COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Boonsboro softball team played an entire season without meeting its match.
Until Monday.
The Warriors met the ultimate challenge from another group of Warriors. Undefeated Boonsboro met unbeaten and defending state champion Mardela in the Class 1A state championship at the University of Maryland’s softball complex. Mardela proved why it was the champ.
Pitcher Ava Twilley Fired a one-hitter with nine strikeouts while Mardela’s offense scored all its runs in the first two innings to notch an 11-0 victory over Boonsboro to retain the title of state champions.
The game was moved to Monday after being postponed by the heavy rain that fell across the state on Saturday. It pitted Boonsboro, the No. 2 seeded team in the state tournament against top-seeded Mardela. Because both teams were undefeated, Mardela won the top seed in a coin flip.
Mardela (26-0) scored two in the first and added nine in the second to rough up Boonsboro starter Addison Taylor and reliever Ellie Harrell.
Tyler pitched all four innings, even though she was relieved by Harrell in the second. She returned to the mound later in the second after Harrell allowed a hit and three walks without recording an out.
Tyler, who entered the game allowing just seven runs (five earned) this season, was nicked for six runs on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Harrell allowed five runs (three earned), including a home run.
Boonsboro’s only hit was a triple by Kamryn Dillow.
It was the third straight season that Boonsboro had flirted with winning a state title. The Warriors lost to Allegany in the 2024 state final and fell to Catoctin in the 2025 state semifinals.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
Six members of the South Hagerstown girls tennis team were selected to the All-Central Maryland Conference Big School team. The awards capped the Rebels successful season, after winning the Washington County Public Schools Championship.
Named to the team were:
Isi McCarty (singles) – All-CMC Spires first team
Michaela Kadjemse and Gracy Nianga (doubles) – All-CMC Spires second team
Azaniya Genda (singles) – All CMC Spires honorable mention
Ella Biddle and Avery Wood (doubles) – All CMC Spires honorable mention
COLLEGE SIGNINGS
- Smithburg’s Camden Ziegler signed a letter-of-intent to attend Hagerstown Community College to play basketball on May 20.
Ziegler, pictured with Smithsburg coach Eric Gerber, came off the bench for the Leopards as an outside shooting threat.
- A trio of Smithsburg softball players made their college choices on May 20.
Olivia Kocevar and Kimberly Hebert each signed letters-of-intent to attend St. Vincent College, an NCAA Division III school in Latrobe, Pa.
Adianna Dudley will be attending and playing for Garrett Community College in the Marland JUCO Conference.
All three are pictured with Smithsburg softball coach Leslie Kocevar.
