(Enlarge) Stephanie Speierman, headed to the University of Michigan on an athletic scholarship, is the first softball player to be named Player of the Year four times. She finished with a state-record 1,363 strikeouts and led Hammond to a state title. (Staff photo by Matt Roth)

Rival coaches knew about Stephanie Speierman before she threw her first pitch for Hammond four years ago.

"She's the real deal," some said.

Indeed, she did prove to be the real deal. With eight state records and a state title -- the only one won by a Howard County team -- to her credit, Speierman left her mark on the county and beyond.

This spring alone, she led Hammond to its second county championship in her tenure, did not allow an earned run, struck out 300, had 11 shutouts and eight no-hitters and set the state mark for strikeouts in a career.

She is also the first softball player to be named Player of the Year for the Columbia Flier/Howard County Times four times.

If you ask, Speierman will say she is not sure how many records she set.

"I honestly don't know," she says. "I don't think that they matter that much. There are a lot more important things than breaking records -- like your teammates, the way you carry yourself and academics. Doing well is the important thing."

Speierman, headed to the University Michigan on an athletic scholarship, did not know she was within striking distance of the career strikeout record until late in the season. Then, it became a burden.

"Suddenly, everyone at school knew (I was close), and I was counting strikeouts and thinking about how many I needed every game -- and then games got rained out," making the record harder to obtain, and the stress grew. "Oh, gosh, what if I don't make it?" she asked herself.

When she got the record-breaking strikeout in a playoff game, "The feeling of relief was nice," she said.

In all, she struck out 1,363 batters in four years. If pressed, she admits that this is a nice record to hold. It "means a lot to me and, obviously, to my family because of all the work they put in to help me get to where I am.

"It sounds cheesy," she added, "but I honestly could not have gotten where I am without my family and the Maryland Stars (softball program) and so many others who have helped me."

Speierman also tied the state record for the lowest earned run average (0.00) and eclipsed an offensive mark for most walks in a career. (Officially, none of the three state marks she set this year have been confirmed. The process takes months, said her coach, Richard Pond.)

Speierman "certainly did not set out" to draw a record 105 walks during her career. (The old record was 54.) This is one record she'd rather not have. It meant that teams preferred to walk her than give her a chance to swing her bat. This spring, Speierman was walked 33 times and had just 30 official at-bats. In four years, given the opportunity to hit, she averaged .462.

Hammond has retired Speierman's No. 9 jersey. The announcement came at the senior awards day.

"I was surprised. I knew I was receiving an award; I assumed it was academic," said Speierman, who did receive academic awards as well. "It meant a lot to me to be honored in front of my entire senior class. Afterwards we were taking pictures out in the hallway and people I'd never seen before were coming up and saying, 'Congratulations,' 'Nice career,' and were genuinely happy for me."

Speierman currently plays for the San Diego (Calif.) Renegades as she prepares for college.

Michigan has other young pitchers on its roster, so Speierman knows she'll have to prove herself.

"I'm going to go in and work as hard as I can and do whatever I need to do for the team. I do understand I have to earn my spot," she said.

She's proven herself before. Michigan will be just a new chapter in her softball career.

Joining Speierman on the all-county first team are:

Battery

Meg Tucker, Centennial senior. Tucker struck out 200 batters and was the key to Centennial's success this season, coach Dale Huting said. "The strength of her pitching kept a young, inexperienced team in the game. She knew the importance of each pitch she threw."

Offensively, Tucker led the Eagles from the leadoff spot with a .437 batting average. That includes a 5-for-5 performance with two RBIs and a run scored against Reservoir.

Michelle Gravdahl, Long Reach senior. It was a standout year for catchers, and this senior set the standard, just as she has for four years.

"Michelle is, without a doubt, the finest softball player I have coached. She is a great offensive and defensive player," Lightning coach Chuck Struhar said. "You do not replace players like Michelle. She is now the role model for the program."

Gravdahl, who will play at Salisbury next season, had an on-base percentage of .515 and a slugging percentage of .661. She also had a county-high 22 stolen bases.

Caitlin Lovend, Reservoir junior. With 26 RBIs, 15 extra-base hits, a slugging percentage of .981 and a county-high five home runs this spring, Lovend knew what to do with a bat in her hands.

Behind the plate, Lovend improved with situational play and was aggressive when runners were on, coach Julie Frisvold said. "Most teams did not attempt to steal on her this season."

