Catonsville, MD - The 2025 season had one more achievement in store for the Howard Community College Dragons, as despite losing their first round playoff series 2-1 to the CCBC Catonsville Cardinals, the Dragons managed their first playoff win in program history.

In a wacky series that featured a rain delay and a darkness delay, the Dragons and Cardinals battled it out to a full three games after the Dragons won a wild game two. The win marked the first playoff victory for the Dragons in their short history as a program. Unfortunately, game three was a blowout win for the Cardinals, ending Howard's season.

Game One: Cardinals 8, Dragons 4
Howard sent Raegan Perkes (Laurel, MD/Laurel) to the line for game one, with the sophomore shutting out the Cardinals through the first three innings. However, Howard's hitting would also be shut down by Catonsville's ace Emily Fagan. The first runs came in the fourth, as Catonsville got four runs aboard to take a 4-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Howard responded. The Dragons loaded the bases, then drew another walk to score Perkes. A Holly Ryan (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) left field smack scored Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir) to make it 4-2, handing momentum to the Dragons. However, Catonsville scored four more runs over the next two innings, forcing the Dragons to make a pitching change. Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales) entered the game and got the crucial final outs for the Dragons. 

Entering the seventh, Howard began to chip away at the Cardinals lead. A Webb double scored Perkes, and Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) hit a huge single to score Webb. Down just four, the Dragons just needed to keep the momentum going, and got the bases loaded with two outs. But Cassie Litchfield (Mt. Airy, MD/Glenelg) was struck out to finish the game, giving Catonsville the win.

Steele led the Dragons with two hits and an RBI. Perkes scored two runs and recorded two strikeouts on the mound.

Game Two: Dragons 6, Cardinals 2
After an hour rain delay in the first, game two got underway with another pitchers duel. Howard's Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales) kept the Cardinals in check through the first two innings, until a pitching change brought Morgan Ryan (Laurel, MD/Atholton) to the mound. Ryan was on fire, allowing just two runs to score in a brilliant pitching performance.

Howard would strike first in the third, as an error allowed Webb to score from third. In the fourth, a pair of fielder's choices allowed two more runs to score, giving Howard a 3-2 lead. With darkness descending on the Catonsville Softball Complex, the Dragons kept adding to their lead, scoring three more runs in the seventh off a Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton) single and a Raegan Perkes (Laurel, MD/Laurel) two-run single.

Darkness forced the game to be delayed until Saturday morning, with Ryan completing the victory by striking out the side. Ryan finished the contest with her fourth win of the season, while Howard collected 12 total hits. Perkes, Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir), and Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton) each scored three hits, with Perkes scoring two runs.

Game Three: Cardinals 8, Dragons 0
Howard's momentum from the previous day would not last into game three. With a trip to the second round on the line, the Dragons sent three total pitchers to the mound, but could not stop a Catonsville rally. Howard got several runners on base in the opening innings, but failed to capitalize, allowing Catonsville to score an 8-0 run-rule victory.

Howard's season ends with a program-record 20 wins and the first postseason victory in program history. Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir) finished the season with a team-leading .503 batting average, 74 hits, 15 stolen bases, and 97 assists on defense. Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales) led the team with 18 home runs, 62 RBIs, a 5.65 ERA, and two saves. Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) led the Dragons with 68 total strikeouts and seven pitching wins, while Giana Sablan (Hagatna, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) led the Dragons with 181 total putouts and a .990 fielding percentage.

Howard will say goodbye to a talented sophomore class this offseason, with Morgan Ryan (Laurel, MD/Atholton), Cassie Litchfield (Mt. Airy, MD/Glenelg), Raegan Perkes (Laurel, MD/Laurel), Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton), Giana Sablan (Hagatna, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam), Taylor Pence (Mt. Airy, MD/Glenelg), and Holly Ryan (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) helping the Dragons to their greatest season in program history thus far.