The Blazers hope to emulate last season's triumphs after the most successful season in the history of Blair softball. The girls amassed a 9-5 record en route to a division title for the first time in Blair history. They earned a first-round bye in the county playoffs, and while they lost to the perennially strong Springbrook Blue Devils in the second round, the Blazers had nothing to be ashamed of at the end of the year.
On senior night, in front of just 50 fans, the Blazers suffered one of their toughest losses of the year, 58-56 to the Wheaton Knights. After matching Wheaton point for point throughout the game, the Blazers saw the game slip away in the closing seconds.
Heading into their final two games of the season, the boys' varsity basketball team has a few things to smile about. The losses of junior standouts Makonnen Brown and Branden Curry to ineligibility appear to have been a blessing in disguise: The Blazers played more like a team than they have all season in tonight's 61-50 win over Wootton and former bench players are coming onto the court with more desire and cohesiveness than before second-quarter grades forced Brown and Curry, along with junior Rahim Mercurius, off the team.
DEC. 19, NELSON H. KOBREN MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM-Last year's 7-15 team ended its disappointing year with a twenty-point blowout to hot-shooting Damscus. This year, with a new coach and a new team, the Blazers avenged that loss, 65-60, with defensive play that was positively inspired.
A frustrating season came to an end for Blair girls' soccer on Oct 23. A lot of tears were frozen on cheeks as the Blazers lost, 1-0, to the Quince Orchard (QO) Cougars in the first round of the county playoffs. The girls fought as hard as always, shutting the Cougars down after a defensive lapse in the second minute let in the game's lone goal, but the team's familiar offensive problems prevented a win.
OCT 13, BLAZER STADIUM-Last year's senior night ended in tears after a tightly played 1-0 loss to Churchill. This year's seniors wanted no repeat, and they lived up to their goal with a wild 2-1 win over Walter Johnson. The girls played the best game they have all season by far, and beat one of the county's top teams in double-sudden-death-overtime.
OCT 7, BLAZER STADIUM-The Blazers were finally able to play a strong first half on offense, demolishing the Gaithersburg Trojans 6-0 after taking a 4-0 first-half lead. Junior Ria Richardson led the team with three goals, leap-frogging herself into second place on the team in goals scored with four.
OCT 1, BLAZER STADIUM-For the first twenty minutes of tonight's 2-1 loss to Watkins Mill, the Blazers played excellent soccer. They moved the ball well, constantly pressured their opponents for possession and actually finished an attack. However, after the Wolverines' first goal it was back to the beginning of the season, with poor communication all over the field.
SEPT 23, BLAZER STADIUM-At halftime in the Blazers' game against Blake, Blair co-captain and goalkeeper Erika Pelz-Butler was mad. She shouted at the team, admonishing them to push upfield, to pay attention to the game and not lapse in any aspect of their game. The pep talk seemed to do the trick, as the Blazers scored three goals and shut the Bengals down in the second half to secure a 4-1 victory.
SEPT 16, BLAZER STADIUM-After struggling on offense throughout much of tonight's game against Richard Montgomery, the Blazers put on a spectacular rally to close out regulation 1-1. Two overtimes later, however, the Blazers had again failed to capitalize and the game ended in a tie. The girls' record is now at 0-2-1.
SEPT 9, BLAZER STADIUM-Disappointed by Friday's 2-0 loss to Wootton, the Blair girls' soccer team came into today's game looking a bit sluggish. Lack of communication on offense and a consistent inability to win balls in the middle of the field led to Blair's 2-1 loss to the Whitman Vikings this evening.
For seven of Blair's starters, this was the beginning of the last run at the County Championship. The team entered the game confidently but was outlasted by Springbrook High School, 6-4, bringing a disappointing end to Blair's best softball season ever.
Blair's ultimate frisbee team lost to
For seven of Blair's starters, this was the beginning of the last run at the county championship. The team entered the game confidently but was outlasted by Springbrook High School, 6-4, a disappointing ending to Blair's best softball season in recent memory.
MAY 6, BLAZER STADIUM-With flowers at the beginning of today's game against Paint Branch High School and the sweet taste of victory at the end, Blair's senior softball players played a great game to cap their home careers. The Blazers won, 4-0, improving their record to 9-4 a day after they drew the third seed and a first-round bye in the county tournament.
The girls' lacrosse team let a victory slip away today against Watkins Mill High School and lost, 11-10.
The Blazers rebounded from several recent tough losses today with a 13-3 mercy-rule victory over the Churchill High School Bulldogs. The game was a needed boost to the Blazers, who had been struggling at the plate and in the field over the past couple of games.
In the final three and a half innings left from the Blazers' Mar 29 game against Kennedy High School, Blair won easily, improving a 6-1 lead to a final score of 10-1.
