Eastern Tech tops unbeaten Carver Center for 2A North Region I softball championship (VIDEO HERE!)
CLASS 2A NORTH REGION I SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS
EASTERN TECH MAVERICKS
Eastern Tech, with seniors Kristin Toland and Lena Wondolowski, won the Class 2A North Region I softball title with a 4-0 win at Carver Center Monday afternoon. The Mavericks will play at Queen Anne’s in a state quarterfinal Tuesday afternoon.
by Derek Toney
Before doing post-game high-fives with Carver Center following Monday’s Class 2A North Region I softball championship game, Eastern Tech senior Sydney Edmond said she had forgotten what to do since the act has been paused for safety during the Covid-19 pandemic.
One thing, the Mavericks haven’t forgotten is winning in the post-season. Eastern Tech defeated the Wildcats, 4-0, in humid Towson.
Edmond and Emma Tawney each drove in a run for the Mavericks, and senior Kristin Toland homered. McKenzie Burton pitched a four-hitter and struck out nine.
It’s the ninth region championship since 2010 for the Mace Avenue school, which will head to Queen Anne’s Tuesday afternoon for a Class 2A state quarterfinal.
The Mavericks (7-3 overall), with seven starting seniors, are again competing for a state championship.
“It’s really bittersweet to play with people you’ve been with four years and last year not knowing what this year held,” said senior first-basemen Lena Wondobowski. “It’s nice to win something with your team. We’re super close.”
Despite striking out 14 times Monday, Eastern Tech put together enough quality at-bats to take another step in pursuit of its first state championship since 2014. Carver Center sophomoreMallory Cooper fanned the side in the first two innings before the Mavericks got on the scoreboard in the third.
Toland got Eastern Tech’s first hit with a leadoff single, then stole second. Edmond doubled to center, bringing in Toland, and scored after a Carver throw, attempting to get Edmond stealing third, went into left.
Tawney singled in Meghan Faberlle with the Mavericks’ third run of the inning. Carver (9-1) got its first hit in the fourth on a double from Kennedy Brumagin, who was thrown out at the third trying to stretch it into a triple.
It was the only inning (three hits) Burton was threatened until the seventh. Burton started strong, striking out five of the first six Wildcats.
Toland provided insurance in the seventh, sending a shot in the gap in right-center and going around the bases for a homer.
“It was all about making adjustments and we came through in the end,” said Toland.
It was the conclusion of a breakout season for Carver Center, which got a triple from Lauryn Allender Monday. The Wildcats graduate only Brumagin (will play for Frostburg State University next spring) from their starting lineup.
Carver Center coach Kevin Klimko, whose daughter was a starter on Eastern Tech’s 2A state title squad in 2014, said the Mavericks, led by longtime coach Jack Meyers, are the standard Baltimore County programs are looking to reach.
“Everyone’s trying to emulate them. Jack has set the pinnacle,” said Klimko. “We’re going to keep trying to move forward and get on that level.”
