Shawn Hampt came back down the hillside to retrieve a piece of paper that had been taped to the outside of the visiting dugout at Francis Scott Key High School.

Manchester Valley’s baseball coach removed a small sign with the phrase “So What” visible on the front, and took it with him as he made his way back up the incline toward his team’s bus. For Hampt’s Mavericks, it’s a simple strategy. But it seems to be effective.

If an umpire makes a call you don’t agree with, let it go. If a play doesn’t get made in the field, the next one will. Batters might miss a pitch once or twice, but eventually they’ll make contact.

Man Valley opened its season Thursday with a 6-2 road victory, and Hampt said he was pleased with the effort.

“The kids were finally knocking the cobwebs off,” the coach said. “They finally seemed to settle in and find their rhythm there in the last two innings.”

The Mavs held a 2-1 lead before scoring four runs in the seventh, and Hampt said he liked their composure in dealing with a pitcher’s duel for most of the afternoon. Some of the success perhaps stems from the “So What” mindset each player is trying to display.

Hang in there, play hard, and things tend to work out.

“It was awesome,” MV’s Kyle Scott said about finally getting on a diamond for an official game.

Manchester Valley’s junior shortstop did his part with a two hits, one of which was a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. Tommy Murray, a senior first baseman, added two RBIs and two hits. And Eddie Meredith, another junior, came up with an RBI double in the seventh that helped break the game open.

Patterson Mill 11, Century 1:Braden Soos pitched five innings, gave up one run on four hits, walked four and struck out one as the host Huskies (2-1) beat the Knights (1-1). Patterson Mill was led by Nathan Vujanic (4-for-4) and Ethan Schultz (3-for-4).

Harford Tech 7, North Harford 4:Parker Smith went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs to lead the host Cobras (4-0) past the Hawks (1-2). Harford Tech had 12 hits and Dominic Mavias picked up the win in his varsity debut.

Girls lacrosse

No. 5 Marriotts Ridge 15, No. 12 Westminster 8: Eloise Clevenger and Victoria Hensh led the way for the host Mustangs (3-0) with five goals each. Anna Ruby and Sophie Fischer each scored twice for the Owls (1-1). Marriotts Ridge had a second half surge, on a 10-5 run, to pull away.

The Mustangs travel to No. 3 Glenelg next Friday at 7 p.m.

No. 2 Notre Dame Prep 17, Severn 7: Katie Galway scored twice, but the host Admirals (0-5, 0-5 Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference) fell to the Blazers (4-1, 4-0). NDP built a 10-2 lead in the first half. The Blazers bounced back from Tuesday’s 8-5 loss to No. 3 Glenelg.

No. 8 Roland Park 16, Gerstell 9:Kaitlin Shaw scored a game-high five goals to lead the host Reds (5-1, 5-0 IAAM A Conference) past the Falcons (0-4, 0-4). Amber Bustard made nine saves for Roland Park, which hosts Dulaney at 4 p.m. Friday.

St. Mary’s 12, John Carroll 6:Bryce Pfundstein scored four goals to lead the host Saints (2-3, 2-3 IAAM A Conference) past the Patriots (2-3, 2-3). St. Mary’s led 10-2 in the first half.

Edgewood 14, North East 3: Ryan Parncutt scored four goals and Mary Anne Moubarak and Alexa Warren each had a hat trick to lead the Rams (2-0) past the host Indians (0-2).

Boys lacrosse

Carver 13, Dunbar 3: Life Chesley scored five goals to lead the host Bears (1-1) past the Poets (0-1). Carver led 6-1 at the half.

Softball

Patterson Mill 9, No. 12 Century 4:Starter Madison Knight went the distance, gave up five hits, walked three and struck out 10 as the host Huskies (3-0) upset the Knights (0-2). Offensively, Knight went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.

Baltimore Sun staff contributed to this article.