Player of the Year
Katie Zitnay, Atholton, freshman, pitcher: With her arm and bat, Zitnay changed the ruling order of softball in Howard County. Her presence at Atholton allowed last year's pitcher, Sarah Costa, to move to catcher, and last year's catcher, Erin Caffrey, to move to center field, strengthening those positions. Then Zitnay did the rest, pitching every inning of every game and going 17-2. In 124 innings she allowed 90 hits, 14 earned runs, walked 19 and struck out 86. Her ERA was 0.79. "She's the one," said Atholton assistant coach Andy Zitnay, her father. "The final piece of the puzzle that brought everything together. She's the reason [the county championship] happened this year rather than down the road." The No. 2 hitter, Zitnay led the team in runs (26), triples (six), homers (two), RBIs (20) and walks (16). She tied for team highs in batting average (.492) and doubles (five). "She's very mature. She plays like a senior," Zitko said. "Her intensity and focus is among the best in the county. It's the best I've ever seen." Zitnay learned a lot about softball from her father. "She's always mentally in the game," Zitko said. "She always knows what the situation is." And Zitnay has the physical ability -- either from the mound or at the plate -- to make things happen. Her leadership-by-example role proved invaluable for the Raiders. "She's the key," Zitko said. "The confidence and poise that she passes onto the team brings out the potential the other players have. It moves them up to the next level." Such as county champions.
Coach of the Year
John Zitko, Atholton: Before the season started, Zitko knew his team had the potential to be good. He just didn't know how good. "I figured we'd be in the top three," said the third-year coach. A year ago, Atholton won six county games, but had to forfeit them because of an ineligible player. For the record the Raiders finished 0-18 in the county and, after two playoff wins, 2-21 overall. Still, Zitko was confident. "I knew [freshman] Katie [Zitnay] could pitch, and I knew she would have the defense behind her. Last year, we had a good infield and with the infusion of good talent it was only going to get better. And with Erin [Caffrey] moving from catcher to center and Tiffany [Mathis] transferring in, those were two really important additions to the outfield." The Raiders finished 17-1 to capture their first county title in 26 years. Zitko played baseball in high school, but had never played or coached softball before coming to Atholton. Helping him this year and last was Andy Zitnay, an accomplished softball player and Katie's father. "He has 100 times more experience then I do, and learning from him was a big help," Zitko said. And Andy's more intense approach played well to Zitko's laid-back style. "The combination of the two worked really well," Zitko said. "We balanced each other out." A science teacher at Atholton, Zitko said coming up with the right combinations was challenging and rewarding. "The way the pieces fell together this season, it was neat. Coaching the girls was definitely a lot of fun."
The first team
Jen Babish, Wilde Lake, senior, pitcher: A second-team all-county selection last year, Babish finished 13-5 for the second-place Wildecats. She allowed 78 hits, struck out 72, walked 13 and gave up 15 earned runs. Her ERA was 1.00. "The biggest difference this season was that Jen became a pitcher and not a thrower," said Wilde Lake coach Sal Milio. "She had great command of her pitches." At the plate, Babish, who will attend Mount St. Mary's in the fall, had 23 hits, including five doubles, nine RBIs and batted .399.
Kelly O'Neill, Howard, senior, pitcher: A three-time first-team All-County pick, O'Neill really came through in the playoffs, leading the Lions to the state tournament. After a disappointing regular season, the Lions defeated county champion Atholton in the opening round of the Class 2A regionals, then beat four-time state champion McDonough in the regional final. In four regional games, O'Neill struck out 34 and walked only four. For the season, O'Neill, who will attend Catonsville Community College in the fall, allowed 75 hits in 123 2/3 innings, walked 36, struck out 140 and had a 1.30 ERA. Coach Dave Vezzi said that the right-handed O'Neill, who missed some starts because of tendinitis in her pitching arm, worked hard to achieve success. "She's someone who's worked the most to get to the level where she is," he said. O'Neill could be overpowering at times, but it was her location and the way she mixed pitches that made her so effective. "She's the best pitcher we've ever had at Howard," said Vezzi, who just completed his 14th season. O'Neill batted .312, and had 24 hits (second on the team) and a team-high three triples. She also homered once.
Sarah Costa, Atholton, sophomore, catcher: A pitcher last season for the Raiders, Costa was one of the county's top defensive catchers and always a threat at the plate. The No. 4 batter in a hard-hitting lineup, Costa batted .492, with a team-high 31 hits and eight doubles. She had 19 RBIs (second on the team), a triple, a home run and scored 17 times (third on the team). "She's a very good defensive catcher and one of the strongest hitters on the team," said Atholton coach Zitko. "It's been a real maturing year for her. She has so much ability, and the players look up to her in that respect."
Stacey Swiney, Howard, senior, catcher: A four-year first-team all-county selection, Swiney had a slow start but picked it up when it counted. "She's always been strong defensively, but this was the best defensive year she's ever had," said Howard coach Vezzi. "She's got the best arm of any catcher I've seen since I've been here. She blocks everything, and knows how to block the plate." Swiney, who will attend Catonsville Community College, had team highs in average (.386), runs (24), hits (27), doubles (nine) and home runs (five). Swiney, who was the county Player of the Year her sophomore season, homered in the regional final against McDonough and also against North Caroline in the state semifinal.
