Softball: Jaguars Cruise Past Bethesda-Chevy Chase

Sophomore pitcher Lily Schenkel struck out the first two batters she faced and allowed just two hits over five innings. Sophomore catcher Jordan Sheppard had two hits in the same inning and junior shortstop Stephanie Miller lined a three-run home run to right field, the most damaging of blows delivered during an 11-run fourth frame.

After a three-game losing streak, the Northwest softball team was back to its winning ways on Wednesday, cruising past Bethesda-Chevy Chase, 17-2 in five innings at Cedar Creek Park. The Jaguars improved to 7-4 despite not having a senior on the roster.

Northwest entered the 2012 season having graduated seven seniors from a team that reached the 2011 region quarterfinals, where the Jaguars lost a competitive game to top-seed Sherwood. Among the seven seniors lost was catcher Emily Forst, who earned Gazette Player of the Year honors and is now a freshman on the UMBC softball team.

Despite losing much talent and leadership, Northwest hasn’t missed a beat due to a core of young athletes. Juniors Miller and Taylor Simpson, and sophomores Schenkel, Sheppard and Jenna Brown have started at the varsity level since their freshman seasons and have helped soften the blow — from both a talent and leadership sense — of losing seven seniors.

“We were very confident with the physical ability [of the returning athletes],” head coach Kevin Corpuz said. “When you talk about a young team [and] the maturity level as far as being able to [find out] who’s going to lead, who’s going to step up, who’s really going to take over that leadership piece and carry that responsibility, that’s been an awesome thing watch develop.”

Miller and Simpson are team captains, but Simpson, the Jaguars’ starting shortstop, suffered an ankle injury on April 18 that will likely sideline her for four weeks, putting her chances at returning this season in jeopardy. Miller, who hit .538 with 13 RBIs and sported a 2.84 ERA with 59 strikeouts through nine games, has played shortstop, catcher and pitcher, but will primarily pitch and play shortstop after Simpson’s injury.

“You look at her stats, obviously we’re missing her stats,” Corpuz said about Simpson, who was batting .435 prior to her injury. “But she really is a spark plug out there for us. She is a motor for our team as far as the leadership.”

Miller’s leadership skills were on display before the season even began.

“One of the things I told the girls before the season started was that you’re not supposed to follow in Emily’s and all the big players’ footsteps. You’re supposed to make your own,” Miller said. “I think they take that to heart because they have seriously made an impact on the game and I’m very proud to be on the team.”

Schenkel is in her second season in the pitcher’s circle for Northwest. After working with Forst during her freshman season, Schenkel said she is confident pitching to Sheppard and Miller, who have split time behind the plate. Sheppard will be the primary catcher down the stretch.

“It’s different, but it’s still good,” Schenkel said of working with catchers other than Forst. “I know my catchers know what they’re doing and I know they have my back, so I still feel comfortable. I know Emily was really good, but so are these catchers.”

Schenkel earned the victory Wednesday, allowing two runs and two hits while walking two and striking out four in five innings. She also went 2-for-3 with three RBIs at the plate.

Sheppard, who hit .500 with 16 runs through nine games, was a situational player most of last season before starting near the end. The sophomore said she is more comfortable as a starter.

“It’s less pressure and more room to make errors [compared to when] you get put in just for one play,” Sheppard said. “[When you’re in for one play] you kind of feel like you have to fulfill that task.”

Brown is the team’s starting third baseman and batted .357 through nine games. She said snapping a three-game losing streak with a win over B-CC was big for the Jaguars.

“I think it really helped our confidence,” Brown said. “… Those three losses were tough, but now I think we’re ready to come back and be stronger than we were and just really get after it.”

Sophomore center fielder Tanysha Tennassee, a transfer from Magrudger, and junior first baseman Sydney Mendes have been key contributors as new additions to the Northwest varsity, Corpuz said.

The Jaguars will travel to face Montgomery Blair at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Northwest’s next home game is May 2 against Poolesville.

The Jaguars have hopes of finishing strong and making noise in the playoffs, something made possible by a talented group of young players.

“The dynamics every year from each team change,” Corpuz said. “Even if you bring back the same players or if you lose a lot, we’ve got to re-establish our own identity for this year. While we’ve had some pretty good players here, let’s play to our strengths and let’s focus on what we do well, and let’s be our own players.”