APR 30, BLAZER STADIUM--The Blazers utilized strong offensive plays and mid-field defense to beat the Paint Branch High School Panthers today, 19-1.
The Blair softball team had only one runner on base today, on an error in the first inning. Watkins Mill High School played nearly perfect ball in every respect and the Blazers fell, 6-0.
Despite a valiant effort, Blair lost today to Damascus High School, 9-2, despite the large turnout of fans. A steady rain fell throughout the evening and the game balls were constantly in cycle as each team's coaches dried them and passed them back onto the field.
APR 23, BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL-Blair beat Blake High School tonight, 5-4. It was Blair's second one-run victory in a row but also the team's second in a row against a top county team. However, the team suffered a setback when senior co-captain and right fielder Carly Vieira injured her knee.
The bases were loaded and the score was tied 5-5 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh in the Blazers' game against Magruder High School. Senior co-captain Carly Vieira stepped up to the plate and after letting the first few pitches go by, she swung for the fences and connected for a game-winning double. Blair's bench erupted in cheers and the team rushed to greet Vieira as she ran triumphantly from second base. The
In Blair's loss to Sherwood High School on Apr 3, senior pitcher Emma Simson struggled throughout the game. But she got a chance to rest on Apr 5 as sophmore JV pitcher Ellie Blalock comfortably handled the Quince Orchard High School (QO) Cougars en route to a 16-4 victory in five innings.
In Blair's loss to Sherwood Apr 3, pitcher Emma Simson struggled throughout. She got a chance to rest today, as JV pitcher Ellie Blalock comfortably handled the Quince Orchard (QO) High School Cougars en route to a 16-4 victory in five innings.
Blair lost tonight to Sherwood High School, 7-1. Through six innings, the Blazers did not get a runner on base. Their hits and even their bunts went straight into the air for easy flyouts to Sherwood infielders, and every Blazer except third baseman Jen Sindall struck out at least once in the game.
The Blair baseball team overwhelmed the Kennedy High School Cavalers, 33-1. The game was called after five innings because of the mercy rule.
The Blair softball team that came out onto the field today was light-years ahead of the sloppy, uncommunacative girls that eked out a win over Wootton on Tuesday. This team was focused and it paid off as they beat Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School 10-0 after just six innings.
The Blair softball team won its opening game tonight against Wootton High School, 7-5. The Blazers' small-ball style offense got off to a slow start but eventually began working, with several beautiful bunts and steals leading to the runs that won the game for Blair.
Blazer softball went 11-5 last year while starting six juniors. Now all of those juniors are a year older and, complemented by a strong new crop of varsity players the team has a legitimate shot at the Montgomery County title.
Blair may have seen years of bad luck in the sports department, but if history teaches anything, it is that Blair is capable, every now and again, of producing a truly stellar athlete. These ten are the greatest Blazers in the sports history of Silver Spring and Takoma Park.
All soccer games and outdoor practices have been cancelled indefinitely due to the recent sniper attacks. Blair's players and coaches are frustrated, but maintain an optimistic attitude.
On Oct 2, with two key players sitting on the sidelines, the Blair boys' soccer team lost to the Springbrook High School Devils, 2-0.
Playing on a windy day and a swamp-like field, the Blair boys' soccer team rebounded from a tough loss to Sherwood High School by beating Walter Johnson High School (WJ) 2-1 in overtime on Sept 28.
After defeating Blair 1-0 in the first game of the season, Einstein High School's boys' varsity soccer team had to forfeit their win.
On Wednesday, Sept 18, in a game that was never close, Blair's soccer team routed Kennedy High School's Cavaliers 8-0.
In a game that saw a hat trick and five total goals, the Blazers won their second game in a row, beating Wheaton High School 5-0, and have come a long way from their disheartening opening loss to Einstein.
The boys' varsity soccer team got off to a poor start today in a 1-0 overtime loss to Einstein High School. The Blazers failed to play as a team throughout the game, and communication was a problem both on offense and defense.
Blair may have seen years of bad luck in the sports department, but if history teaches anything, it is that Blair is capable, every now and again, of producing a truly stellar athlete. These ten are the greatest Blazers in the sports history of Silver Spring and Takoma Park.
With the clock winding down in the girls' basketball team's game against the Walter Johnson (WJ) Wildcats, the Blazers were forced to foul in order to stop the clock. This is a common technique, but Blair failed to grasp one key aspect of the strategy: Foul the other team's worst free-throw shooter. Blair, instead, fouled Wildcat star Alex Porter four times late in the game. She hit all her shots to keep the lead for the Wildcats. So despite a valiant effort from the Blazers, WJ proved to be too strong, and Blair lost, 47-38.