CHESAPEAKE-ANNE ARUNDEL
Record: 17-2
Previous rank: 4
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 3A SOUTH REGION II SEMIFINALIST & ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CHAMPIONS
6. ARUNDEL
Record: 15-3
Previous rank: 3
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 3A SOUTH REGION II SEMIFINALIST
7. FALLSTON
Record: 14-2
Previous rank: 7
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 1A SOUTH REGION I FINALIST
8. SEVERNA PARK
Record: 13-11
Previous rank: Not ranked
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 4A STATE FINALIST
9. SOUTH RIVER
Record: 15-3
Previous rank: 8
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 4A STATE SEMFINALIST & ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY FINALIST
10. MCDONOGH SCHOOL
Record: 12-3-1
Previous rank: 9
SEASON RESULT – IAAM A CONFERENCE SEMIFINALIST
11. CATONSVILLE
Record: 16-5
Previous rank: 11
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 4A STATE SEMIFINALIST & BALTIMORE COUNTY CHAMPIONS
12. CARVER CENTER A&T
Record: 15-4
Previous rank: 12
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 2A STATE QUARTERFINALIST & BALTIMORE COUNTY FINALIST
13. GLENELG
Record: 12-6
Previous rank: 10
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 2A WEST REGION II SEMIFINALIST
14. WILDE LAKE
Record: 12-6-1
Previous rank: 13
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 3A STATE QUARTERFINALIST
15. CROFTON
Record: 14-5
Previous rank: 14
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 3A SOUTH REGIOIN II FINALIST
16. HOWARD
Record: 11-6-2
Previous rank: 16
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 3A STATE QUARTERFINALIST
17. MOUNT HEBRON
Record: 12-7
Previous rank: 15
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 3A EAST REGION I FINALIST
18. CENTURY
Record: 15-7
Previous rank: 17
SEASON RESULT – CLASS 2A STATE SEMIFINALIST & CARROLL COUNTY ATHLETIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
19. JOHN CARROLL SCHOOL
Record: 7-9
Previous rank: Not ranked
SEASON RESULT – IAAM A CONFERENCE FINALIST
20. CATHOLIC
Record: 9-2
Previous rank: Not ranked
SEASON RESULT – IAAM B CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
