BOONSBORO, Md. — Camyrn Dillow is known for using her legs.
According to her Boonsboro softball teammates, she is the fastest baserunner on the team.
But it was a little different on Wednesday. Dillow used her head … literally.
The senior shortstop took a pitch off the helmet with the bases loaded in the first inning to plate the Warriors’ first run of the game and start Boonsboro on its way to a 9-1 win over Catoctin to win the Class 1A West II region title for the third straight year.
Although it was an unconventional “hit” and she walked – instead of ran – to first, it was an early RBI and a pressure release the undefeated Warriors needed.
“I felt it,” Dillow said about the pitch in her left earhole. “I knew I was getting on, so I knew that was the first (run) pushed across. Once we got one, our energy just went up from there.
“I knew we would get it.”
Boonsboro scored three runs on one hit in the first against Catoctin pitcher Caitlynn Stambaugh to get off to a quick start, two days after being forced to scratch out a 1-0 win over Smithsburg to advance. Dillow scored that run on a squeeze bunt.
Wednesday’s victory moved the undefeated Warriors into the Class 1A state quarterfinals. Boonsboro is the top seed and will host South II champ Patuxent on Friday at 4:45 p.m.
Boonsboro used the ability to play station-to-station softball while applying pressure to Catoctin’s defense.
Kalyn Lawrence walked, Addison Tyler reached on a fielder’s choice and Sydney Kulikowski was hit by a pitch – all with one out – to load the bases.
Dillow battled Stambaugh to stay in the at bat. The full-count pitch hit her squarely in the left ear flap. She let out a yell – in celebration, not pain – as she took her base while Lawrence scored.
“We knew if we kept the momentum, we were going to score,” Dillow said. “We just got to go one at a time and just play it safe, but we knew we had it.”
Mackenzie Cullen followed with an RBI single and Elizabeth Harrell followed with an RBI grounder to give the Warriors that needed early advantage with the 3-0 lead.
The Warriors turned it over to ace pitcher Tyler, who wasn’t her sharpest, but kept the Cougars off the board. After a 16-strikeout performance against Smithsburg, she pitched to contact to Catoctin hitters, relying on the Warriors defense.
“We all just had a play for each other,” Dillow said. “You just got to take every time you can to just go for it every pitch.”
Catoctin broke through for an unearned run against Tyler in the fourth inning. Ryleigh Hammond hit a one-out to left center field and scored on a throwing error on Layne Ferrell’s two-out grounder to move the Cougars within 3-1.
Boonsboro re-established a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. Mylee Hartman hit a two-out single and stole second before Lawrence walked. Tyler drove in a run with a single to left, before Lawrence scored when Kulikowski reached on an error for a 5-1 lead.
The Warriors iced the game with a four-run fifth inning.
With the bases-loaded and one out, Hartman hit a shot to the fence, just inside the right-field line to scored Harrell and Mackenzie Johnson.
Hartman charged for a triple, but found Natalie Nelson standing on third. With Hartman in a rundown between second and third, Nelson broke to the plate, sliding in safely under the throw.
Hartman scored a Lawrence single to make it 9-1.
Tyler gave up two hits in the top of the seventh and was relieved by Harrell, who retired the Cougars in order on two strikeouts and a grounder to end the game.
Tyler went six innings allowing one unearned run on five hits while striking out six. Stambaugh pitched a complete game, allowing six earned runs on 10 hits and two walks. She struck out two and hit three batters with pitches.
Boonsboro had 10 hits, led by Cullen with three singles. Hartman had two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Lawrence and Harrell each had two hits and an RBI.
Now, the Warriors start their third straight state tournament appearance.
Boonsboro lost the Allegany in the 2024 state final and were shutout by Catoctin in last year’s semifinals.
“I’m so excited,” Dillow said. “Senior year … a three-peat … I’m just so happy for us. We’ve worked so hard. We got to keep going.”
