The first time Audrey March picked up a glove and a bat, it was for a local T-ball team. She was 5 years old wearing shorts instead of softball pants with a shirt denoting her being on the tie-dye team. There are even pictures of a young March standing atop second base looking impassive.
“I remember everyone else not caring,” March said with a reflective laugh. “And I remember being angry at people that didn’t care.”
It’s fitting that March, a junior first baseman, would one day start for a Patterson Mill team that — while still injecting frequent fun — is serious about winning. The Huskies are well versed in state tournament runs, reaching at least the state semifinals each year since March got there.
With the Huskies, she has run her own race. March’s dedication to her craft has yielded year-over-year growth with a team-first approach.
March’s junior season ended with a .493 average, .547 OBP, 37 hits, 24 singles, eight doubles, a triple, four homers, 33 RBIs, five walks and three steals. She had one of the most productive seasons on Harford County’s top public school team and is The Aegis 2024 softball Player of the Year.
“When I was little I always looked forward to going to [softball],” March said. “It was like the highlight of my day.”
Still is. Her love of the game took form by age 9 or 10, right before she joined the club team Churchville Lightning. She knew then, if she were to dedicate herself, she’d need to play at a level that matched her drive. Not like those fellow T-ballers cartwheeling the base path.
There were some anxious feelings going into her freshman season. March peeked at her coach, Jeff Horton, knowing that those retrospective feelings may come as a surprise to him. But she wasn’t totally confident about making varsity as a freshman on a team coming off its 2021 Class 1A state championship.
“It’s amazing to watch her come from that freshman year where she battled for playing time,” Horton said, “to now being a strong leader, captain, setting a bar for the freshman to come in that are battling for play time. She’s a role model for them.”
Freshman March made the varsity team but struggled out of the gate at the plate. She played mainly pitcher and outfield with first base occupied by Ella Laurentius, who since graduated but March still considers a role model.
Horton postulated there was a bit of shell shock in her first year. She was seeing new pitch speed and finding her place as one of the team’s youngest players. March came back her sophomore year far more confident, hitting the same .493 with 36 hits and 33 RBIs. Her 11 doubles and two home runs were a crucial part of Patterson Mill’s playoff push.
The then-sophomore’s fielding percentage was .963 on 27 chances. Her junior year she saw more action (151 chances) and found success at an even higher rate (.974) after switching positions.
This year she took a backseat on the mound knowing that her move to full-time first base would be most beneficial for the Huskies. She’s selfless and unabashed in doing what it takes to win, Horton explained.
“I think it was definitely confidence,” March said of her year-over-year progression. “When you’re a freshman coming in and playing with big scary seniors, it’s hard to feel like you’re ever as good as them. Once you play your first year and see that you can play with these older girls, you get into this place and you’re like, I can do this.”
In trying to expound that point, a helpful line came to Horton’s mind. His daughter has a poster hanging in their home with a quote from the Wizard of Oz. The ninth-year coach sees it almost every day. He thought for a moment to get it right, knowing how perfectly it encapsulated March’s softball career.
“You always had the power my dear,” the poster reads, “you just had to learn it for yourself.”
With such dominant stats comes memorable on-field performances.
Horton and March agreed on Patterson Mill’s 14-1 rout at North East on April 26. For whatever reason, March has had a lot of success at that field, including her first career triple as a freshman and her second career triple as a sophomore. Horton called it a “no-joke field,” estimating a 220-foot fence.
“I always hit my best at North East,” said March, whose third visit to that field ended with her hitting for the cycle. “That’s something you don’t ever think, ‘Wow, I’m gonna do this.’ When you do it’s like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I just did that.”
Well, March started that game off with a triple on her first at-bat. Naturally. She singled her next time up and barreled a homer next time around the order. After those three, March unknowingly came back into the dugout and one of the assistant coaches told her, “You have to get a double.”
Horton made sure to stop her at second base in March’s final at-bat — partially to avoid her getting thrown out at third, partially to help March achieve the rare mark.
“I think the motivation for her this year to be that player – she has the confidence, the tools and all that stuff now,” Horton said. “It all kind of just clicked for her this year.”
