Every practice, every close game, and every late-night bus ride has led to this moment.

After finishing the regular season with an 18-4 record and battling through a difficult playoff run, the Urbana Hawks softball team is headed back to the Maryland Class 4A state championship game. The Hawks defeated Dulaney 6-3 in the state semifinals Tuesday night, earning a spot in Saturday’s championship matchup against Broadneck at the University of Maryland.

For Urbana, this season has become about more than wins and losses. It has become a season defined by chemistry, pressure, and a team finding confidence at exactly the right time.

The Hawks’ postseason run has included victories over Northwest, Clarksburg, Quince Orchard, and Dulaney, proving Urbana can win both close defensive battles and high-energy playoff games.

Defining Moments in the Playoffs

Urbana’s road to the state championship game was not easy.

The Hawks opened the postseason with a 4-2 victory over Northwest before surviving one of the most intense games of the season in a 1-0 matchup against Clarksburg.

That game produced one of Urbana’s biggest moments of the year.

Locked in a scoreless battle late in the game, junior Ava Fields stepped to the plate with the pressure of the season resting on one swing. Fields, who is already committed to Yale University, launched a solo home run over the fence to give Urbana the only run of the game and secure the Hawks’ spot in the next round.

“We knew one run could change everything,” Fields said. “I was just trying to stay calm and do my job for the team.”

In a postseason where every pitch matters, the moment instantly became one of the team’s defining memories.

The Hawks carried that momentum into an 8-1 victory over Quince Orchard before defeating Dulaney 6-3 in the state semifinals.

The semifinal win also carried extra meaning considering Urbana defeated Dulaney in the 2023 Class 4A state championship game as well. In that championship matchup, Urbana defeated Dulaney 8-2 to secure the program’s second state title.

A Dugout That Feels Like Family

While big plays have helped Urbana advance through the playoffs, players say the team’s chemistry has been one of its greatest strengths throughout the season.

Sophomore catcher Rowan Brown said the energy in the dugout has helped the Hawks stay confident during high-pressure moments.

“The dugout has been really fun and loud this season,” Brown said. “Everyone is always supporting each other no matter what’s happening in the game.”

That support has helped Urbana remain composed throughout the postseason, especially during close games where pressure continued to build inning after inning.

Brown also said the team’s chemistry has grown stronger throughout the year as players have learned how to trust one another during difficult situations.

“We all believe in each other,” Brown said. “Even in stressful games, nobody really gives up or gets negative.”

Senior Lo McAnaw said the team’s closeness has helped create confidence throughout the playoff run.

“We’ve all gotten really close this season,” McAnaw said. “I think that’s helped us trust each other more when the games get intense.”

The team’s roster combines experienced senior leadership with younger players already taking on major varsity roles.

Seniors Lo McAnaw, Audrey Molnar, Tatiana Gonzalez, and Ellary Catino have helped guide the team through the pressure of the playoffs, while younger players continue to make major contributions across the field.

Young Talent Stepping Up

Much of Urbana’s success has also been fueled by younger players stepping into important roles early in their high school careers.

Sophomore pitcher Gaby McAnaw and Rowan Brown have both played varsity softball since freshman year, forming one of the team’s strongest connections on the field.

As pitcher and catcher, the two work together on every pitch, building communication and trust that have helped guide

Urbana through difficult postseason situations.

Brown said having experience at the varsity level early in high school has helped the duo become more comfortable in pressure moments.

“I think we’ve both learned a lot since freshman year,” Brown said. “Playing varsity that early really helped us grow.”

McAnaw has become one of the team’s most important players in the circle this season. Earlier this spring, she struck out 16 batters and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning during a win over Middletown, according to The Frederick News-Post.

Freshman Maggie Slaght, the youngest player on the roster, has also contributed during Urbana’s playoff run, while other sophomores and juniors have continued to provide depth throughout the lineup.

Junior Ava Fields said the mix of ages on the roster has helped create balance throughout the season.

“The younger players and older players work really well together,” Fields said. “Everybody has stepped up at different points this season.”

Carrying Urbana’s Legacy Forward

For senior Lo McAnaw, this playoff run carries extra meaning.

As a freshman, McAnaw was part of Urbana’s 2023 state championship softball team, giving her firsthand experience with the intensity and pressure of playing on Maryland’s biggest softball stage. Now, four years later, she has the opportunity to return to the state championship game once again, this time as one of the team’s leaders.

The journey connects two eras of Urbana softball: the championship team that helped establish the program’s success and the current roster now trying to create its own legacy.

Urbana softball has built a strong reputation in recent years, producing standout athletes and deep playoff runs. Former Urbana catcher Delaney Reefe now plays softball at Purdue University, continuing the program’s tradition of high-level talent moving on to college softball.

The Hawks also captured the Class 4A state championship in 2023, defeating Dulaney at the University of Maryland softball complex.

Still, this year’s team has created its own identity through resilience and chemistry.

Whether it was surviving a tense one-run playoff game, celebrating Fields’ clutch home run, or staying composed against Dulaney in the state semifinals, the Hawks have consistently responded to pressure together.

One Final Challenge

Now, Urbana’s season comes down to one final game.

With a 6-3 victory over Dulaney, the Hawks are officially headed back to the Maryland Class 4A state championship, where they will face Broadneck on Saturday at the University of Maryland.

For the seniors, it means one more opportunity to play together. For the younger players, it represents the future of the program. And for Urbana softball as a whole, it is another chance to continue building a legacy that has already become one of the strongest softball programs in Maryland.