Rachel Jordan, Long Reach, junior, infielder: "She's a worker," said Long Reach coach Chuck Struhar of his second baseman. "She just goes out there and does the job." Jordan batted .377, with 23 hits, including a triple, and knocked in 15 runs. She also stole 13 bases (second on the team) and scored 12 times. "She's just an outstanding all-around player," Struhar said. "She has a real sense of the game and loves to play. She's an outstanding kid."
Lauren Koutrelakos, Glenelg, sophomore, infielder: She moved from second to shortstop this season and improved as the season went on. "She was very solid defensively the second part of the season," said Glenelg coach Dean Sheridan. "She is extremely quick and surprisingly strong for her size." Koutrelakos batted .424, and led the team in hits (25), runs (18), triples (two) and stolen bases (26). "She has a real sense of the game, especially as a runner," Sheridan said.
Megan Lucks, Wilde Lake, sophomore, infielder: The second baseman led the Wildecats in hits (25), runs (21) and stolen bases (10), and batted .424. "She was the most athletic person we had on our team," said Wilde Lake coach Milio. Lucks, who also had eight walks and five RBIs, will replace Babish next season at pitcher. "She throws extremely hard," Milio said. "She'll probably be one of the hardest throwers [next season] in the county."
Kim Paulus, Centennial, senior, infielder: A repeat first-team all-county selection, Paulus led the team in hits (31), stolen bases (eight), walks (12) and batting average. (.470), and tied for the lead in RBIs (18), doubles (four) and homers (one). The Eagles lost seven games by one run, including the Class 2A, South Region semifinal against McDonough. Paulus, the only senior on the team, was the reason the young Eagles were in those games. "Her leadership and presence on the field made those possible," said Centennial coach Dale Huting. "She was keeping us in games the whole year." And Paulus, who will attend Ursinus College in the fall, never stopped giving her best. "Of all the kids I've coached, she put more into the season," Huting said. "And all her efforts were team first, me second." Paulus plans to become a teacher and go into coaching as well.
Erin Caffrey, Atholton, senior, outfielder: "She was a tremendous leader this year," said Atholton coach Zitko about his senior captain. Caffrey played catcher last year for the Raiders, but moved to center field, where she directed a strong defensive outfield. "She's got the speed and gets a good jump on the ball," said Zitko. "She tracked down some balls I don't think anyone else would have got to." The leadoff hitter for the county champions, Caffrey scored 21 times (second on the team), had 22 hits (five doubles), six RBIs and stole a team-high nine bases. She batted .344. Caffrey had a good sense for the outfield, and used her natural ability to become one of the best. She also had another quality that was saved for her teammates. "She has a really good sense of humor." Zitko said. "That helps get the team up."
Tiffany Mathis, Atholton, junior, outfielder: A transfer from Kentucky, Mathis stepped right in and played either left or right field. A strong defensive player, Mathis also "brought a lot of versatility to the lineup," said Atholton coach Zitko. The No. 3 hitter, Mathis "came in knowing how to bunt and slap and that was really nice." Mathis batted .464 (third on the team), and had 26 hits, including three doubles, a triple and home run. She scored 16 times and had 18 RBIs.
Lindsay Smardon, Wilde Lake, junior, outfielder: A second-team all-county selection last season, Smardon batted .361. The right fielder had one homer, one triple, four doubles and 21 RBIs. "She's one of the hardest workers I've ever coached," said Wilde Lake coach Milio. "She gives everything she has and always is trying to improve. And she is a very intelligent player." Smardson had 19 putouts without an error.
The teams
Player of the Year: Katie Zitnay, Atholton
Coach of the Year: John Zitko, Atholton
First team
Name ----------------------- School --------------- Year --------------- Position
Jen Babish --------------- Wilde Lake --------- Senior ------------ Pitcher
Kelly O'Neill -------------- Howard -------------- Senior ------------ Pitcher
Katie Zitnay --------------- Atholton ------------- Freshman ------- Pitcher
Sarah Costa ------------- Atholton ------------- Sophomore ----- Catcher
Stacey Swiney ---------- Howard ------------- Senior ------------- Catcher
Rachel Jordan ---------- Long Reach ------ Junior -------------- Infielder
Lauren Koutrelakos --- Glenelg ------------- Sophomore ----- Infielder
Megan Lucks ------------ Wilde Lake ------- Sophomore ----- Infielder
Kim Paulus --------------- Centennial --------- Senior ------------- Infielder
Erin Caffrey -------------- Atholton ------------- Senior ------------- Outfielder
Tiffany Mathis ---------- Atholton ------------- Junior -------------- Outfielder
Lindsay Smardon ---- Wilde Lake -------- Junior -------------- Outfielder
Second team
Shannon Jackson ----- River Hill ----------Sophomore Pitcher
Kristen Schaper -------- Long Reach Junior Pitcher
Nicole Barnoski -------- Glenelg Junior Catcher
Sara Taliano ------------ Wilde Lake Sophomore Catcher
Sarah Berg -------------- Howard Senior Infielder
Stacy DeFino ----------- Atholton Freshman Infielder
Carrie Kelehan --------- River Hill Junior Infielder
Jessica McDonagh -- Atholton Junior Infielder
Jenn Roberts ----------- Centennial Junior Infielder
Laura Angle ------------- Centennial Sophomore Outfielder
Kelli Myers -------------- River Hill Junior Outfielder
Aneesha Griffin -------- River Hill Sophomore Outfielder
Team selection
The Baltimore Sun 1999 All-Howard County baseball and softball teams were selected by Rick Belz and Stan Rappaport respectively, after consultations with The Sun staff and area coaches.
Date: 6/02/99