PLAYER OF THE YEAR
HOPE BATTISTA
South River, defense
Getting past Battista proved one of the most difficult tasks this season.
The senior put up a brick wall in the backfield and rarely got beaten. With her stick skills, speed and defensive instincts, she led the Seahawks to an unbeaten regular season and into the Class 4A East regional final, where they fell to Severna Park in a shootout.
With Battista's leadership, the No. 4 Seahawks shut out 10 opponents and allowed just 10 goals in going 16-2. She made three stick saves and also contributed seven goals and six assists.
Battista didn't start playing field hockey as early as many other players in Anne Arundel County. She concentrated on softball until this season, when she opted to pursue hockey in college and recently committed to Georgetown. She played for the SPark club team at the U.S. Field Hockey Association's national tournament over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Seahawks coach Katie Corcoran said one of Battista's greatest assets is never being satisfied with her game.
"She just wants to improve her game every day," Corcoran said. "Coming in her freshman year, starting her first game, she just had this confidence and this willingness to listen to everything the coaches had to say. She wouldn't let herself think she didn't have room to improve."
As a result, her game kept improving. Battista was perhaps best known for her drives. She had tremendous power behind them and often ignited the attack with a long ball up the field. In addition, she had plenty of patience, perfect timing and a relentless inner drive.
"She's just a smart player, and she's got great game sense," Broadneck coach Jen Parks said. "She has a fantastic drive, and I know that's only one very small part of her game. She's great getting the ball out of the circle, and she doesn't get frazzled. She was such a leader for them."
The Anne Arundel County Player of the Year is also a two-time All-Metro first-team selection..
COACH OF THE YEAR
TRACI DAVIS
Garrison Forest
It should have a taken a year or two for Garrison Forest to get back on track after graduating one of its strongest senior classes. Instead, Davis' sophomore-laden squad won the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference regular season and tournament titles, finishing with the No. 1 ranking.
While she credits the players with generating that success, Davis kept them on an even keel as the victories piled up. "We took a couple losses but we turned them into positives," said Davis, who had 10 sophomores, a freshman and only seven upperclassmen.
Most of those sophomores were on the team last season when Davis blended them with the seniors, getting them ready for this season. "These sophomores have been together through middle school," Davis said, adding that most of them also play club field hockey and club lacrosse together.
"They are, as a group, committed, passionate, young athletes who are very much a pleasure to coach. They have fun and they work hard for the team."
She said she felt the same about all of her players. Davis has a 91-29-14 record in seven years as Grizzlies coach.