When it comes to drama and a close score, again, a game between girls softball superpowers did not disappoint.
This season, the undefeated Bishop O’Connell Knights (10-0) built leads of 5-0 and 7-2 then survived a final-inning rally by the host McLean Highlanders (11-2) to win, 7-6, in a non-district April 15 high-school contest between two defending state champions.
McLean won last season’s Virginia High School League’s Class 6 state title with O’Connell capturing the 2023 Division I private-school crown – the highest classifications for each.
The softball teams have been playing once a season for most years since 2012 in what has become a popular and well-attended rivalry. Games are often close. Five have been decided by one run.
The 2024 contest was not as clean this year as some, with each team making a couple of errors each and having issued a combined nine walks. O’Connell made three seventh-inning errors and its right fielder fell down running to catch a fly ball that fell for a double. All of those miscues helped the Highlanders rally.
The game ended on a groundout with one runner on base.
“We wanted to put pressure on their defense and we did that by putting the bat on the ball and we battled back. We probably needed one more hit or two,” McLean coach Maurice Tawil said.
O’Connell coach Suzy Willemssen liked how her team hit in the game, only striking out twice. The Knights had eight hits, including home runs by freshman shortstop M.J. Melvin (three-run shot) and Ari Clark (two-run blast). Melvin had three hits, Sophia Taliaferro (one RBI) and Sofia Anderson had two each, and Zoe Wanek singled. Taliaferro, Abby Bond and Emma Prykanowski had sacrifice bunts.
“We hit well against good pitchers,” Willemssen said.
Left-hander Hailey Simpson started, pitched five innings and took the loss for McLean. Saoirse Sigler pitched the final two shutout frames for the Highlanders, allowing one hit with a strikeout.
McLean helped its cause defensively with two double plays.
Righty Bri Lencz tossed a complete game for O’Connell, allowing six hits and fanning seven.
Defensively for O’Connell, Melvin made a number of top-quality plays at shortstop.
Leading the McLean hitters was Gennie Fagan with three hits and an RBI, Sydney Walker had two doubles and two RBI, Chelsea Engle had an RBI single and Emory Hadden had a sacrifice fly. Madeline Staats stole two bases.
“It was two good teams and a great game,” Willemssen said.
NOTES: The teams did not play last season because of multiple weather issues and postponements. The previous contests between the teams had all been on Saturday afternoon. This season’s weeknight game under the lights was the first. All 13 games have been played at McLean . . . The Highlanders’ two losses this season each have been by one run. McLean leads the Liberty District with a 6-0 record.
