As the season winds down, Seton Keough is trying to keep its edge in the Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference.
The defending league champs started the season 12-0 and outscored opponents, 81-8.
The Gators dropped a 6-1 decision to league rival Archbishop Spalding on April 23 and lost, 12-10, to Eastern Tech four days later.
The loss to Eastern Tech was the tougest, because Seton Keough had a seven-run lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning.
Seton Keough fifth year-coach Chuck Snee said his players might have gotten overconfident, and that it's showing in a lack of concentration on defense. Seton Keough made four errors in the losses after committing only seven in the previous 12 games.
"I think the last few games have been a wakeup call for them to realize that they need to pay attention to detail," Snee said. "I think they kind of missed that because we were on a roll. But I kept telling them, 'We need to work on the fundamental things.'"
Snee says his team is focused on a strong close to the regular season. Seton Keough finishes with road games at Mount De Sales, McDonogh and Notre Dame Prep.
"If we win out in the rest of our games, that will get us the No. 1 seed in the IAAM (tournament)," Snee said. "That's where want to be. We have been in the championship game every year for the last seven years. To get back there, we need to shore up some things. I know we will play better."
Snee and the Gators will continue to ride the arm of windmiller Kelly Lynch, a senior who will pitch next season at Division III Catholic University in Washington D.C.
Lynch is 12-2 with a 1.50 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 95 innings. She has walked only five batters and given up 62 hits.
Lynch has also pitched six shutouts and struck out a season-high 17 in a 4-2 victory over Mercy on April 17.
"I have a backup pitcher (Abby Rubeling), but I don't use her," Snee said. "Kelly is just that strong. I haven't seen a pitcher better than Kelly Lynch this season."
Last year, Lynch went 17-2 and threw four no-hitters.
"She throws the ball under control with different spins," Eastern Tech coach Jack Meyers said. "She threw a screwball in on the hands and a changeup low and away. That makes it really difficult on a batter."
The Gators are averaging nearly seven runs a game and the lineup features senior shortstop Amber Cosgrove (.500 average, 3 home runs, 23 RBIs), junior center-fielder Jillian Boyd (.460, 14 RBIs) and junior third baseman Imani Dawson (.410, 3 home runs, 14 RBIs).
"Amber, Jill and Imani are all consistent hitters," said Lynch, who is batting .500. "Now, the bottom of the lineup is contributing more."
Snee said his team showed him something by scoring in double digits against Eastern Tech, the Class 2A defending state champions and the No. 1-ranked team in the The Baltimore Sun high school softball poll.
Cosgrove and Dawson led the offense with solo home runs.
"Even through we lost, it was confidence-builder for us to score 10 runs against Eastern Tech," Snee said.
Snee and Lynch also have a lot of confidence in the team's defense. They believe 11 errors is still a low total for 14 games.
Lynch said freshmen outfielders Jasmine Franklin and McKenzie Robinson have developed, as have two other first-year starters —junior catcher Sara Minnis and senior second baseman Ashlynn Gilmore.
Gilmore and Minnis are playing new positions this spring.
"Our defense has been as solid as it has been over the last four years," said Lynch, who is eager to finish her high school career with three championships in four years.