First team
Sophie Anderson, John Carroll, senior, infielder
The senior shortstop and UMBC commit batted .569 with a 1.721 OPS. Anderson tallied 33 hits, five doubles, six triples, five homers, 33 RBIs and swiped 10 bases.
Lily Baldwin, Patterson Mill, junior, infielder
Baldwin batted .403 with an OBP of .427 while knocking 31 hits, including two homers. She also pitched 59.2 innings with a 10-1 record. Patterson Mill’s ace struck out 57 batters, compared to 22 walks with 12 earned runs.
Savannah Reedy, Patterson Mill, junior, infielder
Reedy was among the county’s best two-way players with a .423 batting average and .488 OBP. She had 30 hits, split between 14 singles, eight doubles, three triples and five long balls.
Sarah Weitzel, Havre de Grace, sophomore, infielder
Warriors coach Jeff Thompson touted Weitzel as “one of those rare athletes who can play all 9 positions on the field and perform at a very high level regardless of where she’s asked to play.” The sophomore batted .617 with a .646 OBP. She struck out only twice in 70 plate appearances.
Maddy Burns, Fallston, senior, outfielder
The Villanova commit slashed .574/.600/1.115. Burns finished her senior campaign as the Cougars’ batting leader. She also threw 57 strikeouts over 34.2 innings on the mound.
Savannah Claycomb, John Carroll, sophomore, outfielder
John Carroll’s leadoff lefty slapper batted .588 with a .696 OBP. She tallied 12 RBIs, 30 runs, 17 walks, 11 stolen bases, and 19 putouts in center field. As a freshman, Claycomb was an All-Metro Baltimore Sun selection.
Kenzie Knight, Patterson Mill, junior, outfielder
Knight batted .494 with an OBP of .519 as a junior. She put up similarly daunting numbers in her player of the year campaign last season. The junior recorded 38 hits, 33 of which were singles, three were doubles and two were triples. Knight led the Huskies with 24 stolen bases.
Kinsey Mentzer, Havre de Grace, junior, catcher
Thompson noted that Mentzer’s “extremely aggressive style of play is always on full display whether she’s behind the plate or offensively while running the bases.” The junior led her team with 21 stolen bases and allowed one passed ball across 86 innings.
Julia Wilkes, John Carroll, senior, pitcher
The four-year starter has only lost three games in two years pitching for the Patriots. She was 6-1 this season with three saves and 69 strikeouts. Wilkes walked 15 batters and finished with a 2.25 ERA.
Izzie Youngworth, C. Milton Wright, sophomore, pitcher
Youngworth threw 151 strikeouts this year, that’s the fifth most of any pitcher in the state, according to Mustangs coach Jeff Dwyer. She pitched 88.2 innings with a 2.81 ERA and a far-and-away MVP for C. Milton Wright this season.
Sara Frist, Fallston, sophomore, utility
Frist was a dynamite contributor for the Cougars. She led the team in singles (22) and stolen bases (17). The sophomore was second in hits (29), batting average (.475), OBP (.500), runs (24), and doubles (4). Frist also had the third-best OPS (1.156).
Valeria Gutierrez, Edgewood, junior, utility
Gutierrez pitched a no-hitter in Edgewood’s first playoff game against Aberdeen. She finished her junior season with upwards of 70 strikeouts and her batting average rounds out near .400, according to Rams coach Isabella Bungo.
Second team
Kalissa Coats, John Carroll, junior, infielder
Abigail Marmen, Fallston, sophomore, infielder
Abby VanHorn, Joppatowne, senior, infielder
Elizabeth Zarsona, Bel Air, sophomore, infielder
Bayleigh Carstetter, Havre de Grace, junior, outfielder
Sydney Dawson, John Carroll, senior, outfielder
Julianna McJilton, C. Milton Wright, freshman, outfielder
Maddie Youngworth, C. Milton Wright, senior, catcher
Lillia Dalton, Havre de Grace, junior, pitcher
Amanda Redmiles, Patterson Mill, freshman, pitcher
Sofia Gallahue, Bel Air, junior, utility
Kaylyn Pulket, Patterson Mill, senior, utility
