Everything clicked for Lily Baldwin this season.

She’d always been a productive pitcher, hitter and fielder for Patterson Mill, but also felt she hadn’t lived up to the potential she showed during summer ball and other ventures outside of the high school circuit.

But this spring was different. It was her last with the Huskies, the last for veteran coach Jeff Horton and the last ride with the top five in Patterson Mill’s lineup. With an understanding that so many integral pieces were leaving together, it made 2025 a memorable one for Baldwin as she finally lived up to who she always knew she could be and earned The Aegis softball Player of the Year.

“I thought I finally was able to perform how I wanted, pitching, hitting and fielding wise,” Baldwin said. “It was nice for it all to come together. I was really motivated and wanted to end on a good note. I’ve always been a better player than what I exhibited in high school, like in the summer and stuff I would do better. Everyone’s always hard on themselves, but I was happy I performed up to my standards.”

This spring was Horton and several of the team’s assistant coaches’ final seasons with the Huskies. It was more of an unspoken understanding that this group’s days together were waning, Baldwin said. “It was in the air. We didn’t talk about it, but we knew it was there,” she said. “We really wanted to go out on top, because it was like he was graduating with us, too. All five of our seniors, we were very motivated and wanted for ourselves and each other.”

Patterson Mill fell short of its lofty aspirations. After a 17-1 regular season, the Huskies bowed out in the regional final in a 8-6 loss to Fallston, prematurely ending what was in line to be a memorable season. Still, the energy that permeated throughout a group that knew its time together was limited was palpable.

Baldwin was at the center of that. The pitcher and infielder hit .500 with three home runs. In the circle, she went a perfect 6-0 with a 2.24 earned run average across 50 innings. It was a realization of her fullest potential, fueled by wanting to player with her friends and for Horton for as long as possible.

“Even though we didn’t end how we wanted to, the way our team came together — just the environment we had in practices and games was unmatched. We got along so well. Me and Izzy [Hiebler] when I was pitching, or me and Savannah [Reedy] when I was at second and she was at short, everything flowed so well. When we lost, obviously we were upset we didn’t make it to the state tournament, but we were more upset that we weren’t going to play together again.”

Coach of the year

Brian Frist, Fallston

Frist’s Cougars went 13-5 in the regular season and 15-6 overall, capped with a region championship with a victory over Patterson Mill.

“Fallston is always prepared to play,” an opposing area coach told The Aegis. “His team does not make many mistakes and takes advantage of mistakes and weaknesses of other teams, which I conclude is a very well coached team.”

All-County first team

Kallissa Coats, John Carroll, senior, infielder

Coats, a Towson commit, did it all for John Carroll, hitting .556 with a team-leading nine home runs.

Abby Marmen, Fallston, junior, infielder

Marmen’s eight home runs led the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference.

Savannah Reedy, Patterson Mill, senior, infielder

Reedy was in the middle of the uber-productive Huskies lineup, slashing .426/.520/.590 with eight extra-base hits this season.

Shiloh Wall, Harford Tech, senior, infielder

Wall’s 18 RBIs led the Cobras, and she pitched to a 1.22 earned run average.

Bayleigh Carstetter, Havre de Grace, senior, outfielder

The blazing Carstetter patrolled center field for the Warriors and was a perfect 28-for-28 on stolen base attempts.

Savannah Claycomb, John Carroll, junior, outfielder

Claycomb hit .492 and scored 23 runs as the Patriots’ leadoff hitter. She also pitched to a 3.26 earned run average across 34 1/3 innings in the circle.

Kenzie Knight, Patterson Mill, senior, outfielder

Knight slugged .652 and scored 34 runs for the Huskies.

Sofia Gallahue, Bel Air, senior, outfielder/pitcher

Gallahue hit .534 with a 1.436 on-base-plus-slugging percentage for the Bobcats. She also dominated in the circle with a 2.38 ERA and 101 strikeouts, and in the outfield with zero errors committed all season.

Emily Hildt, John Carroll, sophomore, pitcher/first base

Hildt led the Patriots with 35 RBIs and hit .532. She pitched to a 2.50 ERA and a 7-2 record.

Izzie Youngworth, C. Milton Wright, junior, pitcher

An opposing coach said Youngworth, who missed the first two weeks of the season with an illness, “can do it all” and has a “phenomonal glove that makes the difficult plays seem routine.”

Kinsey Mentzer, Havre de Grace, senior, catcher

Mentzer hit .491 with four home runs as one of two Warriors on the All-Aegis first team.

Ava Wimer, North Harford, senior, utility

Wimer was also named first team All-UCBAC by the conference’s coaches.

All-County second team

May Ambrose, Fallston, sophomore, catcher

Valeria Gutierrez, Edgewood, senior, pitcher

Izzy Hiebler, Patterson Mill, senior, catcher

Aubrey March, Patterson Mill, senior, infielder

Leah McGivern, Bel Air, sophomore, designated player

Ashley Merson, Joppatowne, senior, pitcher

Sofia Ortiz, Edgewood, senior, infielder

Mary Pfaff, Fallston, junior, pitcher/utility

Mandi Redmiles, Patterson Mill, sophomore, pitcher

Lyric Strong, Harford Tech, junior, outfielder/shortstop

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