On May 27th, the Highlanders faced Chantilly in the first game of regionals. Coming off a dominating 3-0 win against Yorktown to win the Liberty District final, McLean’s softball team had all eyes on Chantilly. After a heartbreaking loss in the regional semifinals to Madison in 2024, the girls were set to return to the dominance of their 2023 state champion campaign.
“Like any other team, they’ll be good competition,” senior Maddie Staats said. “But with how our defense is playing it will be hard for them to score at all.”
The game started with the Highlanders in the field first. Junior ace pitcher Saoirse Sigler took the mound with gusto, striking out the first three Chantilly batters and showing no sign of fatigue from her long game just nights before.
McLean’s bats were up next, one of their biggest strong suits throughout the regular season and into the district tournament. Loud team chants echoed the dugout, a tradition that the Highlanders credit their success on.
“If we stay loud I don’t see how we lose this game,” Staats said. “Every team hates when we are loud and when we cheer because it gets to their head.”
Get into their head they did, as the first three batters for McLean were walked, loading the bases 14 pitches into the showing. Junior Riley Staats shot a ball high up into left field that was dropped by Chantilly, scoring one run and loading the bases once again. Another walk scored a second run and put the Highlanders up 2-0 early in the game. An RBI groundout and two strikeouts ended the first inning with McLean in a dominant 3-0 lead.
The top of the second inning was exactly the same as the first, with Sigler dominating on the mound striking out the Chargers’ 4-5-6 batters.
After a groundout and a popout to start the bottom of the second, senior Elise Walker was walked and stole second base to put herself in scoring position. Then came junior Gennie Fagan to the plate, a powerful hitter in the three hole and a first team all-district player. Fagan saw two balls and then smashed the third into deep left-center field for a two run home run. A popout ended the inning, but McLean still had a commanding 5-0 lead.
The third inning began with the Chargers getting their first runner of the night on base due to an error. McLean’s defense responded with two strikeouts and a popout, maintaining a three inning shutout.
Leading off in the bottom of the third, Maddie was walked, reaching second on a wild pitch. After a flyout that held her a second, senior Zoe Wanek ripped a lined drive RBI triple to deep right field. A sacrifice RBI fly out scored her, and a groundout ended the bottom of the third with a Highlander lead 7-0.
The Chargers started the top of the fourth with a screaming double to center field, hoping that a comeback was looming. However, Sigler shot any hopes of that down, forcing a popout and two groundouts to end the frame.
Sophomore Sydney Walker came to bat first for the Highlanders in the bottom of the fourth and ripped a double to right field. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored McLean’s 8th run on an RBI groundout. Fagan then lined a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Riley lined an RBI double and advanced to third on a wild pitch and Maddie was hit by a pitch to her back shoulder and advanced to second on another wild pitch. Senior Maria Piacesi pinch hit for the Highlanders, popping out a sacrifice fly to score McLean’s 10th run and putting them up 10-0, with a groundout ending the fourth inning.
Down to their last three outs, the Highlanders brought Elise to the mound to finish the game, hoping for a quick frame and a 10 run mercy rule in the 5th inning. She came out hot, striking out the side 1-2-3 and ending the Regional Quarterfinal game in commanding fashion, 10-0.
The Highlanders are set to play Langley in the Regional Semifinals on Friday May 30th, a team that was one of only two losses all season. With a win, they qualify for states for the first time since 2023, hoping to replicate the success of that season with a championship. The team has been dominant in the playoffs so far shutting down all their opponents and putting up a dominating 30-0 score across three games.
“We’re preparing hard in practice for Friday’s game all week,” Fagan said. “Since we know their pitcher well, it’s all about having a solid game plan and executing it to perfection like we have done so well in the past.”
