The OBGC 13U Blackhawks have won back-to-back championships after consecutive undefeated seasons. “I almost feel more of a relief than excitement. The expectations on this team were such that anything less than a championship would have been a disappointment for several of the players. The players were able to rise to the moment and they will remember today long after they eventually hang up their cleats.” said Coach Ron Berry. “This team is special, with or without the win today. This was the just the cherry on top.”
This band of young ladies has gone 33-2-1 over the last three seasons (2023 Spring Record – 12-0-1. 2022 Fall Record – 10-0. 2022. Spring Record – 11-2). The league they compete in is the OBGC House Softball league for 13u girls, which is made of a consortium of teams from Poolesville, Clarksville, Burtonsville, Damascus and Rockville. After losing to Damascus Team Remsnyder in the playoffs last spring, the team came back very hungry. They went undefeated in the Fall season (no playoff due to shortened daylight time and harsher weather with fall and winter approaching). The majority of the team came back for this year‘a spring season and picked up right where they left off.
The Blackhawks started the season 9-0 before a tie with against a very-well coached and talented team, DSA Remsnyder, the last team to beat the Blackhawks. “We capped the year off with 2 more regular season wins to go into the playoffs 11-0-1.” Coach Berry said. The girls faced DSA Remsnyder in their first playoff game after receiving a first round bye. In a very close game with some controversial calls, thengirls gutted out a tough victory 10-6 that was aided by All Star catcher and hitter Caitlin Pickett who had a base-clearing double and 5 RBIs on the day to lead the charge.
“We then faced a vaunted team from Rockville, the RBBA Falcons led by Coach Robert Goss. They were undefeated at 12-0. They jumped on us going up 5-0 in the top of the first. We answered back with 5 runs in the bottom of the first. They then went up 8-5 in the top of the second. We put up 2 runs in the 2nd to make it 8-7. That is when our pitchers took over. All Star Pitcher Kaitlyn Mcguire pitched a 1-2-3 3rd inning. In the bottom of the 3rd, our gritty hitters scraped 3 runs in to make it 10-8. The top of the fourth, Ryan Berry came in and pitched a clean inning in quick work. We where shut down in the bottom of the 4th, going against one of the best pitchers I have every seen. Top of the 5th started, we are up two and this is basically the game. Kaitlyn McGuire stepped in again on the rubber for us, and pitched another 1-2-3 inning to preserve the victory as time ran out in the bottom of the 5th in our at bats to claim the championship.”