Those who did, more often than not, got caught. She stopped eight of 13 would-be base stealers in their tracks.

Alex Schovee, River Hill senior. Schovee was the model of consistency for the Hawks for four years, both offensively and defensively. "Her leadership to this team will be greatly missed next year," coach Marni Rosenbaum said.

Schovee called her pitches and blocked balls well. Base runners stayed put "because they know how well she moves and how hard her throw is," Rosenbaum added.

"She doesn't hit the home runs like the other catchers," Rosenbaum said, "but she makes contact with the ball and finds the gaps."

Schovee led River Hill in hits, extra-base hits, walks and average.

Infield

Erica Christian, Reservoir senior. Christian, who has hit .400 or better for the last three years, was voted MVP by her fellow teammates, coach Julie Frisvold said. "She has always been the steady force of this team. They give her the majority of the credit for Reservoir softball having its first winning season ever."

A shortstop, Christian is "one of the rare players that makes a very difficult position look very easy and she has protected Caitlin (Lovend) for three years by reading baserunners and covering second and third for the steal/pickoff," added the coach.

Christian led the Gators in hits, stolen bases and average.

Juls Natoli, Howard freshman. This newcomer was a wonderful surprise for the Lions. Natoli led the team in every offensive category except stolen bases, and even had a grand slam.

Defensively, she had a .980 fielding percentage.

"Juls may be a freshman but she played well beyond that age," coach Ed Holshue said. "As a third baseman she made all of the necessary plays but went well beyond the routine and into the special."

Natoli "has a terrific upside and a team-first mentality," he added.

Melanie Slayton, Atholton sophomore. With only one error at second base, Slayton played a key role for the Raiders.

"There were games where the score was close and I was hoping the ball would be hit to her," coach Maureen Shacreaw said. "She made the play look easy and always picked up her teammates with her offensive and defensive play.

"The role she has played in her two years on varsity has increased as the season went on. She will be a key returner next year," Shacreaw said.

Casey Schmidt, Glenelg junior. To say that this junior posed problems for pitchers might be an understatement. Schmidt was second only to Mt. Hebron's Lindsay Brown in batting average, and led the Gladiators in hits (27), walks (17), slugging percentage (.776) and on-base percentage (.667).

Defensively, Schmidt was outstanding at first, where her height and her excellent glovework helped make her teammates better. As a bonus, Schmidt pitched eight games for the Gladiators.

Outfield

Kelsey Fuller, Marriotts Ridge junior. Fuller wowed opponents with her outstanding play in centerfield.

"Defensively, she is one of the best softball center fielders that I have had the pleasure of coaching," coach Jodi Dubbs said. "She made extraordinary plays look routine."

But Fuller was equally strong on offense. She led the county in runs scored, hits, RBIs, doubles and extra-base hits. Fuller has the "ability to wreak havoc offensively," said Dubbs, because she's versatile, patient and intelligent as a hitter.

Lindsey Glascock, Glenelg senior. Glascock was the lone senior Gladiator and was the role model of consistency for the younger players. Her leadership helped carry the team to its first appearance in the state playoffs since 2004.

Offensively, Glascock hit a solid .414, with an on-base percentage of .544. She led Glenelg in stolen bases and was second only to Schmidt in hits and walks. Defensively, Glascock had 20 putouts and did not commit an error in left field.

Kathryn Knaus, River Hill senior. A year ago, Knaus was used mostly as a designated hitter and saw some time in the outfield. That changed this year as Knaus "dedicated herself" to improving her play. Her off-season work earned her a starting position in the outfield this spring, coach Marni Rosenbaum said.

"Kathryn has improved tremendously since last year," said Rosenbaum. "She had some very clutch, two-out hits for us this season."

Knaus had 15 singles and led River Hill in RBIs.

Designated hitter

Lindsay Brown, Mt. Hebron senior. Brown's bat was the best in the county. She hit more than 100 points higher than anyone else, did not strike out and had eight extra-base hits and an on-base percentage of .711.

She was "a formidable presence at the plate," coach Brent LaRosa said. "Every coach would want her bat in their lineup and it will be impossible to replace her run production."

Brown was versatile, splitting her time as a pitcher and at first base, where her glovework and stretch were impressive. She'll likely play first at Salisbury next year.

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