Seahawks Score Late, Hold Off Howard in Season Opener

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Cecil softball opened its 2026 campaign with a victory over the Howard Dragons on Thursday afternoon. The Seahawks went on to drop the second contest.

Cecil starts its 2026 season at 1-1.

Game One - Cecil 4, Howard 3

Cecil's bats struggled in the early innings and the Seahawks would find themselves behind 1-0 after five innings. This would change in the top of the sixth, with back-to-back home runs from Keira Wolfe and Gabriella Smith handing Cecil the lead. 

Howard scored two on after a pair of passed balls in bottom of the frame to retake the lead.

In need of a run to keep the game alive, the Seahawwks would load the bases with one out thanks to Riley deRoulac's single and a pair of Howard errors. A strikeout brought up Smith, who delivered in the clutch once again with a two-RBI single.

Taylor Stapleford (1-0) walked back out to the circle for the seventh and put down two of the first three batters she saw. The freshman would ceed a single up the middle before striking out the next batter. The Rising Sun grad finished with 12 punchouts in her debut start.

Smith and Kylee Bergman led the Seahawks with two hits, while four additional Seahawks chipped in one hit each.

Game Two - Howard 9, Cecil 5

The Dragons scored in every inning but the second, leading to a win over Cecil in game two.

Kendel Leonardi finished with three hits, while Riley deRoulac collected two. Gabriella Smith hit a solo home run for the second straight contest.

Taja Souza (0-1) struck out one over six innings in the circle.

Up Next

Cecil faces Potomac State on March 7