Northeast softball will never know if it would’ve won Monday’s Class 3A state quarterfinal against Tuscarora — the complete Tuscarora — after the Titans’ ace departed during the second inning for a nonmandatory school presentation. The game was initially scheduled for Friday, but storms forced a postponement to Monday.

Eagles coach Joe Hart immediately went to ask the Titans coaches after the resulting 14-3 blowout because he was so bewildered. A similar decision hit one of Hart’s teams years ago in an extra-inning rivalry game against Chesapeake; he knew the Titans’ pain. But, after seeing the bump on Avery Neuman’s rise ball in warmups, the Eagles weren’t exactly sorry to see her go, either.

It was clear after Neuman’s departure that the Titans had a bit of a shallow bullpen. Two walks, another pitching change and two runs in the bottom of the second primed Northeast’s batters for the upcoming onslaught.

Once the order got fully accustomed to freshman reliever Bella Martinez’s offerings, they painted their field with 10 hits and 14 runs, including nine in the fourth. Junior shortstop Brynn Jones took full advantage, with a double, triple and three RBIs. Senior catcher Taylor Castle, Kayleigh Fyffe and Natalee Brown each drove two runs home.

“I feel like this team is finally coming together and working as a unit,” Fyffe said, “getting us where we need to go, focusing on the latest goal.”

In a little over 24 hours following Monday’s final pitch, Northeast (24-1) competed in a Class 3A state semifinal against Chopticon in a game that ended too late for inclusion in this edition.

Hart still feels haunted by the last time the Eagles competed in the semifinals in 2023. Calvert broke loose with 10 runs in the seventh inning, and the promising young Eagles fell, 12-1.

The Eagles possess nine state titles, but none since 1999. They’re gonna “kick that door in someday,” Hart said. He’ll allow hope for Tuesday.

“Our whole thing is to stay confident and stay humble,” Castle said. “If you get too confident, it’s gonna come back and bite you.”

Fyffe and her somewhat sore arm weren’t necessarily supposed to pitch on Monday. But when starter Jenna Burroughs struggled in the second inning, loading the bases on three consecutive walks, the Eagles had little choice. The other option, Presley McGinty, was being saved for Tuesday.

Quickly, the senior realized her typical spots weren’t getting called strikes. Tuscarora knew it too; each Titan showed a great deal of patience to take their free rides to first base. An illegal pitch call on what would’ve been a swinging third strike became ball four and walked in the first run. Another walk doubled the lead, and a fielder’s choice made it 3-0.

It annoyed Fyffe but didn’t derail her. She and her battery-mate would find a way to make Tuscarora swing.

“We threw it right at ‘em,” Castle said, “Much more in the middle. They started swinging, and all we had to do was field.”

By the top of the fifth, Fyffe had collected five strikeouts. She dispatched the first batter with three straight strikes. But, with two outs to go, Hart pulled her. Fyffe flashed him a smile.

Freshman Tiffany Mewshaw took the circle for the first time this season. She quickly got the last two outs. It will hurt the Eagles to lose these seniors, but the future, Hart agreed, is bright.

“I went out to Kay and said, ‘Let’s give her two batters.’ She was all about it,” Hart said. “That’s a leader.”

Have a sports tip? Contact Katherine Fominykh at kfominykh@baltsun.com or DM @capgazsports on Instagram.

TUSCARORA – 0 3 0 0 0 X X – 3 2 5

NORTHEAST – 0 2 3 9 X X X – 14 10 0

2B – NE: Brynn Jones 1, Taylor Castle 1

3B – NE: Brynn Jones 1, Jenna Burroughs 1

WP – NE: Kayleigh Fyffe; 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

LP – TA: Bella Martinez; 3.0 IP, 9 H, 12 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K